Vanishing Point (1971)

	Directed by: Richard C. Sarafian	COUNTRY USA/UK GENRE Action NORWEGIAN TITLE Døden bak rattet RUNNING TIME 98 minutes
	Produced by: Norman Spencer
	Written by: Guillermo Cain

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Kowalski	Barry Newman	½
Super Soul	Cleavon Little
Prospector	Dean Jagger	½
Vera Thornton	Victoria Medlin	-
Deupty Charlie Scott	Paul Koslo	-
Deupty Collins	Robert Donner	-
Angel	Timothy Scott	-
Nude Rider	Gilda Texter	-

Review

Barry Newman plays Kowalski, a disillusioned war veteran and ex-cop who has turned to high-speed delivery driving and popping of uppers for amusement in an otherwise humdrum existence. Like quite a few entries in the action and cop genre from this era, the film is a comment on the perceived moral decline in an increasingly urban and impersonal world, but unlike many of its counterparts, Vanishing Point looks at it all from a perspective of apathetic nihilism. Kowalski can do whatever he wants, because deep down he doesn't care about the outcome. And as he proceeds and the radio DJ "Super Soul" creates a cult following for him over the air waves, he is made into a combined role model and martyr. If you're not willing to be persuaded, the film's outlook can easily be rejected. But director Richard C. Sarafian's innovative style, flashbacks and use of music cannot. The film was one of the pioneers of the music video aesthetic before it was even a thing.