Genius of Point Break Finally Recognized By Government

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Hamilton Nolan

04/09/08 01:52PM

Filed to: Movies

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Who among us could not be a changed person after seeing the 1991 beach-based thriller Point Break? Patrick Swayze as the surf gang leader Bodhi; Gary Busey as the world-weary cop Pappas; and Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah, trying to do whatever he imagined an actor's job to be. The movie became an instant classic, of a sort, in 1991. It took 12 more years before the inevitable stage version of the show, "Point Break LIVE!," hit theatergoers like a surfboard to the face. And that show—in which an audience member is selected to play Johnny Utah each night, and "reads their entire script off cue cards in order to capture the rawness of a Keanu Reeves performance"—has put in five long years on stage before being awarded its own official day in a formal proclamation by San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. As the immortal Bodhi said, "Goddamn! You are one radical son of a bitch [MAYOR NEWSOM]!" They should make it TWO days:

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adminslave Hamilton Nolan 04/09/08 08:11PM

@donmiguel: I've only been in the EB for 1 1/2 years, before then I was in the DC-area (and before that in NY). I want to move to the inner sunset, but I wouldn't want to have to trek out to the EB for work every day. The protesting: stupid, I know; I watched the procession and kept worrying someone would try to flare gun the runner or something. Do you really have to ask why a sippy cup [confession: I got like 4 hours of sleep, so my joke radius is wide and nonsensical]?

@foodiefoo: hey there! Let's have a Keanu movie night and drink every time he neglects to emote.

Does anyone remember that Keanu movie where his best friend commits suicide and he gets sad and drunk drives onto someone's front yard, and the whole thing is set against a high school performance of H.M.S. Pinafore?

Jenniferhdaniel Hamilton Nolan 04/09/08 02:33PM

"Special agent Utah! This is not some job, flipping burgers at the local drive-in! Yes! - your surf board bothers me! Yes! - your approach to this whole damn case bothers me! And yes! - YOU BOTHER ME! And Pappas! Oh, for the love of Christ. How the hell did I even let you talk me into this whole bone-headed idea to begin with?"

Can you play Ben Harp in PB Live ... cuz that would be totes awesome.

itchycoo Hamilton Nolan 04/09/08 03:31PM

i was 13 when this movie came out and it made me want to go surfing and skydiving. i went skydiving for the first time last yr and was bummed out that i couldn't recreate the balletic graceful movements of bodhi and johnny utah in the sky and the part where all the skydivers link hands in a circle. instead i got 30 seconds of freefall (dropping like a rock) before pulling the cord. oh movies, why do you lie?

donmiguel Hamilton Nolan 04/09/08 04:41PM

@adminslave: And will not involve street parades? Ha! Well, Admin — if you ever happened to be at the Dalva the same time I was there — I'd be happy to buy you an adult beverage. I'm just sayin' It's rare to find a fellow commenter so close. In any event — thanks for the lead.