Action films of the late ’80s and early ’90s are nothing short of iconic.
EnterKathryn Bigelows 1991 cult classicPoint Break.
InPoint Break, a nearly mythic 50-year storm brims under the surface of the central story.
Image via 20th Century Fox
The Ex-Presidents led by Bodhi rob banks each summer to fund their radical, anti-establishment, surfer lifestyle.
By 1991, Patrick Swayze was a household name.
He followed up the unimaginable success ofDirty Dancing and its accompanying soundtrack on which Swayze sings withRoad HouseandGhost.
Image via 20th Century Studios
Both films were box-office hits.
Swayze and Reeves' chemistry is immediate and charged.
Their chemistry is arguably unequaled in the action genre to this day.
Image via 20th Century Studios
Kathryn Bigelow tells you everything with pounding rain, a surfboard, and the action genre’s goofiest smile.
Bodhi is presented almost exclusively through Johnnys eyes.
On his surfboard, the water is not oppressive or limiting.
Image via 20th Century Fox
Bodhi like the wave hes riding is expansive, a force of nature, and free.
The moment Bodhi arrives on-screen, Tyler and Johnny are separated by reverse shots of Bodhi on the water.
Johnny is at odds with the matter-of-fact practicality of FBI Director Ben Harp (John C McGinley).
They chase profit and glory, something he discourages in the young men who follow him.
Bodhis anti-establishment extremism repeatedly slips as he continues to try and seduce Johnny long after he discovers the truth.
The FBI is misguided at best and deliberately obtuse at worst in comparison to Johnnys laser focus.
Bodhis found family of beach bum strays are neutered without his guidance.
Bodhi and the gang show up at Johnny’s apartment.
Bodhi corrals Johnny onto the plane and tosses him a parachute pack as they ascend.
What feels like a sinister set-up becomes a moment of spiritual connection.
As they jump from the plane, theyre elated.
The score is triumphant as Bodhi coaches Johnny through the stunt.
The tension between them is forgotten as they tangle in the sky.
They grip each other, face to face, long after the other Ex-Presidents activate their chutes.
Johnny tries to win the game of parachute chicken, but Bodhi pulls his cord.
They land in water, Bodhi first … Johnny last, smiling and spent.
Jesus Christ, Ive gotta be losing it, Johnny says.
Its a short-lived consummation.
With casualties under their belts, Bodhi and Johnny take flight.
I know you want me so bad it tastes like acid in your mouth.
But not this time."
This time they land in the dry heat of a desert.
Johnny is too injured and too tangled up in Bodhis parachute to pursue him.
But Bodhi doesnt walk away victoriously.
He signals for Tyler to be freed and sadly walks away: “This game we both lose.”
And audiences are clearly hungry for action that goes deeper into character and connection.
(See: Max and Furiosa.)
But withPoint Break, Bigelow showed us that there’s always further to go.
What is sometimes identified as cheese inPoint Breakis altogether something else sincerity.
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