Vanishing Point (1997)

When his wife goes into a troubled labor while he is on the road over 1200 miles away James Kowalski, an ex race car driver and a former Army Ranger, attempts to elude police while trying ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Robert Carner

Writers:

Malcolm Hart (story), Guillermo Cabrera Infante (earlier screenplay),

Stars:

Viggo Mortensen, Christine Elise, Steve Railsback

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Viggo Mortensen	...	Jimmy Kowalski
Christine Elise	...	Raphinia Kowalski
Steve Railsback	...	Sergeant Preston
Rodney A. Grant
Peter Murnik	...	Gilmore
James MacDonald	...	(as James G. MacDonald)
Paul Benjamin
Geno Silva	...	Mike Mas
John Doe	...	Sammy
Peta Wilson	...	Motorcycle girl
Keith David	...	Warren Taft
Jason Priestley	...	The Voice
Debra Sharkey	...	Producer
Ari Barak	...	Dr. Nazrin
Frank Roman	...	Hernando

Storyline

When his wife goes into a troubled labor while he is on the road over 1200 miles away James Kowalski, an ex race car driver and a former Army Ranger, attempts to elude police while trying to get home. After numerous chases he turns into a Native American reservation and reflects on his life, and his wife. He then heads off to break through an impenetrable police and FBI roadblock.

---

Plot Keywords:

chase | muscle car | car accident | cnn reporter | remake | 

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Romance

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Døden bak rattet

Filming Locations:

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Television Network, Westgate Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The black 1968 Charger is a nod to another movie, Bullitt.

---

Goofs

To lead the cops off his cellular signal, Kowalski hides his cell phone in the left pocket of a light brown suitcase at the bus station. Later when cops stop the bus carrying the suitcase they find his cell phone in the right pocket of a black suitcase.

---

Connections

Remake of Vanishing Point (1971)

User Reviews

Proves that someone in Hollywood has a screw loose

Why would anyone in their right mind want to re-make "Night of the Hunter"(1955), "From Here to Eternity"(1953), or "Vanishing Point"(1971)?

And if they felt compelled to remake one of these timeless classics, why would they go out of their way to make it some damn hokey?

There is none of the high energy music, devil-may-care attitude of the original in this tepid film about a guy trying to be at his wife's bedside during a difficult child-birth.

The original was about SPEED. Kowalski was running because of a bet over a handful of Speed. Speed was the essence and the ultimate high in the original. No big motives. No pre-chewed, silly little plot. And no Christian first name-"Jimmy" fer cryin' out loud!

This one is enough to make Paul Koslo (the ORIGINAL young cop) wanna break heads again.