Vanishing Point (1971)

Director: Richard C. Sarafian

Starring: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Charlotte Rampling

During the 1970s, car delivery driver Kowalski delivers hot rods in record time but always runs into trouble with the highway cops.

Ok, let’s dig right into this one. I was keen on watching ‘Vanishing Point’ because the DVD cover claims this to be “The ultimate car chase movie”. Who doesn’t love car chases in movies?

Well, after a fast-paced and reasonably exciting first act, the film slows down significantly during the second act – so much so in fact that I started looking at my watch. Barry Newman stars as the guy, Kowalski, who is being chased. He is driving a supercharged white 1970 Dodge Challenger. He is being chased from the opening scene, but we’re not sure why or what he has done.

Trivial things he notices along the way brings back memories, and his back story is told through these memories. We discover he is an ex racer, and also an ex policeman. But it is never revealed why he is being chased. Maybe just because he was speeding? Who knows?

He meets various characters along the way, but none of them really adds to the film in any way. They come and they go, and Kowalski keeps ending up alone, driving like hell. There’s also a blind character, Super Soul, who is a radio DJ listening in to the police frequency. He ends up talking to Kowalski over his CB radio, but this also has no affect on Kowalski or his actions, so what’s the point? Soul was also more annoying than interesting. Oh, and speaking of annoying; what’s with all the gospel music in this movie?

By the time the film ends on that final moment, it deems the entire movie pointless and quite frankly, a waste of time. It begs the question what Kowalski’s motives might have been for him to take such action? Just why? It makes no sense whatsoever. What was the point in running from the cops then?

So, did I like anything about the film? Well, yes, I enjoyed the first act. The cinematography was beautiful, and the action choreography is excellent. Had it ended on a better note, I might have enjoyed the film in its entirety – despite a slow second act. But as it is, the stupid ending ruined everything. If you enjoy these kind of movies, rather watch ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ or ‘Convoy’.

‘Vanishing Point’ earned $12.4 million on a $1.58 million budget.

Would I watch it again? No.