Vanishing Point - Blog Writing at 99 WPM

What a cool movie. So much speed and chasing with what I felt like was the perfect finale to the movie. I can say that I didn't so much see it coming down to that, but after it happened, it felt right. And you've got to think his motivation for doing that was 100 percent intentional since he could have easily gotten out of the situation.

I like the idea of his car and driving fast providing freedom in the movie. At first, I wasn't aware what the terms of his bet were, so I wasn't sure why he was driving like a maniac. I must have missed a couple pieces of dialogue. I thought that maybe the car was 'hot' so he refused to stop for that reason. But of course it all makes sense now, having to get the car to San Fran at a certain time.

The illusion of the highway's freeing powers was an interesting thought that hadn't occurred to me. It can be freeing to a point, but there's still a higher authority telling you to stay within the lines. You can drive fast, but not quite as fast as you might want. So it forces driver's who seek freedom through danger and burned tires to break out from the rules and put their rights/money/etc on the line. Sometimes it really is just wanting to get to Point B quicker than usual, putting your life on the line because you're running late or there's a sale at Macy's. Then there's others who need to live life fast, not paying attention to STOP signs, not slowing down to check the sights. Hitting the open road can be as freeing as you want it to be, but once you've passed the laws limits, you better be ready to keep that speed, or you'll end up being forcibly stalled out.

There was a few scenes of Supersoul in his studio where there was a STOP sign right outside his window. Of course he was blind and couldn't see it. I thought that was an important point in taking it to Kowalski's motivation or perspective. That's not to say Kowalski was blind to the laws, but he had been down the law enforcement road before and the law seemed blind to his good intentions. So he in turn has turned himself away from the laws. He is as free as he's probably ever been, in control and running the show right up until his demise.

Did anyone else notice or make the connection of the radio stations call-out letters, KOW, and the main character KOWalski? It's probably obvious, so I'm assuming everyone did. I actually didn't make the connection until the Thurs discussion. Not sure of the relevance entirely. Maybe it simply furthers the connection between Supersoul and Kowalski. Maybe it was metaphorical for his conscience or an alter-ego voice. Who knows.

I liked this movie more than I thought I would. The desert was probably the only setting this movie would have worked in. It would be impossible to create the type of wide, infinite freedom space in a city filled with skyscrapers and traffic.

There was mention in class of those crazies in the desert singing and playing guitars being "small deadly dangerous desert cults". I found it sort of funny that a group someone might call that would be seeking out desert snakes to aid their cause, small deadly dangerous snakes. Weird connection that popped in my head.