Customer Reviews

Breakdown (Widescreen)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In 1997 I had the misfortune of seeing the coming attractions trailer for BREAKDOWN, a film with Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan, two performers I have always liked and respected. I groaned - this film looked like just another run-of-the-mill, headache-inducing, Jerry Bruckheimer over-the-top actionfest with absolutely no basis in reality. Foolishly, I avoided this film until I found myself at a drive-in Scottsdale, AZ. BREAKDOWN was just about the only movie on the list that looked remotely interesting, though I had sincere doubts. Reluctantly, I paid admission, fearing the worst.

Oh, my God, was I wrong. What a movie!!! My initial reservations about this film were completely erased halfway through the story. Years of watching ludicrous testosterone-driven action epics with amusement park-like thrills almost prevented me from seeing one of the best films of the 1990's. I watched the film from the hood of my rental car. I thought the paint would permanently adhere to my sweaty palms.

BREAKDOWN is a near masterpiece. To disclose the plot would destroy a nail-biting motion picture experience. In fact, be warned, as the film is almost too gripping to be enjoyable. There is such an overwhelming sense of menace and peril in this film that it almost becomes a cruel experiment in fear.

For a first-time directing job by Jonathan Mostow, it's awe-inspiring. The opening credits sequence alone is imaginative and appropriate to the story. It has been a longtime indeed since this level of suspense has seen the light of day on the silver screen. It's so good, in fact, that it's hard to believe that it ever got made. Amazing that it was not the blockbuster that it deserved to be.

Shooting in the 2.35:1 Panavision ratio, Mr. Mostow has created an unbelievably plausible scenario replete with three of the most frightening villians the movies have ever seen. They certainly give Bill McKinney and Herbert "Cowboy" Coward, the mountain men in DELIVERANCE, a run for their money. J. T. Walsh, who unfortunately passed away not too long after this film was released (his death is a real loss to the film world), appears in probably the best performance of his career: a purely evil man who doubles as an everyday Joe who loves his wife and son but commits terrible acts for money. M. C. Gainey, a towering giant who could rip you in half with his own two hands, is brilliant as Earl, one of the conspirators. You would not want to cross this man. Jack Noseworthy is equally maniacal as the third villian.

BREAKDOWN succeeds for the same reason that Steven Spielberg's DUEL does (though DUEL is more cinematic): it takes two ordinary human beings and thrusts them into a horrendous situation they'd never have any reason to suspect they'd ever be a part of. That is not to say that the film does not have a few convenient plot devices, but even when it does they can be forgiven.

Kurt Russell - my God, he's just brilliant. I loved him as Snake Plissken in JOHN CARPENTER'S ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK. He's such an amazing actor. The look of terror and fear on his face is complete and real. Basil Poledouris, who scored CONAN THE BARBARIAN, one of the best scores of the 1980's, provides a tremendous score to this film. The tension in the sequence prior to the unbelievably tense and superbly edited ending is made all the more so due to his phenomenal score.

Although I have a slight problem with the ending (it contains a few elements that are farfetched), it still remains one of the most gripping action sequences your likely to see in any film.

I cannot say enough about this film. It's completely riveting from start to finish, and is one of only a handful of 1990's films that I can watch over and over again. The week that I purchased the DVD I watched the film six times. I was just as engrossed as I was upon my initial viewing.

The DVD looks and sounds great, though the lack of anamorphic enhancement is disappointing. Hopefully, Paramount will re-issue this title soon with a commentary by the director. Recall that DVDs were fairly new when this film was released. This film is far superior to Mr. Mostow's submarine film U-571. I'd love to hear his thoughts on the casting and comments on the making of the film.

One major warning: Do not watch this film on television. It's been on TV twice, and it's completely ruined. Commercials cause this film to break down (sorry - couldn't resist).

If I could give this film ten stars, I would. Watch it. It's brilliant.

this is one intense nail biting movie.basically, Jeffrey Taylor(Kurt
Russel)and his wife Amy(Kathleen Quinlan)are driving on a lonely
stretch of highway,when there vehicle inexplicably breaks down.they
flag down a passing trucker who says he will take Amy to the nearest
town for help while Jeff stays with the vehicle.flash forward sometime
later and Amy has not returned.i leave it at that.if you wanna know
more,then you'll have to watch the movie.what follows is nail biting
suspense and tension and lots of action.you'll have to employ some
suspension of disbelief(though much less than many films)once you do
that,you should enjoy this movie.i was on the edge of my seat quite a
bit.for me,"Breakdown is 4.5/5

Road movies are a favourite type of movie for me and "Breakdown" just has to be one of my favourites. I just came across this in the shops and I took a look at it and from what I seen on the back cover it looked great. The story is all about Jeff and Amy (played by Kurt Russell who did a great job and Katherine Quninlan) and they are on their travels on the road. But their car suddenly runs out of gas. A truck passes by and stops, he offers to give Amy a lift and to take her to a restaurant and call for a to-truck. She accepts while Jeff stays to watch the car, but he soon finds out the problem with the car and heads for the restaurant, but when he gets there Amy or the truck driver are nowhere to be found, and a huge search is on, but it gets dangerous. Filled with lots of suspense and danger, with great performances all around. It comes to a brilliant climax, were there is a car chase on the highway, which ends on a bridge. A definate road movie for those lovers or Kurt fans.

A husband and wife (Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan) suffer car trouble while driving through the deserts of the Southwest. When the wife disappears mysteriously, it is up to Russell to find and rescue her. The frightening plausibility of this scenario is often undercut by the more conventional action movie elements that creep in, but it remains a nail-biting thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the end. Talented character actors J.T. Walsh, M.C. Gainey, and Jack Noseworthy demonstrate that, when it comes to fear-inducing film antagonists, ghosts, monsters and aliens have nothing on a band of mean-spirited, sociopathic rednecks with sleazy motives.

Yes, this is a very exciting and underappreciated movie. But what makes it differernt from Nick Of Time or Phone Booth is, it really could happen!

The reason its so easy to identify with Kurt Russell is because, as the story unfolds its all plausible. Add in good direction and believable characters and hang on!

I saw this film recently for the first time and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I remember seeing the ads for this on television when it first came out and I always thought it looked interesting. While not completely successful, BREAKDOWN is recommended for suspense fans and is a step above most of the crap that comes out of Hollywood these days.

The film stars Kurt Russell and he gives a fine performance (no surprise there) as a man who's wife goes missing after his car has a breakdown in a hot and secluded stretch of highway somewhere in the West. From then on, Russell spends the rest of the film trying to locate his wife... I won't say anything else about the plot, since one of the things I loved about it is that you're often as disoriented and confused as the main character is. For about the first 45 minutes, BREAKDOWN plays like a nightmare and it's fascinating to see Russell go from a concern to desperation. I would even say that a few scenes are almost surreal at times.

As you can probably guess, the film is highly influenced by such films as THE VANISHING and (especially) DUEL, however I also detected a bit of DEAD CALM in there as well. Part of the reason why the first half works so well is because we have no idea what's going on and we really identify with Kurt Russell's character (although that may be because of how likeable Russell is as an actor anyway). Unfortunately, the film's second half can't measure the intensity of the first and the ending is a bit disappointing... I guess I was expecting something besides what has become the conventional ending to action films these days, but it's a minor flaw...

The film was directed by Jonathan Mostow, who would go on to helm the excellent T3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, and this film shares a lot in common with that one... Both films have fairly streamlined plots that, once they get started, forgo the usual breaks in action and side plots... BREAKDOWN is pretty much a 90 minute rush of events and action, its pace mirroring the transformation of Russell's character quite well... this is one movie that gets more intense as it goes on. The acting, I must say, is top notch, especially from the villians... we really find the bad guys here detestable and that makes the climax especially effective.

All in all, it's a very good film that I regret letting slip under my radar for so long. Not really something I'd purchase (since other films have done this before and done it better) but not a bad rental for those out there who are curious. I liked it quite a bit.

Watch it. It is paced so well that it will keep you bolted to your chair until the last minute. Kurt Russell plays a husband who gets on the wrong side of a group of hillbilly rednecks with a very disturbing plan while on a drive to Los Angeles. The plot may sound trivial and predictable, and it is until you see the movie. Mostow manages to pace the story so well, that you are constantly on the edge waiting for what happens next and how Kurt Russell is going to get himself out of the next situation. This makes up for some of the flaws that the movie has. This certainly is up there in my chiller top 10. The finale will leave you breathless, I am sure. Recommended rental.

Talk about a "Breakdown" for Kurt Russell's character. His life is a total hell when his wife, who gets help from a truck driver when their car "breaks" down, winds up missing. Russell is so convincing as the husband that the audience relates to his anger, frustration, and fierce dermination to get his wife back from the blackmailing kidnapping ring who abducted her.

The truck driver played by J.T. Walsh, is also excellent as the villian. Director Jonathan Mostow does an solid job with the suspense-filled action sequences. Every scene is realistic and brutal to the viewer. I especially liked the first half of the movie, when the film is sort of like of mystery because Russell cannot find his wife. The second half bogs down, but is still exciting and effective.

But the holy grail goes to Russell, who gives a ultra-realistic performance to a ultra-nailbiting thriller. Highly recommended film along with NICK OF TIME with Johnny Depp.

In this good old-fashioned, entertaining suspense thriller, one would ask if this has been done before. There's something familiar yet original in BREAKDOWN about a vacationing couple who get mixed up with a multi-state hijacking theft ring with the wife ending up being kidnapped. Then, the bewildered husband is left to his wits(end) to find his wife and uncover the mystery of her kidnapping with no one to help or believe in his story. The bottom line is that the script and premise sets up some real genuine tension for the audience. They become emotionally involved and feel the frustration with the main character (Jeff Taylor) played beautifully by Kurt Russell, and a real hatred for the kidnapper/ring leader/trucker (Red Barr) also played to perfection by the late J.T. Walsh in an authentic bad guy performance. There are parts taken from films such as TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and countless other "desert highway" and "redneck as baddies" thrillers, but the movie works because of some good casting and a plot with plausibility. Overall, an enteraining thrill ride that will have you yelling at the screen. Good to see veteran actress Kathleen Quinlan in a small but otherwise meaty role as the kidnapped wife.

THIS IS ONE HECK OF A MOVIE. Kurt Russell, J.T. Walsh and director Jonathan Mostow combine to bring about a suspense-filled, action-packed thriller. Russell commands the movie, showing all the frustration, rage, and terror he feels in his pursuit of the rednecks who have absconded his wife. Walsh is an unparallelled villain, able to pull off his dastardly deeds and then go home to his wife and son. The scene in which both he and his wife tell their little boy to kill Russell is downright horrifying. Kathleen Quinlan, a good actress, doesn't have much screen time, but does well with what little she has. Mostow crafts some supremely bone-chilling chase scenes and the ending is breathtaking. I too wanted to cheer when the credits rolled.
A brilliant, underappreciated film.