Review of Vanishing Point (1971) by Keenan S — 01 Jun 2018

Vanishing Point is probably the most unusual and bold car chase film I have ever seen. But calling it a car chase film still isn't enough to describe this strange and beautiful masterpiece of a film.

Oh no, it is so much more than that. Kowalski drives and delivers cars for a living. After getting back from one job, he immediately accepts another job which will take him from Denver to San Francisco with the due date being Monday.

However, he goes to a dealer and buys speed to stay awake and makes a bet with the dealer that he will complete the delivery in under 24 hours. What begins is a quixotic journey across four states in a souped up 1970 Dodge Challenger that serve as a snapshot of America and the era itself.

While driving at such a ridiculous speed, he draws the attention of law enforcement as well as a blind D.J. named Super Soul who has a weird telepathic connection to Kowalski. During his journey, Kowalski becomes a hero of sorts for people, with Super Soul even referring to him as "The last free man on earth.

" He is rebelling against the authority (Or "The Man" as this is a 70's film) which many Americans didn't trust at the time as well being a symbol of freedom. Kowalski himself is an unusual character with a colorful past.

He's a Vietnam veteran, a former cop who exposed corruption in his force, a failed stock car driver, and lost a girlfriend who tragically drowned. This leaves the viewer pondering his quest. Is he running away from his past? Or is he chasing something? You will know how it ends for Kowalski - an inevitable fate.

It's a beautiful, transcendent journey where he encounters all sorts of strange characters and we learn about him as a person. It is a deep, beautiful, and compelling film that is so much more than you'd think at first glance.

It is also a bold and liberating film experience that makes you feel like you're a part of it. While some say this film is dated, if anything, it remains timeless as it reflects the anxieties of the American landscape or even just the universal feeling of trying to find yourself and wanting to be free.

Vanishing Point is a masterpiece, pure and simple. It's not just one of the best films of the 1970's, but I think of it as among the greats of the 20th century and for me, one of the fifty greatest films I have ever seen.

I cannot begin to gush enough about this beautiful film. You have to see it for yourself.