Weekly Review -- The one road to take

Point Break (2015) -- In the realm of cinematic remakes, keeping the spirit of the original narrative is key to the second film's effectiveness, no matter what thematic or stylistic approach the new director takes. Point Break was never a traditional action film and the 2015 incarnation is not a traditional remake. Mostly quiet and contemplative, it feels as though someone had created a philosophy class out of the 1991 work. While Kathryn Bigelow's high surf fable was about subversive acts versus a broken system, Ericson Core's remake certainly deals with these themes, but also explores the idea of one's own path and looks at how our choices define us.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Former extreme sports star and novice FBI agent Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) is on the trail of a criminal gang that has perpetrated a number of daring corporate heists. It does not take him long to realize that the masterminds are also extreme athletes attempting to complete the Osaki Eight, a series of trials honoring the forces of nature. When Utah infiltrates the gang, he falls under the influence of charismatic leader Bodhi (Édgar Ramírez) and soon has to question his life and choose a side...  

First and foremost, it has to be said that Point Break is gorgeous. It is a stunning tribute to human capability, boasting scenes that will have you ponder everything that you have ever learned in physics. To name an example, I have never seen anything like the exhilarating wingsuit flight sequence. I love and respect the fact that Core used no CGI and that the stunts were orchestrated and executed by experts. The 3D technology was made for a film like this one, so please see it in 3D if you have the chance. 

Kurt Wimmer's (Equilibrium, Salt) screenplay makes some intriguing revisions. Giving a tragic past to Utah and linking Bodhi to the Osaki trials in a personal way are fantastic ideas, but I do wish that they had been examined in detail rather than mentioned in passing. I also like the love story twist in the context of the script's eco awareness. We live in a world that is a lot darker than the sun-drenched and fairly optimistic 1991 California. While that utopia still managed to maintain a bit of wide-eyed purity, the globalized and digitized planet that we inhabit today has been ravaged by terrorism, cybercrime, climate change and general apathy. Not every love story is necessarily going to have a happy ending, especially not one that has fallen victim to a corruption of ideals.  

The cast is terrific. Bracey seems resolved not to emulate Keanu Reeves, which would have been an easy and obvious option. Instead, he imbues the character with an identity crisis and lack of direction, one that Johnny himself might not be aware of. While Bracey holds his own, it is Ramírez that is magnetic to watch. His Bodhi is more intensely menacing than Patrick Swayze's creation. He does not understand that he had crossed a line long ago, since he does not believe that there was ever a line to cross, a paradoxical trait that adds a dimension of fanaticism. Swayze's Bodhi was a 'to the max' type of man; Ramírez's is someone that goes beyond. The character is a unique antagonist and his whole perspective could have been developed even further. On another note, the two leads do not project an instant bond like Reeves and Swayze did; in this version, the tension between the two builds until one side prevails. Teresa Palmer's ethereal Samsara is a new type of love interest, reminding me of a water nymph and making me wonder if she is possibly a metaphor for our world's lost innocence. The great Delroy Lindo and Ray Winstone have good turns, and seeing the original Roach -- James Le Gros -- as an FBI department director is simply, well... radical.

The only thing that I dislike about this film is its North American release date. It is a huge letdown and does a great disservice to the cast and crew. Releasing any actioner -- especially one that does not rely on sheer adrenaline -- the weekend after any Star Wars installment is guaranteed to diminish its success, if not annihilate it altogether. In my humble opinion, a May or June date would have proved to be a bigger draw.

Based on the trailer, I expected to enjoy Ericson Core's Point Break, but did not expect to be moved like I was. Action films that run fast and play with weaponry are a dime a dozen; however, those that make you think are needles in an increasingly bland cinematic haystack. The universal search for freedom is presented here through an extraordinary lens and the result will doubtlessly inspire you. After all, going your own way and living an adventure should be a right, not a choice.  

8/10