Point Break (1991)
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An undercover FBI agent infiltrates a group of surfers to uncover a string of bank robberies.
The story
Rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah assists senior agent Angelo Pappas in investigating a series of bank robberies in Los Angeles committed by a group known as the 'Ex-Presidents.' The robbers wear masks of former presidents and only take cash from tellers' drawers. Suspecting the criminals are surfers, Utah infiltrates the local surfing community. He poses as a novice surfer to gain entry into their circle, eventually forming a complex relationship with the group's leader, Bodhi. As Utah masters the sport, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the surfers' adrenaline-charged lifestyle and the community's philosophy, while trying to maintain his undercover identity.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Johnny Utah, an FBI agent, infiltrates a group of surfers led by Bodhi to identify them as the 'Ex-Presidents' bank robbers. After a series of events, including a failed raid and a tense standoff where Utah's identity is revealed to Tyler, Bodhi coerces Utah into a skydiving jump. During a final bank robbery, the group is forced to enter the vault, leading to a shootout where Utah is left behind. Later, Bodhi forces Utah onto a plane to Mexico, where they jump out; Utah confronts Bodhi in mid-air but allows him to escape due to a recurring knee injury. Nine months later, Utah tracks Bodhi to a massive storm at Bells Beach in Australia. Bodhi begs to ride a '50-year storm' wave; Utah allows him to do so, knowing he won't survive, and throws his badge into the ocean as Bodhi rides to his death.
- Original title
- Johnny Utah
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 122
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kathryn Bigelow
- Writers
- W. Peter Iliff · screenplay; Rick King · story; W. Peter Iliff · story
- Cast and characters
- Keanu Reeves · Johnny Utah; Patrick Swayze · Bodhi; Gary Busey · not specified; Lori Petty · Tyler
- Genres
- action; film
- Themes
- identity; adrenaline; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- action; intense
- Premise and plot tags
- undercover; surfing; heist
- Source material / true-story basis
- Original screenplay by W. Peter Iliff
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews, particularly for the chemistry between the leads, and has since gained a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 69% · scale: percentage · review count: 81; Metacritic · score: 60 · scale: 100 · review count: 21; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The title was changed from 'Johnny Utah' to 'Point Break' during filming.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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