Breakdown (1997/I)

Director:

Jonathan Mostow

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Mostow (story)
Jonathan Mostow (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A cross-country trip. An unexpected breakdown. The trap has been set.

Plot:

A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | On The Road | Desperation | Vacation | Anger

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Jeffrey 'Jeff' Taylor
J.T. Walsh	...	Warren 'Red' Barr
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Amy Taylor
M.C. Gainey	...	Earl
Jack Noseworthy	...	Billy
Rex Linn	...	Sheriff Boyd
Ritch Brinkley	...	Al
Moira Harris	...	Arleen Barr
Kim Robillard	...	Deputy Len Carver
Thomas Kopache	...	Calhoun
Jack McGee	...	Bartender at Belle's Diner
Vincent Berry	...	Deke Barr
Helen Duffy	...	Flo
Ancel Cook	...	Barfly at Belle's Diner
Gene Hartline	...	Tow Truck Driver

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/terror and language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 (video rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #34949) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

American River, Sacramento, California, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

Writer/Director Jonathan Mostow got the idea for the film while driving through Las Vegas with his wife.

Goofs:

Continuity: The condition of Jeff's pants when he arrives and leaves the bank to meet the kidnapper.

Quotes:

Jeff: [pointing a gun at Red] You'd better pray she's still alive.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Road (2002)

Soundtrack:

This Game Of Love

A nifty thriller, worthy of your time.

I spent this Christmas 2004 in Hungary, and watched Breakdown on TV the other night. Yes it was dubbed into Hungarian, but I'd already seen the film in the cinema a few years ago. And you know what? I was still as thrilled watching it in Hungarian as when I saw it in the cinema. Why? Because it tells its story mostly in visuals, this for me is the real power of a good film, using the images to tell the tale.

Kurt Russell is outstanding as the bewildered husband seeking his kidnapped wife, and yes while it reminded me of the superb Dutch film The Vanishing (the original 1988 version not the terrible Hollywood remake), and at times Spielberg's Duel, it still has a real freshness about it, with some great photography and direction.

Well worth a look, possibly Russell's best performance. 9/10