Breakdown 4K UHD

A fan favorite: suspense, action, thrills and revenge. Finally, a bluray of this underseen classic (the long out of print DVD cost a fortune). And what a bluray it is! It also was packaged with various "4 ACTION THRILLER!" sets. J.T. Walsh/Red Barr: “Now, before you get any half-baked ideas about calling in the cavalry, just remember we’re gonna be watching you every step of the way. And we’ll be listening to our police scanners. And if we see anything unusual, an unmarked car or truck, or if we see you talking to anyone who even remotely smells like a cop… well, you can just keep your F'ing money, Jeff, and I’ll keep your wife. And I’ll mail you pieces of her from time to time.” Released recently on Blu-ray for the first time on the Paramount Pictures imprint is the late 1990s thriller “Breakdown” (1997) featuring Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan as a terrorized husband and wife, that echoes Speilberg's “Duel” (1971) as well the 1980s “The Hitcher” (1986). There is also a dusting of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974) and Wes Craven's "The Hills Have Eyes" (1977), if you're looking for it. As to the latter two fims: It is a favorite of Rob Zombie's. RZ also credits this film as an influence. But only as homage as “Breakdown” has not only an element of originality but an A list cast that breathe new life into this sub-genre. When “Breakdown” was produced in the late 1990s the idea of an adult thriller made on location with a modest budget was not out of the ordinary, indeed casting these movies with well known actors was also not unusual, which made them all the more enjoyable as these stars were normally acting against their own well crafted images, think Michael Keaton in the underrated “Pacific Heights” (1990), pre-punchline Nicolas Cage in the Barbet Schroeder helmed and Richard Price (The Wire, Sea of Love, The Color of Money) scripted "Kiss of Death (1995). Other "small" thrillers of the era include "Unlawful Entry" (also with Russell) and "Single White Female." Too many to name. And of course Kurt Russell in this terrific action/thriller. The other element was that they had some major creative force so in the aforementioned movies the directors were the legendary John Schlesinger and Wolfgang Peterson, in “Breakdown” there was a rising talent, Jonathan Mostow who had a singular creative vision that is apparent. “Breakdown” is based around Jeff Taylor and his wife Amy who are driving cross-country from Boston to San Diego in their new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Jeff narrowly avoids colliding with a beat-up truck. Later, at a gas station, Earl, the truck driver, confronts Jeff and they exchange hostile words. Shortly after the couple resume their journey, their car breaks down on a vacant road. Leaving Jeff with the Jeep, Amy accepts a ride from a passing big rig trucker to get to a nearby diner and call for help. Jeff eventually discovers that someone has tampered with the Jeep’s battery connections. After reconnecting them, he drives to the diner, only to discover that no one has seen Amy. When he sees the trucker on the road and forces him to stop, the trucker claims he has never seen Jeff or Amy. From here the movie shifts gears from low key drama to a ride through the southwest and the action steadily climbs to a tense stand-off which is handled extremely well. This was not writer/director Jonathan Mostow’s first movie, it was in fact his third but it was his introduction to studio, big budget, star powered movie making and he handles himself incredibly well with both the intimate dialogue scenes, the confrontational aspects of the movie and of course the action set pieces of which there are more than a few ranging from minor to the huge with a section on a bridge that heightens tension and brings “Breakdown” to its conclusion. In the intervening years Mostow has not risen to the heights that may have been on the horizon in the late 1990s but he has been behind some good and competent movies including a widely derided ‘Terminator’ sequel (part 3) and the popular World War II drama “U-571” (2000). This movie is led by the always charismatic and talented Kurt Russell (in mild-mannered "Unlawful Entry" mode) who is in fine form and at the height of his popularity, although I would argue he is a perennially popular actor who always shines onscreen - I e., his work with Quentin Tarantino. However the key ingredient is one of the truly great character actor J. T. Walsh who died not long after this movie was released with it being one of a handful of final performances. There are many character actors working but Walsh had a huge range and this shows in his career, in his many roles he had to share the screen with truly great leading actors but always managed to hold his own and add to any scene he was in. In fact I would go so far as to say he was the leading character actor in Hollywood up to his death and his loss was felt for years as he died young and prematurely. In this movie he has to play a variety of emotions all the while disguising his true intentions until the third act, which is something in itself. In the 1990s there was a thriving movie industry with many distinct tiers, what I mean by that is that there were movies budgeted at many levels from micro budgets to huge budgets and everything in between. What this meant was mid ranged movies could made and make a modest box office while having an extended life on video, later DVD. However that has all but disappeared with either low budgeted independent movies or huge blockbusters with anything in between all but disappearing which can be traced to the disappearance of a home video market and the rise of streaming. The direct result is that it is rare to have original plots, mid level budgets and new talents being seen in movies because that is not what drives mass audiences and creates perceived franchises. With the decline of true mass market physical media such as video and DVD (not forgetting blu-ray) it is surprising to see what is released on blu-ray especially in the relatively small physical media market. But there is a dirty little secret (to the public at large) in that physical media still has a place in that the quality from a Blu-ray Disc or even a 4K disc is overall better than any streaming service. This means that consumers will still spend money on a quality movie and a quality transfer and disc which is proven by the fact that a movie that made $50 million (U S.) at the box office is being given the treatment it deserves. I recommend this movie highly especially for those that are fans of Kurt Russell, an everyman thrust into a terrifying situation. It is also a quality movie that deserves a third (or more, I saw it in the theater, and several subsequent home viewings. I have yet to meet someone who is not a fan of this film) go around, it has aged remarkably well even with the jumps in technology. Great score by the prolific and legendary Basil Pouledourus (Conan the Barbarian, Robocop, The Hunt For Red October and many more). Excellent cinematography provided by Douglas Milsome, Stanley Kubrick's camera operator since the mid-70s: The sunbaked desert, empty roads, mountains and roadside truck stops never looked more beautiful - and foreboding. Special Features: 1080p high definition presentation from a 4K scan by Paramount Pictures NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critic Peter Tonguette (2020) NEW “IT’S GONNA COST YOU: MAKING BREAKDOWN” – A new in-depth interview with writer/director Jonathan Mostow (2020) “THE TRAP IS SET: INSIDE THE STUNTS” – A new interview with stunt coordinator M. James Arnett (2020) “WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME: REMEMBERING BASIL POLEDOURIS” – A new interview with musician Eric Colvin about his time working with composer Basil Poledouris (2020) “Life is Jeep: Breakdown and the Psychology of the Road” A Visual Essay by Ian Mantgani (2020) NEW Interview with film Critic Tim Robey (2020) Theatrical Trailer DTS HD 5.1 surround LPCM 2.0 Stereo Optional English subtitles Theatrical Trailer

I love this movie! I just listened to the audio commentary with director Jonathan Mostow and actor Kurt Russell and it was very enjoyable listening to them talking throughout the whole movie. They were really enjoying watching this movie after all these years and Kurt Russell mentions that he just wants to watch this movie again without any distractions. Just a really great movie. Listening to the commentary while watching the movie is like you're in the same room with them watching the movie together.

I remember watching this movie on TV years ago and I still believe it holds up today. It would have made a fantastic Hitchcock movie dealing with a man's missing wife. Kurt Russel' character is driving down a desert highway with his beautiful wife when he runs into some very bad people in a truck who want to kidnap young women. The car they are driving 'breaks down' with help from the bad guys after Russel's car is left alone for a while at a gas station (long enough to have some wires disconnected). Stranded, he and his wife run into a 'friendly' trucker who just happens to be driving down the same road as they are. He convinces Russel that he will need to call for a tow truck at the next town so he (stupidly I must say) allows his wife to go with the trucker to the next town to call for help while he waits with the car. First mistake.... never, NEVER allow your wife to go with a total stranger! From there, he finds that same trucker later who denies even knowing who his wife is much less having picked her up at all. And so the mystery begins for him to be in search of his beautiful and now missing wife. The rest of the story is full of suspense and thrills of what he does to find her and what really happened to her. The idea of someone missing and others denying even knowing that person is not a new one. (Hitchcock's older film "The Lady Vanishes" has a somewhat similar theme) But this film adds some very good suspense that is not present in other films with such themes. I do enjoy this film and I hope you do to. I believe it is definitely worth watching if you enjoy good suspense films. I am glad I picked it up.

‘Breakdown” reminds me of the the type of thrillers Hollywood made in the 90’s and even made with films like Steven Spielberg’s “Duel”. ‘Breakdown” is a meat and potatoes thriller from Jonathan Mostow with terrific performances from Kurt Russell, the late great J.T. Walsh and Kathleen Quinlan. The story’s simple-a couple’s car breaks down and Jeff (Russell) the husband decides to wait for the car in the middle of nowhere while his wife Amy (Quinlan) gets a ride to bring back help from a truck driver (Walsh). She never returns and Jeff, frantic to find her, tries to track her down with few people believing him and time working against him that he might find her alive. Paramount Select’s Blu-Ray titles have had some mixed efforts; Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief” looked awful and a couple of other titles have been a bit hit or miss. This title though is a hit out of the park. Featuring a brand new transfer (it’s the same as the Australian release) and some terrific special features including audio commentaries. The audio is also quite good with a nice, robust 5.1 mix. The only way it could be improved is with a 4K release. Since this was transferred and restored in 4K WHY Paramount isn’t releasing it in that format, is odd. Still, this is a huge improvement over the DVD. ‘Breakdown” is a pretty basic meat and potatoes thriller but Mostow brings an edge to it which lifts it above it’s humble origins. With a terrific cast giving great performances, the film continues to be a fun thriller. Highly recommended.

This is one of those movies when it is in at any stage I watch it. A truly good movie with good actors and decent morals seems to be unheard of and of there is one it is far and few between.

Kurt Russell in a great Triller Crime movie, about a man who his wife diseaperar, during a Road trip.

Une édition 4K qui magnifie le film : couleurs, contrastes, précision sont bien là et le son aussi est au top : La piste audio française bien qu'en simple dolby surround a un très bon niveau et le grave est bien là dès le générique et la très bonne musique de basil poledouris mise en valeur ! La VF est la même que celle de l'époque (pas d'accent canadien :) le doublage de Kurt Russel n'est pas celui de Snake Plissken...D'ailleurs cette version française est la même que celle diffusée sur la plateforme Paramount + actuellement, mais ici la qualité visuelle et audio bien bien meilleure ! Très content de cette édition :)

A fantastic taut thriller, with great performances and riveting action.

Consegna puntuale, imballaggio adeguato e il dvd funziona perfettamente. Bel thriller, assolutamente godibile. Prezzo molto conveniente.

Bonjour très bien reçu le colis mais le Blu Ray n'avait pas de protection a l'intérieur pas de papier bulle ensuite aucune version française d'origine version canadienne sur les deux supports dommage a éviter pour les personnes cherchant la vraie version française qui est disponible sur DVD merci