Breakdown (1997) - Mostow arrives with action-packed, flawed thriller

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A blue-faced Kurt Russell seems to be caught in a scarlet dilemma on this poster for Jonathan Mostow's Breakdown

On their way through Arizona's raw desert, an attractive couple's Jeep breaks down, and the wife catches a ride to the next café, while her husband waits and lets the engine cool down. But when he is able to get to the café shortly after, his wife has disappeared...!

 

Breakdown is written by Sam Montgomery (Sawbones (1995, TV movie)) and co-writer/director Jonathan Mostow (Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers (1989)).

It starts well as a typical 'country-folk-are-cruel-and-hostile' thriller with a well-playing Kurt Russell (Captain Ron (1992)), who gives good fullness to his character. The film develops increasingly action-packed with some good cardboard-type villains, and despite Russell pouring plenty of emotions into his performance, it is correct what one critic noted: The third act especially needs that Russell's character gets mad and shows that he is capable in terms of violence, - because Breakdown wants plenty of action. (Speaking of the action, there is a scene in which Russell hangs under a truck, in which it is obvious that it isn't driving fast, when he drops an object down onto the road.)

But Mostow can stage suspense and action, which some other scenes in Breakdown demonstrate, but on the whole this is a lightweight and thin-legged time-killer.

 

Watch a short TV spot for the film here

Cost: 36 mil. $

Box office: 50.1 mil. $ (North America only)

= Uncertain, but probably a flop (projected return of 2.22 times its cost)

[Breakdown premiered 24 April (Los Angeles) and runs 93 minutes. Russell was paid 15 mil. $ for his performance. Shooting took place from April - June 1996 in Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California. The film opened #1 to a 12.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it remained in the top 5 for another 3 weekends (#3-#3-#5), grossing 50.1 mil. $. The international gross figures are regrettably not reported online. Figuring on an 80 mil. $ world gross total, the film would rank as a flop. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Mostow returned with Directors on Directors (1997, TV documentary series), From the Earth to the Moon (1998, miniseries) and theatrically with U-571 (2000). Russell returned in Soldier (1998). Breakdown is certified fresh at 82 % with a 7.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

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