Cast: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey & Lori Petty
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Rating:
Enetertainment Quotient: 60%
Genre: Action
Running time: 120 minutes
MPAA rating: R

Synopsis:
FBI special agent Johan Utah’s (Keanu Reeves) first assignment in his career is to catch bank robbers who wear masks of USA’s ex presidents and then rob banks. He gets some clues and identifies that the bank robbers are professional surfers. He goes undercover and joins the surfers group to infiltrate the suspects headed by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze). The rest of the story is all about the duel between Utah and Bodhi.

What is good in the film?
It is a good film with action sequences that were new in 1990’s. The film combines robberies, surfing, skydiving, romance and friendship. All these five ingredients are used efficiently to create a good plot.

What I really liked in the film?
What impressed me in the whole film is the characterisation of Bodhi. He says  ‘you don’t’ mind dying while doing what you like’. Though he is a professional robber, he values his friendship and stays away from killing Utah even when he comes to know the truth. Then Utah stops shooting Bodhi during the chase though he is in point blank range. Again, Bodhi does not kill Utah. In the climax, Utah does social justice by letting Bodhi die (assumption) doing what he really likes – surfing that is!

Tailpiece: Patrick Swayze is a negative character in this film and the story is presented in such a manner that the viewers fall in love with him rather than Keanu Reeves. Defining the purpose of a character is very important in any film. Here in this film Patrick Swayze commits robbery not for the money, but for the thrill!