Responding to a harsh review about "Vanishing Point" ('71)
Just recently, I stumbled across a tv documentary about Hollywood car chases, and it happened to be at the part where Vanishing Point was being discussed. Until I saw the doc, I never heard of the movie or knew of its cult status. After watching the movie, I checked my OnDemand menu and found it there, so I decided to watch. Liked it so much, I watched it again a few days later.
Maybe it's the tomboy inside me, but I fell in love with the movie. And with the character. I thought he had such a mysterious and otherwordly aura about him as he tried to meet his goal of delivering the Dodge Challenger to San Francisco in under 15 hours, only to be defeated in death at the end. The reason I describe him as outherwordly and mysterious, is that he is a man of few words (he doesn't say much), but he doesn't have to. He achieves notoriety with the help of a very cool dj (played by Cleavon Little) who goes by the name of Super Soul, and (I'm guessing here,) the folks Kowalski meets along the way already know of him (through Super Soul's broadcasts) and they try to help him get away from the cops.
Then I saw this review. Granted, we're all entitled to our opinions, but, I thought this person, Strathistle, (from the UK) was rather harsh in referring to the Kowalski character as a loser. Why? Because life dealt him a bad hand in circumstances? He rescued a girl from rape in the hands of his corrupt partner in his police days. I don't call that being a loser. He stood up for what was right and decent and unfortunately, got dishonorably discharged from the force because he acted on his principles. I don't believe that the love of his life died as a result of what this reviewer believed to be negligence on Kowalski's part. Hasn't this viewer considered that Kowalski may have tried to save her, but couldn't?
Reader, please note: Strathistle's review is in italics.
there he is in the middle of the desert all alone with a beautiful
naked woman who offers him anything he wants but he can't think of
anything! Loser.
Has the viewer stopped to think that it's possible that Kowalski may have felt it would be wrong to take advantage of a girl who may be romantically involved with the motorcyclist who was helping him out? Also, it's possible that in Kowalski's mind, he still was in love with his long-lost love who died in the ocean.
Yeah, someone may argue with me on the principles aspect. Principles?! you may ask. What principles?! He was evading capture! He was speeding! Someone could've died as a result of his reckless driving! He was hopped up on uppers!
Yeah, yeah, fine. Whatever.
Also, here is the link where I found the review:
http://www.ftmovie.com/vanishing-point-movie.html/comment-page-30#comments
Ummm, ok, he/she starts out as saying: I love this film. It does what a film should do.
Then:
The film is really about being a glorious loser. Kowalski, the hero, is a failure. He's a Vietnam War
vet - from a very disillusioned early 70's perspective anyone involved
in that conflict is a loser. He's a failed police officer (incidentally
it says he was a detective - does a detective wear a uniform? He does
if he's loser). He's a failure in love - his girlfriend dies in a
bizarre surfing accident while he rests on the shore. He's a failed
racing driver although his friend would have the world believe he was
the best only he never won anything. He's a failed gambler - can't even
win his bet to drive his car to San Francisco due to an unfortunate
bulldozer incident. He's a failure in friendship and morality. His best
friend (the one he makes his last telephone call to) is a drug dealer.
Remember Kowalski used to be a constable. He knows the damage drugs can
do. So we see him at one point protecting a girl from rape and in the
next discussing girls with his drug dealer mate. Speaking of women -
there he is in the middle of the desert all alone with a beautiful
naked woman who offers him anything he wants but he can't think of
anything! Loser. In the end the film asks did America fail Kowalski or
did Kowalski fail himself?
Um, ok, did you or did you not enjoy the film? First you say you love it, but then you rip into Kowalski because of the unfortunate circumstances he's faced through his life, personally and professionally. Understandably, his spirit was likely that of a broken one. Can you blame him for being despondent in his last moments? I've read several reviews that he killed himself. Others say he believed he could "make it" to San Francisco, but alas.... Maybe it was a mixture of both. Maybe by speeding to his death, he would end the psychological pain of more injustices dealt to him by society.
Ok, forgive me...I guess this reviewer was just simply being sarcastic, for the very sake of sarcasm itself. Again, everyone's entitled to their views.
In the end the film asks did America fail Kowalski or
did Kowalski fail himself?
What do you think? To me, it's simple: America failed Kowalski. He tried to lead a meaningful life but was hit with alot of obstacles along the way. So, again, it's understandable to feel despondent.
Maybe it's the tomboy inside me, but I fell in love with the movie. And with the character. I thought he had such a mysterious and otherwordly aura about him as he tried to meet his goal of delivering the Dodge Challenger to San Francisco in under 15 hours, only to be defeated in death at the end. The reason I describe him as outherwordly and mysterious, is that he is a man of few words (he doesn't say much), but he doesn't have to. He achieves notoriety with the help of a very cool dj (played by Cleavon Little) who goes by the name of Super Soul, and (I'm guessing here,) the folks Kowalski meets along the way already know of him (through Super Soul's broadcasts) and they try to help him get away from the cops.
Then I saw this review. Granted, we're all entitled to our opinions, but, I thought this person, Strathistle, (from the UK) was rather harsh in referring to the Kowalski character as a loser. Why? Because life dealt him a bad hand in circumstances? He rescued a girl from rape in the hands of his corrupt partner in his police days. I don't call that being a loser. He stood up for what was right and decent and unfortunately, got dishonorably discharged from the force because he acted on his principles. I don't believe that the love of his life died as a result of what this reviewer believed to be negligence on Kowalski's part. Hasn't this viewer considered that Kowalski may have tried to save her, but couldn't?
Reader, please note: Strathistle's review is in italics.
there he is in the middle of the desert all alone with a beautiful
naked woman who offers him anything he wants but he can't think of
anything! Loser.
Has the viewer stopped to think that it's possible that Kowalski may have felt it would be wrong to take advantage of a girl who may be romantically involved with the motorcyclist who was helping him out? Also, it's possible that in Kowalski's mind, he still was in love with his long-lost love who died in the ocean.
Yeah, someone may argue with me on the principles aspect. Principles?! you may ask. What principles?! He was evading capture! He was speeding! Someone could've died as a result of his reckless driving! He was hopped up on uppers!
Yeah, yeah, fine. Whatever.
Also, here is the link where I found the review:
http://www.ftmovie.com/vanishing-point-movie.html/comment-page-30#comments
Ummm, ok, he/she starts out as saying: I love this film. It does what a film should do.
Then:
The film is really about being a glorious loser. Kowalski, the hero, is a failure. He's a Vietnam War
vet - from a very disillusioned early 70's perspective anyone involved
in that conflict is a loser. He's a failed police officer (incidentally
it says he was a detective - does a detective wear a uniform? He does
if he's loser). He's a failure in love - his girlfriend dies in a
bizarre surfing accident while he rests on the shore. He's a failed
racing driver although his friend would have the world believe he was
the best only he never won anything. He's a failed gambler - can't even
win his bet to drive his car to San Francisco due to an unfortunate
bulldozer incident. He's a failure in friendship and morality. His best
friend (the one he makes his last telephone call to) is a drug dealer.
Remember Kowalski used to be a constable. He knows the damage drugs can
do. So we see him at one point protecting a girl from rape and in the
next discussing girls with his drug dealer mate. Speaking of women -
there he is in the middle of the desert all alone with a beautiful
naked woman who offers him anything he wants but he can't think of
anything! Loser. In the end the film asks did America fail Kowalski or
did Kowalski fail himself?
Um, ok, did you or did you not enjoy the film? First you say you love it, but then you rip into Kowalski because of the unfortunate circumstances he's faced through his life, personally and professionally. Understandably, his spirit was likely that of a broken one. Can you blame him for being despondent in his last moments? I've read several reviews that he killed himself. Others say he believed he could "make it" to San Francisco, but alas.... Maybe it was a mixture of both. Maybe by speeding to his death, he would end the psychological pain of more injustices dealt to him by society.
Ok, forgive me...I guess this reviewer was just simply being sarcastic, for the very sake of sarcasm itself. Again, everyone's entitled to their views.
In the end the film asks did America fail Kowalski or
did Kowalski fail himself?
What do you think? To me, it's simple: America failed Kowalski. He tried to lead a meaningful life but was hit with alot of obstacles along the way. So, again, it's understandable to feel despondent.