Breakdown Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Jeff and Amy Taylor are moving to California and must drive across the country. When they find themselves stranded in the middle of a desert with hardly anyone or anything around, their trip comes to a sudden halt. Amy had taken a ride with a friendly trucker to a small diner to call for help, but after a long time, Jeff becomes worried. He finds that no one in the diner has seen or heard from his wife. When he finds the trucker who gave Amy the ride, the trucker swears he has never seen her. Now Jeff must attempt to find his wife, who has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. But who can he trust?
| Kurt Russell | Jeffrey 'Jeff' Taylor |
| Kathleen Quinlan | Amy Taylor |
| J.T. Walsh | Warren 'Red' Barr, Gang Truck Driver |
| Thomas Kopache | Calhoun |
| Jack Noseworthy | Billy, Gang Member |
| M.C. Gainey | Earl, Gang Member |
| Moira Harris | Arleen Barr, Red's Wife |
| Rex Linn | Sheriff Boyd |
| Jack McGee | Bartender at Belle's Diner |
| Ritch Brinkley | Al, Gang Member |
| Kim Robillard | Deputy Len Carver |
| Vincent Berry | Deke Barr, Red's Son |
| Helen Duffy | Flo |
| Ancel Cook | Barfly at Belle's Diner |
| Gene Hartline | Tow Truck Driver |
| Jonathan Mostow |
6.20 out of 10 (16 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Good action, yet the film, as usual with the genre, demands much suspension of belief.
posted on 25 Jul 2009I certainly enjoyed the action and the acting of this genre film, once I was prepared, as always to suspend belief. Our yuppy Bostonian hero has the physical prowess of Chuck Norris and Steven Segal combined, yet lacks even a modest degree of articulateness that one would assume from his character type. His inability to explain the circumstances of his wife's disappearance, even to a sympathetic sheriff, defies belief. Nonetheless for sheer good guy, bad guy action, the film is a success.
BREAKDOWN (DIDIER BECU)
posted on 19 Jun 2009Since I started reviewing movies, I only gave two movies a nine and this one is the second one that deserves these points cos it must be one of the most thrilling movies I have ever seen and never understood why this movie is so obscure. Everything starts fine when couple Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan are testing their new jeep on some highway. They're your average couple but after some minutes a black jeep comes out of nowhere which is the start of a real nightmare...and yes, you immediately are reliving the finest thrilling moments of Spielberg's masterpiece "The Duel". When some moments later the jeep gives it a day they are helped by a friendly trucker (a brilliant role from JT Walsh) who's giving Kathleen a lift to the nearest tankstation but she never got there.... All what is left to do is searching his wife but it seems that no one can be trusted, not even the police, and where can you ask for help if nobody is around? Quite funny to see it's directed by Jonathan Mostow who recently directed Terminator 3 and just look for the chasing scenes...they're top man!!!! Kurt Russell stars another time as the action hero nobody cares about but does it lots better than most of his famous collegues. Breakdown is suspense at its best, just see it!!!!
A search for a lost wife....A well thought out Thriller
posted on 04 Jun 2009I was blown away by this film....Kurt Russell explodes onto the screen again. He searches for his wife after she goes for help from a friendly offer from a truck driver to drive her to the next payphone..but she never arrives.....What happens becomes a story of Blackmail and Love. Russells acting is superb...and goes to all lengths to save his wife..including some original ideas of torture on Russells behalf. A film that cannot be revealed storyline wise otherwise it will be rubbish to watch,......Watch it and enjoy....one of the few films were I have actually wanted the character to kill and save....
fairly good action flick
posted on 29 May 2009A man's wife is kidnapped and held for ransom in an isolated desert town. Overly familiar story about an ordinary man pushed to his limits is saved by low-key, realistic performances. Holes in the plot are less numerous than many action-suspense films. (Rating: B+)
5 Stars for the FILM, 1 Star for the DVD
posted on 12 May 2009Of course the movie deserves 4 stars, however I wish I could say the same for the DVD. What does it take for DVD company to release each DVD enhanced for 16x9 TVs? Nothing!
Recently I bought a SONY BRAVIA 32 INCH display and I have a collection of over 600 Dvds. I learned now about "Enhanced for 16x9 TVs" and how important it is, I did not care about it or even know about it since I own a standard TV, however all my Dvds are Region 1 and in widescreen, I never buy fullscreen Dvds. So I did an inventory on my collection and realized the following:
Out of 600+ Dvds, 42 are NOT enhanced for 16x9 TVs and they really look horrible when I played them on my PC. Anyway, according to my inventory.
THE FOLLOWING MOVIES / COMPANY HAVE FAILED TO PRODUCE ANAMORPHIC OR 16X9 WIDESCREEN and I hope that these company will release them in the near future so that we can enjoy them on our TVs.
MGM:
Runaway Train
Graduate
No Way Out
Prizzi's Honor
FX
Shallow Grave
Thief
House Of Games
Dead Man Walking
Misery
The Eye Of The Needle
Overboard
PARAMOUNT:
Private Parts
48 Hrs
Coming To America
Primal Fear
The Ghost And The Darkness
Breakdown
UNIVERSAL:
Day Of The Jackal
Psycho (AVAILABLE IN THE RECENT HITCHCOCK'S BOXSET AS ANAMORPHIC)
Vertigo (AVAILABLE IN THE RECENT HITCHCOCK'S BOXSET AS ANAMORPHIC)
The Game
FOX:
Abyss (I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT MY 2-DISC IS NOT ANAMORPHIC, NOR IS THE LATEST DIGIPACK EDITION)
Raising Arizona
The Edge
Great Expectations
Rising Sun
The Ref
Romancing The Stone
The Jewel Of The Nile
ARTISAN:
House Of The Spirits
The Last Seduction
The Last Emperor
The Eagle Has Landed
Bound
PS: PLEASE ARTISAN, INSTEAD OF RELEASING 'BASIC INSTINCT' FOR THE 4TH TIME, WHICH MOST HAVE ALMOST THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS, CONSIDER RELEASING SOME MORE INTERESTING MOVIES WITH PROPER ATTENTION SUCH AS THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE.
TOUCHSTONE / WALT DISNEY:
Ransom
What About Bob?
PS: IT IS A GREAT NEWS THAT TOUCHSTONE ARE RELEASING 'ENEMY OF THE STATE', CRIMSON TIDE' AND 'CON AIR' IN EXTENDED UNRATED EDITIONS ON MAY 16. I WISH THOUGH THEY DID THE SAME WITH 'RANSOM'
WARNER:
91/2 Weeks
Presumed Innocent
NOTE THAT WARNER STUDIO IS RELEASING ONE OF THE BEST 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION SUCH AS 'SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION', 'HEAT', 'MALCOLM X', 'DOG DAY AFTERNOON', 'ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN' AND MANY MANY MORE.
The reason why they don't release every DVD in widescreen enhanced for 16x9 is beyond me since soon Widescreen Tvs will replace standard ones.
IT IS A RELIEF THAT AMAZON IS NOW STATING WHETHER THE DVD IS ANAMORPHIC OR LETTERBOXED.
Unbelievably tense thriller
posted on 05 May 2009A terrific film with a tight story that keeps you speeding along to the end. Kurt Russell is terrific as the everyman who must rise to the occasion when his wife is suddenly missing. Terrific southwest locations, white-knuckle stuntwork, and another wonderful turn by the late, great J.T. Walsh. Don't miss this film!
One of the best thrillers of the 90's!
posted on 26 Apr 2009In my opinion, Breakdown is one of the best thrillers of the 1990's. It has everything, great scenery, great acting, aand a great plot too! This one will keep you guessing for quite a while, and even after you figure out the ending, you'll still be guessing who's gonna come out on top, Kurt Russell, or the bad guys. I highly recommend this movie, if for nothing more than to pay tribute to the late great, J.T. Walsh.
Excellent thriller
posted on 20 Apr 2009Nice typical 90's action/thriller movie, loved it from beginning to the end, definitely keeps you at the edge of your seat. Good actor play as well.I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes the genre and Kurt Russel. The interesting thing is that on the contrary from his previous roles of gun-totting tough guys (Escape from L.A., Stargate, Tango&Cash) he just plays an ordinary guy caught in a trap by misfortune, which adds an interesting contrast. The plot is pretty simple and straightforward with no unnecessary violence and stunts added, which makes it a nice light movie to watch if you feel like having your dose of suspense.I am a little disappointed at the low rating (6.6), this movie delivers pretty well what it promises, and easely deserves at least 8/10.
A solid thriller
posted on 03 Mar 2009Kurt Russell stars as a man who goes on a frantic search for his missing wife after she gets a ride from a mysterious truck driver. Great acting and very believable plot twists make this average story work. Slickly written and directed. Intense, suspenseful, and unpredictable. Highly recommended. 3/4
DON'T READ THE OTHER REVIEWS!!!
posted on 22 Feb 2009Why not? Because I think that way too much of the story is being given away. I'm suprised that IMDB would allow these reviews to be posted, with so many of them spoiling the story. Breakdown is easily the best action/suspence movie I've seen. Here's ALL you need to know about the story, although you can just watch the movie without any info. and still have it make sense:A couple is taking the scenic route. They notice some strange driving attitudes around the lonely road. They stop for gas and meet a suspicious man. Hmmm. Weird. Well, they get in their nice Jeep. Uh-oh! It breaks down. Kurt Russell pulls it over the side of the road. What happens next? You'll just have to see. I'm glad I didn't see the previews for this movie before I saw it, because it, too, gives way too much away. Great movie.
The most underrated thriller...yet!
posted on 07 Feb 2009Personally, I didn't even HEAR of this movie until I saw it on HBO, but when I did, I wondered why this movie wasn't NEAR as popular as it should have been. What's up with that one person in "user comments" whining about how this plot is a re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re hash? That doesn't matter at all with a clever script and excellent acting. Let's face it: if it WAS some new plot in the 90's, it would be too complicated to comprehend even if you watched it 7 times. Those movies, in the end, don't compare with Breakdown.
There's sort of a loyal following to this movie...
posted on 05 Feb 2009... as you can tell from the other reviews. This is one of my Top 10 movies and I felt I had to throw out my own two cents about this review. I think what makes this special is that most viewers can relate to this movie in many aspects-- the simplicity of the situation (your car breaks down and your wife is missing after being picked up by a friendly trucker), the frustration of Kurt Russell's character, the type of setting (towns, lifestyle). "Breakdown" doesn't have the amazing stunts that most Hollywood flicks are putting out these days but it IS just as effective. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and while it doesn't take more than once to "get" (like some movies!), this movie has all the elements that will make you want to see it again.
action-packed thriller with tons of tension
posted on 27 Jan 2009this movie is definitely one of the better thrillers to come out since it's release.it's action packed and full of tension in it's 90-minutes of right-on time.kurt russell, always good, does a great job and this is no exception.the late great j.t. walsh,in one of his last performances,plays one of the best bad guys. i can't recommend this film enough for those seeking thrills, action and suspense.i can't really say what is wrong with the film but i just felt that it didn't belong in the perfect category,although maybe it should because it does answer on every call.a movie to watch again and again.
too violent
posted on 25 Dec 2008this movie was the most violent one in the world. they show u when kurt russell cuts this bad guy's head. and they show u all the blood, stomach, its so disgusting. and there r other parts where those violent scenes occur. i think the end was better but still, it was too inappropriate. when kurt makes love with his wife at the beginning, they have sex and they show u them naked. dont buy this movie
Bow down before the power of Kurt!
posted on 13 Dec 2008Kurt Russell is one of my favorite actors. Unfortunately, to a lot of people this is like saying that MD 20/20 is one of your favorite wines. Kurt Russell seems to get less respect than Rodney Dangerfield, even though Kurt is demonstrably more talented and charismatic than a lot of actors with Oscars on their mantelpieces. It's true he's made some bad choices (don't get me started on "Stargate" or "Captain Ron"), but really, when you look at other prominent leading actors, have Kurt's choices been all that much worse than theirs? In any case, "Breakdown" is a prime example of what Kurt can do when given a decent role. The movie is exciting and well-shot, with superb character actors like the late J.T. Walsh in support, but it is Kurt's performance which makes this movie, and it is impossible to imagine any other actor in the role. "Breakdown" speaks to Kurt's great strengths as an actor: his subtle expressivity, his ability to gain the sympathy of the audience without overtly playing for it, and his astonishing athleticism (Kurt did nearly all his own stunts for this movie, some of which would make Evel Knievel blanch). The next time you're about to say, "Kurt Russell? Boo! Send him back to Mickey Mouse!" watch this movie instead, and you'll gladly eat your words.
Coincidence....:-)
posted on 28 Oct 2008Recently I moved to Dallas and I am staying in Richardson area of Texas.Today I watched the movie on TV and thought of commenting on it...and when I checked the last comment on this movie...it was by someone who was living in Richardson, Texas in 2001...coincidence...Well,believe me I could not move from my seat before movie was over. Movie has a perfect pace and a magic spell you will be glued to it.Great plot and superb acting by Kurt. Fight sequences are great with lots of gun shot and shouting..I enjoyed every bit of it...Worth watching.
This Could Happen To You!
posted on 25 Oct 2008Most people reckon Breakdown is too over the top with its action and story but when you really think about it, this could happen to you. Breakdown was a low budget film directed by Jonathan Mostow (U-571, Teminator 3). Mostow keeps the story simple with a unexpected breakdown which turns into a living nightmare. Kurt Russell plays his role well as Jeff Taylor trying to save his wife from a ruthless gang, lead by the late J.T Walsh.After a there car breaks down on the side of the road, Jeff and Amy Taylor find help from a passing Truckee that offers Amy a ride to the next town get help. A few hours passes and Jeff finds the problem with car and fixes it (Some lose wires under the car). When Jeff gets to the town were Amy was meant to be, she's not there and no one has seen her or the 18 wheeler that picked he up. This is were the terror starts as Jeff trys the find and save his wife.This movie is very well paced and the last 20 minutes of the film are very thrilling. The music goes with the pace of the film. See this film as it might happen to you.
Duel 2
posted on 19 Oct 2008A few years ago, I was with a mate driving through the Mojave desert - like you do - looking for a petrol station. Having overshot the turn off, it was, needless to say, a little tense as we searched for our oil-splattered destination. To cut a long story short, we found the gas station and all was well.Most drivers have been in the same situation at some point on the road: It's the middle of nowhere, you're lost, eyes fixed to the petrol gauge wondering if it's possible to make it to the next services without being stranded. With such a primal fear bubbling in every driver's psyche, it's little wonder canny film-makers have been keen to exploit this. Many have been keen to try with a host of TV movies usually starring Robert Urich and Meredith Baxter Birney, credibility often taking a back seat to the cliched scripts.However, while those are best forgotten, there are three great movies about highway horror that usually involve something a little more sinister than just looking for gas in the middle of a dust-laden desert.Steven Spielberg directed the first, Duel, in the early Seventies; a terrific thriller with Dennis Weaver as a humble motorist terrorised by an unhinged trucker (who we never see).The second was The Vanishing, George Sluizer's Dutch nail-biter about a young man desperately searching for his girlfriend after she disappears from a motorway service station.Taking elements from both of the above, writer/director Jonathan Mostow created the third: Breakdown, an all too feasible thriller which rarely shifts out of top gear - until the third act. In the early days of production, things didn't look promising. Kurt Russell had just made the derivative yawnfest Escape From LA and Mostow's previous movies, Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers and Flight of the Black Angel, were far from classics.To say both director and star pulled out all the stops is something of an understatement. Breakdown may not be in the same league as The Sixth Sense or The World is Not Enough - the finale is more than a little disappointing - but as a simple thriller, well told, this is a breathless trip to Hell and back.Russell plays Jeff Taylor, the everyman motorist on a trip from Boston to San Diego with wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan). After breaking down in the middle of nowhere, she (rather stupidly) goes off with trucker JT Walsh to get help. When his photogenic partner doesn't return, Kurt naturally smells a rat and is soon neck deep in trouble in an attempt to rescue his beloved. While Russell is as good as ever, risking life and limb as the man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal, it's the late, great JT Walsh who shines in one of his final performances. Hollywood psychos are two a penny in Tinseltown so to effectively play a man who is clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic without looking like a Scooby Doo villain takes some doing. As Walsh proved with movies such as The Negotiator, Hollywood lost a superb supporting star the day he died.
Breathtaking action!
posted on 22 Aug 2009The plot looks like "The Vanishing", with Kiefer Sutherland and Nancy Travis. However "Breakdown" goes to the adventure kind of film, instead of mystery. And this is its great quality. It is a surprising non-stop action movie. We kind konw what is going to happen, but it comes with a lotta unexpected electicity. Kurt Russell is well but just imagine if it was Harrison ford in his place - uau! Kathleen Quinlan has the ideal look for the desirable young wife, but she's not only the screaming victim - wait for the grand finale and you'll see what I mean!