Review of Point Break (4k)
Point Break (Dir. Kathryn Bigelow)
4k Bluray release 2024
The five S’s of Point Break - surf, shoot outs, skydiving, sand and...surf.
Released for the first time on 4k Bluray, Point Break is a classic 90s actioner which sees Keanu Reeves’ young hot-shot tackle a gang of surfers who are intent on pushing him to the limits - both during their bank heists and on the ocean waves.
Upstart Reeves is FBI agent Johnny Utah (!) who arrives in LA, only to be partnered with a burnt out Gary Busey and together they investigate a series of robberies by the Ex-Presidents - a criminal group who use rubber masks of previous POTUSes to hide their identities.
In order to catch the elusive thieves, Reeves infiltrates a suspected gang of adrenaline junkies led by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) in order to foil their summer spree of lawbreaking.
Bigelow’s film has certainly gained a reputation over the years and this new 4k disc shows her visual flair. The kinetic bank robberies are Heat-lite and quick cuts and whip-fast camera work captures the excitement of the intense action moments. A rock soundtrack gets the blood-pumping and you feel every rain drop and foamy wave as well as the slick sweaty heat of the city of angels.
Bigelow’s vibrant direction adds splashes onto to the camera lens to bring the action alive and although at times it’s very chaotic, it’s always understandable. It really highlights the frenetic but cheap shaky cam and unintelligible lightspeed edits of modern blockbusters.
Swayze is on-screen dynamite as always and although Keanu’s acting is as flat as the surfboard he carries, the film’s central rivalry is one of its best assets. Reeves’ cop starts to be tempted from his office of authority by an ocean of freedom, as he joins in the surfing, skydiving and even a heist.
Running bang on 2 hours, it’s the perfect length too and although the dialogue is (extremely) dumb - combining “beach-bum bro banter” and cod tantric philosophy - are we really here for that? Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz rightly noted it is full of clichés but it seems to have invented some of its own. *fires gun in air whilst screaming*
And Bigelow elevates all this by using a visual flair that captures everything from nighttime paddles to shimmering cityscapes as fires smoulder on the beach at daybreak.
It’s kinda the Red Hot Chilli Peppers of movies. Fun whilst it lasts but you don't need to spend any more time than necessary with it. RHCP singer Anthony Kiedis, who cameos here, ends up shooting himself in the foot and it is almost too perfect a metaphor.
Sadly though there’s no special features on the disc. None. Nadda. A shame given its changing reputation over the years. But with regards to the film itself, if the glistening soaked spandex haunches of Keanu and sweaty Swayze’s dyed golden barnet don’t engorge your entertainment gland then nothing will. And in the end, it doesn’t break the cop formula but the action sure is on point.
★★★★
4 / 5
Mike Sales
Point Break is on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD and digital on demand 5 August from Icon Film Distribution
