Vanishing Point (1971)

(On Cable TV, May 2020) One of the most confounding legacies of 1970s cinema is the not-inconsiderable number of films that play like very entertaining crowd-pleasers—only to end on an abrupt downer conclusion, usually through the death of the protagonist. Add Vanishing Point to that list because if most of the film is an exciting series of car stunts and high-speed chase sequences, it also aims for something else by having existential flashbacks detailing the lone protagonist’s backstory, strange interludes that feel like dream sequences, and ending on a downbeat note as the protagonist is finally beaten by The Man. The countercultural themes weigh heavily on the film—not only through its speeding protagonist becoming a hero to many, but through the intervention of various characters exemplifying the spirit of whoever was aligned against The Man back then. What’s weird about this approach, as seen from anywhere more recent than 1977, is how one sabotages the other. There are some very good muscle-car stunts in Vanishing Point, but they’re nearly impossible to enjoy anticipating what’s in store later in the film—the very nature of the counterculture sucks the fun out of everything. The film has acquired cult-movie status since its release—and clearly influenced bits and pieces of many things, including many of the car-chase films of the late 1970s and early 1980s. But here’s the thing: those later imitators understood that the conclusion is the punchline to the fun—not its repudiation. [January 2023: It makes for an ideal double bill with Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry.]