Review of Point Break (1991) by Deckard2 — 31 Jan 2022

UTAH!........MAKE IT TWO!

Full disclosure, I love this movie. It is one of my favourite movies of all time and is essential viewing for anyone that likes, bank robberies, surfing, Keanu, Swayze, epic bromances, The Fast and the Furious (they stole the plot), Gary Busey, John C McGinley chewing the scenery, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers (cameo appearance)....the list goes on.

The plot.....well.....let me tell you. Keanu Reeves is Johnny Utah, a new post graduate super cop who is tasked under the tutelage of Gary Busey to infiltrate a crack team of bank robbers who he theorises are possibly surfers. This leads Keanu into the world of zen master/surfing guru/samurai leader Patrick Swayze who takes him under his wing and teaches him the ways of the ocean whilst Keanu tries to figure out who the hell keeps robbing these banks whilst falling for a surfer girl played here by the perfectly cast Lori Petty.

The film oozes 90's cool. Swayzes sheer magnetism shines throughout which is remarkable for a character that arguably doesn't have that much screen time. Keanu here is also on top form playing a straight laced cop remembering at this point he is straight off the back of Bill and Ted and plays the ying to Patrick Swayzes yang perfectly. A shout out goes to John C McGinley who manages to chew every scene he is in and Gary Busey being on cracking form as Keanus detective unhinged mentor. Kathryn Bigelow has always been one of my favourite directors and would go on to direct such wartime epics as The Hurt Locker, but for me this stands out as probably her best work and is lifted up by a brilliant score from Mark Isham that perfectly suits the almost dream like quality this film achieves in places.

This is a film that manages to get you invested and believe that a bunch of surfer bros are the potential masterminds of several bank heists. It includes endlessly quotable dialogue, outstanding stunt scenes that still astound today (the aerial stunt work is still outstanding) and revolves around an epic bromance for the ages. As far as bank robbery films go, they rarely get better than this.