Point Break (12A) | Close-Up Film Review
Dir. Ericson Core, US, 2015. 114 mins
Cast: Luke Bracey, Edgar Ramirez, Ray Winstone, Teresa Palmer, Delroy
Review by Carlie Newman
The two main characters are here. Our hero is Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) who we see suffer a tragedy while taking part in an extreme sport. This causes him to quit his sport and become an FBI agent. Investigating robberies – involving stunts including motorcycling and parachuting – in Mexico and Mumbai, Utah works out that the robbers are practitioners of extreme sports and, in fact, are trying to accomplish the Ozaki Eight – challenges to “honour the beauty and power of Mother Nature.” The challenges involve extreme sports which take place in different parts of the world.
With the agreement of his boss at the FBI, Instructor Hall (Delroy Lindo), and looked after by the English FBI contact, Angelo Poppas (Ray Winstone), Utah manages to become part of the gang and joins in with surfing, where at one point he is rescued by Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez), the leader of the gang. Utah remains in conflict with himself, his boss and the gang leader over exactly where he belongs and how to end the adventure.
Although Luke Bracey is very attractive to look at, the acting is pretty poor and the dialogue doesn’t really assist. Ray Winstone has the same London accent that he has employed in many films and Delroy Lindo seems to be walking through his part.
The excitement – and indeed there is some – lies in watching the execution of the extreme sports. Well photographed, there are some thrilling episodes of motor bike riding, surfing, parachuting and rock climbing, all photographed well and with some excellent stunt work. I can imagine some of our 16 to 21 year olds really enjoying this!
