Review of Vanishing Point (1971) by Prasad P — 05 Sep 2009
A cult classic about an enigmatic driver's relentless determination to railroad authority, echoing the sentiment of post-Vietnam America. For those like me - the English-speaking minority in a small South Asian backwater who've grown up to a lop-sided mix of country and western and local music, Hollywood movies, and the happy realities of living in a third world town - this film provides a glimpse of the mood of the US at that time, a feeling of indignant, harsh, angry, voiceless defiance.
This is mirrored in Kowalski's journey across America in his white Dodge Challenger, stopping for no figure of authority, in defiance to the cry of 'The Man,' whose reasons for stopping him are hazy at best.
The movie itself has pacing issues, superb car chases, some stunning mis en scene and nothing much else. In the end it is an impressionistic road movie, commenting with its tone and attitude on the mood of post-war America.
This review of Vanishing Point (1971) was written by Prasad P on 05 Sep 2009.
Vanishing Point has generally received positive reviews.
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