Backtrack [DVD]

Directed by Dennis HopperWritten by Rachel Kronstadt Mann and Ann Louise BardachThis is a mob hitman sort of story. In the beginning Jodie Foster’s character accidentally comes upon a mob hit crime scene. After that the mobsters are after her. She has no faith in the cops protecting her after she sees one of the mob guys (played by Dean Stockwell) hanging out in the police station. So she escapes from the cops and the mobsters choosing to take her chances on her own.The mobsters hire crack hitman Milo (Dennis Hopper) to track her down and eliminate her.It’s kind of a chase action romance comedy, because Milo falls in love with his target.It is all a bit preposterous and silly, but fun and shot in interesting locations.It also contains a basic domination and submission emotional/sexual/love relationship. In a way the movie shows how these types of relationships could work in real life. It is noted that the movie, from 30 years ago, was written by two women. It might be thought of differently and frame this relationship in an entirely different way if it was from a male point of view.It seems to work in the movie because the male is not at all sophisticated, or intelligent enough that it gets in the way of his basically innocent desires and needs. The woman, although in the movie caught in a bind with him, is far more intelligent. In a scene where he, in an innocent and child-like manner, demands that she put on fetich underwear, hose and garter belt, for him, she jokingly belittles his desire and sees the human pathos in his unselfconscious need that perhaps she can then eroticize to her own pleasure and her desire to be needed. He loves her and needs her in a way that he doesn't need to understand or try to examine, he is innocent and serious. He doesn't second guess love. Doubt can be harmful in relationships.Otherwise he is quite capable in life, a male protector and quite capable of functioning as a man in the world of action and conflict.Perhaps this play illustrates how these relationships can function and resolve to a confusing type of equal power.The movie is interesting in offhandedly showing this.Hopper's performance is delightfully ridiculous. He is very good in this. Jodie Foster powerful and attractive.One of Dennis Hopper’s best movies.

Charlie Sheen had to appear in the movie for about a minute, and get shot for eating pizza by the bed. Bob Dylan was forced into a cameo too. Vincent Price, Joe Pesci, John Turturro and Dean Stockwell are natural, but they had to submit to an execrable script. Fred Ward was forced to flub “Federal Witness Protection Program” into “Federal Protection Witness Program”. Jodie Foster had to show more skin than in all her other movies, before and since, combined. (Actually, some may find that a redeeming feature, as she is good looking.) But Dennis Hopper had it the worst: He was required to overact, almost pantomime, and with an unlikely accent (Brooklyn meets Inner City Chicago?) to boot.The quickest means to despoiling a cast of veterans is a terrible script. This movie brings one to bear so effectively, it is funny. An excuse may be that there was a 3-hour version that was badly trimmed into this one - not! Hollywood has these creatures called writers and editors, who, somehow, were hijacked into this script and screenplay that leaves much to be desired. Thus, for example, we have:Hopper plays his first tune on the saxophone without moving his fingers;Foster’s “art” is actually a bunch of electronic signs, that, nonetheless, are created in a standard design studio;The kidnappee makes no attempt to escape the kidnapper;Everyone, the good guys and the bad, drives a gray Jeep Cherokee. The production is not so low-budget as to require any special deals with the props; this had to be a conscious decision to calibrate the movie’s cheesiness.The overall effect, of veteran actors (over)playing a bad script, is actually tongue-in-cheek hysterical.

Some spoilers here:There are so many things in this movie that would blow up in today's society. Like, a guy basically forcing a girl to be his slave if she chooses to save her own life by the hitman not killing her. I don't condone this behavior at all but that is not the worst part. The trigger would be her falling for that same man in the end.The times were much different back in the 60s-90s. Not all girls were attracted to the bad boys but a lot were. And women were tougher. They put up with a lot of BS. Today is no different when it comes to a lot of women except it is shrouded in a different skin hiding behind girls thinking they are in control. The rolls are just reversed. They are now the bad guys. The users. But I digress.This movie is not an easy watch because of the production value. But if you grew up in the 70s and 80s or just like old movies it is something to watch if you are bored. I did fast forward through some fill in parts but made it to the end. It was an ok story but nothing original.

The only reason why I am taking a star off is because in the first third of the movie, the producers didn't seem to agree whether they want to produce a thriller or a comedy.This is definitely a comedy and an excellent one, considering the availablity of free movies here. :)

This is a pretty average film really about a serial killer who falls in love with one of his potential victims, the leads are pretty good but overall the film is quite slow, it will really only appeal to die hard Jodie Foster fans!!

one of hopper's best films of his liking to do things diffrently.knowing his way of portraying villians,it was surprising to see him as a killer with a heart.jodie as always sizzling sex appeal comes to the forefront.

Pretty silly really but done well and very enjoyable

good

Very good