Vanishing Point (1997)

An ex race car driver hurries 1200 miles home in a 1970 Challenger when his wife has labor problems. Cops in several states try to stop him - initially for speeding.

Director:

Charles Robert Carner

Writers:

Malcolm Hart (story) (as Malcom Hart), Guillermo Cabrera Infante (earlier screenplay) (as Guillermo Cain)

Stars:

Viggo Mortensen, Christine Elise, Steve Railsback

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Viggo Mortensen	...	Jimmy Kowalski
Christine Elise	...	Raphinia Kowalski
Steve Railsback	...	Sergeant Preston
Rodney A. Grant	...	Vision Quest Indian
Peter Murnik	...	Gilmore
James MacDonald	...	Asst. F.B.I. Agent (as James G. MacDonald)
Paul Benjamin	...	Mose, Snake Wrangler
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, a former race-car driver and Army Ranger, attempts to elude police while trying to get home. After numerous chases, he turns into a aboriginal American reservation and reflects on his life, and his wife. He then heads off to break through an impenetrable police and F.B.I. road-block.

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Plot Keywords:

cougar | roadblock | radio station | car chase | grief | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The giant longhorn skull seen at the beginning of the movie is the entrance to the "Longhorn Grill" in Amado, Arizona.

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Goofs

The motorcycle the girl in the desert is riding is a Yamaha DT-250, which has a 2-stroke engine. The sound of the exhaust is from a 4-stroke engine which were mainly used by Honda at the time that motorcycle was manufactured.

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Quotes

Motorcycle girl: You must be Kowalski.
Jimmy Kowalski: You must be insane.
Motorcycle girl: Why?
Jimmy Kowalski: Why? Joyriding on the salt flats half-naked?
Motorcycle girl: You're trying to outrun the combined police agencies of four states, and the FBI, halfway across America, so who's crazy?
Jimmy Kowalski: There's a difference. I didn't set out to do this.

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Connections

Remake of Vanishing Point (1971)

User Reviews

I own it on VHS, want it on DVD....and still think it stinks!

I can't add much to the comments already made to bash this terrible remake. Lousy at every turn, from plot to script to casting. With Jason Priestley and Christine Elise, both from 90210, why didn't they just toss Brian Austin Green into the driver's seat as Kowalski? Luke Perry could have been the antagonistic Charger-driving cop, and when all was said and done, Shannen Doherty would still have been glad to have left this sorry troupe of yo-yos behind. A mindless waste of time and money- a prime example of everything wrong with the Hollywood system. Simply stupid. Next up- Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer bring you Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera in the high-octane remake of 'Dirty Mary Crazy Larry'...the story of a budding NASCAR wanna-be and a hooker that steal Wal-Mart's money to pay for his mother's alzheimer's treatments. Can they get there before she forgets who they are?!? Tune in!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vanishing Point

Filming Locations:

Tubac, 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