Catchfire (1990)

An artist (Foster) witnesses a Mafia hit and calls the police. At the police station she realizes that the Mafia has a man in the force, so she runs. Trailed by the police, who need her ... See full summary »

Director:

Dennis Hopper

Writers:

Rachel Kronstadt Mann (story), Rachel Kronstadt Mann (screenplay),

Stars:

Dennis Hopper, Jodie Foster, Dean Stockwell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Hopper	...	Milo
Jodie Foster	...	Anne Benton
Dean Stockwell	...	John Luponi
Vincent Price	...	Mr. Avoca
John Turturro	...	Pinella
Fred Ward	...	Pauling
Julie Adams	...	Martha
Tony Sirico	...	Greek (as G. Anthony Sirico)
Sy Richardson	...	Capt. Walker
Frank Gio	...	Frankie
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Grace Carelli
John Apicella	...	Man at Refinery
Clifford Bartholomew	...	Fed #2
Kevin Bourland	...	Ad Agency Man
Carl David Burks	...	Ad Agency Man

Storyline

An artist (Foster) witnesses a Mafia hit and calls the police. At the police station she realizes that the Mafia has a man in the force, so she runs. Trailed by the police, who need her testimony, and a hitman (Hopper) hired by the Mafia, she goes to Mexico, where eventually she meets the hitman, who has become infatuated after studying her art and life to prepare for the hit.

---

Plot Keywords:

mafia | hitman | artist | snowball | stockings | 

---

Taglines:

When murder is your business, you'd better not fall in love with your work.

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Backtrack

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vestron Pictures, Precision Films, Mack-Taylor Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min 180 min (original cut) 116 min (director's cut) 98 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vestron Pictures were unhappy with director Dennis Hopper's original 180 minutes cut of the film and re-edited it without his knowledge. Hopper was so enraged he sued the company, but they had already gone bankrupt. He nevertheless insisted on the anonymous Alan Smithee credit.

---

Goofs

After Bob is supposedly hit by the two Mafia men who break into Anne's apartment, the two Mafia men pull the blankets back and you can see that Bob is still breathing.

---

Quotes

Milo: There's something going on here that I really don't understand, but I like it.

---

Connections

Referenced in Who Is Alan Smithee? (2002)

User Reviews

Hopper plus Foster = great chemistry!

As I said, Hopper plus Foster = great chemistry. These two make a great movie out of a plot that is absolutelu unbelievable. What hit man falls in love with his hit sight unseen? What hit falls in love with her hit man after a one night stand? What hit man has a helicopter set aside for just the right escape? What mafia boss has ten or more hit men who can't hit a one man target? You see, this is a plot that no one could believe in. But, no one cares, because you are so involved in the evolution of the relationship between the Hopper & Foster characters that you overlook or forgive everything else. These two are so powerful that they make Fred Ward look like a character actor.

This is a violent movie where the violence never seems to override the comedy/relationship/slice of life issues that the film portrays. Plus, you get to see Jodie Foster naked!?! Who would have thunk it? By the way, she has a very nice body.

I don't know how this movie has not become a cult favorite, but give it time. It is a gem!

PS Don't overlook a dynamite performance by Joe Pesci, who is not listed in the cast. Go figure.