Breakdown (1997/I)

Director:

Jonathan Mostow

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Mostow (story)
Jonathan Mostow (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 May 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A cross-country trip. An unexpected breakdown. The trap has been set.

Plot:

A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.

Plot Keywords:

Jeep | Truck Driver | Video Game | On The Road | 18 Wheeler

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Jeffrey 'Jeff' Taylor
J.T. Walsh	...	Warren 'Red' Barr
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Amy Taylor
M.C. Gainey	...	Earl
Jack Noseworthy	...	Billy
Rex Linn	...	Sheriff Boyd
Ritch Brinkley	...	Al
Moira Harris	...	Arleen Barr
Kim Robillard	...	Deputy Len Carver
Thomas Kopache	...	Calhoun
Jack McGee	...	Bartender at Belle's Diner
Vincent Berry	...	Deke Barr
Helen Duffy	...	Flo
Ancel Cook	...	Barfly at Belle's Diner
Gene Hartline	...	Tow Truck Driver

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence/terror and language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 | South Korea:15 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #34949) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

American River, Sacramento, California, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

Kurt Russell was helicoptered in and out of the areas of shooting so he could be with his family in Los Angeles at night.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the final chase scene when the red car rolls over the driver is missing.

Quotes:

Red: You're a tough man to get a hold of, Jeffery.
Jeff: What do you want?
Red: It's not what I want, it's what you want, how bad you want it. 'Cause it's gonna cost you. Can't show it to you right now, but it's about five-five, a hundred and fifteen pounds, three or four of that just pure tit. Nice curly brown hair, upstairs and down. Interested?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Road (2002)

Soundtrack:

This Game Of Love

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Starring Jackie Chan, minus Texas, chain saw and Jackie Chan. But that is what it is.

The very best action packed suspense dramatic thriller I have ever seen. Throughout my life I have seen about twelve thousand movies, so that actually is saying something(my father = retired video pirate). I can't believe that I never saw this movie until today. Wish I had seen it in the theatre.

Jeff and Amy Taylor are moving from the east coast to the west coast and have a breakdown some sixty miles outside of the town that progress forgot. A friendly truck driver offers to help and gives Amy a ride to town while Jeff stays behind to watch the SUV. He notices the actual problem with his car's engine, a minor one that he can fix, and gets under way to meet up with his wife. When he gets to the diner where Amy is supposed to be calling for a tow truck, she is not there. Where is Amy? Where is the trucker who helped her? Why are people shooting at Jeff?

BUZZ WORDS THAT I'VE HEARD APPLIED TO OTHER MOVIES, WHICH GENERALLY DISAPPOINT, BUT ARE ACCURATE FOR THIS ONE:

Breakdown is an edge of your seat, adrenaline pumping and heart stopping in your face cinematic thrill ride that will leave you breathless and begging for more pulse pounding, jaw dropping excitement; and then it delivers with a finale that will leave you teetering on the edge of eternity chewing on someone else's fingernails.

If you only have the opportunity to see one action flick in your lifetime, THIS HAS TO BE IT!