Vanishing Point
Kowalski works for a car delivery service, and takes delivery of a 1970 Dodge Challenger to drive from Colorado to San Francisco. Shortly after pickup, he takes a bet to get the car there in less than 15 hours.
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- Cast:
- Barry Newman , Cleavon Little , Dean Jagger , Lee Weaver , Timothy Scott , Robert Donner , Paul Koslo
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Reviews
The Worst Film Ever
Brilliant and touching
Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.
a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
The best car chase movie in cinema with an abrupt surprise ending when viewed for the first time. I would like to see a remake of this with perhaps Matt Damon. Another good car chase movie although comic is Blues Brothers, great crashes and car violence.
I was expected a modern classic, but what a let down. The whole thing was a long, rather mediocre car chase. Here's a guy who supposed deliver a car (one would assume, intact) driving through the desert, off road, etc. I don't think the car was stolen (or maybe it was, whatever...), however the plot of getting to San Francisco in 15 hours on a bet with a small time speed dealer didn't make sense. The only thing that kept me awake was the naked girl on motorcycle. Even the car chase sequences were bland. If you're looking for a car chase movie from that era, try Bullit or The French Connection. Maybe I'm missing the whole 'Lone Wolf/Rebel' bit, I dunno. I realize this was a drive-in/B Movie, however Vanishing Point seemed like a pointless exercise in WTF.
I can remember reading a review for "VP" when it was released that said something to the effect of "I wouldn't want to be driving down the street of a drive-in movie after this ends and the kids in their cars are leaving" Being 16 years old at the time-the reviewer was absolutely correct. VP packed them in at the drive-ins, this was still the era of big engines and cheap gas. In a few years the Arab oil embargo, sky rocketing insurance rates, and pollution regulations would cripple the Detroit's muscle car industry, but Hollywood in the early 70's still made car chase movies like "VP," "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" and "Smoky & the Bandit" in the tradition of Bob Mitchum's 1950's epic, "Thunder Road" that featured about 90 minutes of car chases weaved through a thin plot line.VP has a minuscule plot that logic totally escapes any logic:1) Kowalski is supposed to be driving this Dodge Challenger from Denver to SF for a car delivery service, presumably to someone who will take possession of a muscle car in mint condition. Kowalski completely drives the complete crap out of it, on and off road.2) Kowalski leaves Denver around midnight, but we see him driving in daylight along the breathtaking stretch of I-70 adjacent to the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs, which is only 156 mi. from Denver. Where has Kowalski been all evening? (come to think of it, the only time we see him drive at night is leaving Denver)3) We only see him stop once for gasoline. I would imagine that the 440 Magnum Dodge engine being driven at 120 mph might get 8mpg. So with a 20 gallon tank Kowalski is going to have to stop at least every hour & half. Speaking of which, why don't the police, instead of chasing him with cars, choppers and setting up roadblocks, just wait for him at the few gas stations that are few and far between in the remote sections of Ut & Nv?4) the AM radio station, KOW that has the DJ "Supersoul" that aids Kowalski looks like it is in a tiny town in western Nv, I would guess 100 watts, yet Kowalski is able to pick this station up quite clearly all the way from Colorado.Enough logic. great car chases. hot looking naked chick on a motorcycle shows up later for no reason. not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.
Vanishing Point is the type of movie rarely seen these days. It has so many identities, a car chase movie simply being one of them. It both deconstructs and pays tribute to the American love affair with the automobile and cinema. It's also a love letter to the 60s, playing up themes of freedom and escaping oppression. Most importantly, it's a classic heroes journey. Kowalski, the hero has a mission, a romantically Americana mission, and he let's nothing get in his way. Movies like Vanishing Point aren't duplicated, because they cannot be. They are products of their time, a tribute to both films and ideals past.