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- Flashpoint Awakens a National Nightmare
- Kris Kristofferson Is a Compelling Action Hero in Flashpoint
- Flashpoint Is a Buried Treasure
As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the careers of talented artists, I find myself captivated by the journey of Kris Kristofferson, a man who has effortlessly transitioned from the world of music to the silver screen. His acting career, much like his songs, is grounded in raw truth and grit, as evidenced by his performances in films such as “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” and “Vigilante Force.
Following a series of back-to-back flops with the 1980 Western epic Heaven’s Gate and the 1981 political thriller Rollover, Kris Kristofferson temporarily stepped away from acting. He later reappeared on the silver screen, starring in the 1984 neo-Western action thriller Flashpoint. In this film, Kristofferson portrays Bobby Logan, a Texas border officer, who, during routine patrol, stumbles upon a hidden jeep. Inside, he finds a skeleton in the driver’s seat, a hunting case containing a sniper rifle, and about $800,000 in unspent money. This unexpected find turns into a nightmare for Bobby and his partner, Ernie, played by Treat Williams.
Instead of solely focusing on the search for money, Flashpoint creates a gripping thriller by also delving into the political assassination angle surrounding the surprising background of the Jeep and its contents. This complex plot is tied to one of history’s darkest days, making Kristofferson and Williams’ performances all the more compelling.
Rather than hammering home this particular aspect, Flashpoint subtly invites viewers to draw their own unsettling conclusions in tandem with the characters. In doing so, the film transforms into a gripping and shocking thriller, showcasing one of Kristofferson’s finest acting performances.
Flashpoint Awakens a National Nightmare
In the movie “Flashpoint,” Kris Kristofferson and Treat Williams portray weary Texas border control agents who spend their days patrolling the barren Texas desert and grappling with frustrating government red tape. Their routine life leaves them ill-equipped for the sinister plot they later encounter.
The movie’s enigmatic aspect arises when Bobby, portrayed by Kristofferson, stumbles upon an antique jeep and bones hidden in the sand while installing surveillance equipment in the desert. Later on, when Ernie arrives, they uncover a shocking find: the jeep, sporting 1963 license plates, is loaded with $800,000 in tens and twenties, a sniper rifle, ammunition, and a 1960s Texas driver’s license bearing Michael J. Curtis’ name – the identity of the skeleton uncovered alongside the vehicle.
Bobby, reasoning that the dirty money might be linked to a twenty-year-old robbery and thus considered old news, contemplates with Ernie the idea of pocketing the cash and jetting off to Mexico. But the more prudent Ernie advises caution. Instead, they dedicate their time to verifying the bills’ authenticity, which were issued between 1962 and 1963 and originated from the Federal Reserve in Dallas. They delve into crimes from that era but fail to uncover any heists of such a substantial amount.
At some point, Bobby and Ernie, together with the audience’s thoughts, ponder which significant event in Dallas, Texas, between 1962 and 1963 could link to the money, the sniper rifle, and shed light on Curtis’s sudden rush to the border. Interestingly, Flashpoint makes no mention of Kennedy or Oswald, despite a scene where Bobby looks at a newspaper article about the John F. Kennedy assassination.
In the story of Flashpoint, it’s following Ernie inputting Curtis’s license plate into a police computer that we see the connection being verified. This action sets off the arrival of a group of enigmatic federal agents, headed by the cunning government manipulator Carson, brilliantly portrayed by Kurtwood Smith. Although Carson claims to be targeting drug traffickers, his true objective is to prevent Michael J. Curtis’s name from joining the ranks of infamous figures like Lee Harvey Oswald in history.
Kris Kristofferson Is a Compelling Action Hero in Flashpoint
Kris Kristofferson’s acting career thrived on his authentic storytelling style and voice, coupled with his raw physique, allowing him to shine across various film genres such as action. In the 1973 Western movie “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” Kristofferson showcased his talent for portraying legendary outlaw Billy the Kid, making his screen-acting debut in Dennis Hopper’s 1971 drama film “The Last Movie.” Similarly, in the 1976 action film “Vigilante Force,” he offered a delightfully malevolent performance as Aaron Arnold, an embittered Vietnam War veteran leading a team of mercenaries on an assault of his hometown.
In the 1978 movie “Convoy,” Kris Kristofferson plays his most profitable role yet, portraying a rule-breaking truck driver who leads a convoy of trucks against an oppressive sheriff. This film, set during the popular 1970s trucking trend, was influenced by the box office success of the 1977 action comedy “Smokey and the Bandit,” starring Burt Reynolds. Interestingly, Kristofferson had previously acted alongside Reynolds in the 1977 football-themed comedy film, “Semi-Tough.
In the film Flashpoint, Kristofferson delivers his most intense and action-packed performance. This role highlights his skill at performing under pressure, such as when running or being fired upon. In a dramatic final scene, after Carson and his men wound Bobby, Bobby uses evasive tactics like jumping into a ravine and circling behind them. Armed with a shotgun, he takes out each of Carson’s men methodically. Eventually, Bobby corners the fleeing Carson, determined to finish him off personally with his pistol in a slow, deliberate manner.
Flashpoint Is a Buried Treasure
Originally conceived in the 1970s as a movie featuring Paul Newman and Warren Oates, Flashpoint, derived from the 1976 novel, eventually hit the screens in 1984 with Kris Kristofferson and Treat Williams in the main roles. However, its box office performance was disappointing due to a lack of star appeal and an insufficient marketing effort.
As Kristofferson grappled with the financial disaster of the film “Heaven’s Gate,” Williams, who had received critical acclaim for his roles in “Hair” and “Prince of the City,” struggled to attract a wide audience. Consequently, the movie “Flashpoint” failed to make an impact at the box office, earning less than $4 million during its short theater run before moving to cable television. Nevertheless, over the past 40 years, this thriller has been largely overlooked but deserves recognition, particularly for Kristofferson and Williams’ impressive performances. You can now rent “Flashpoint” on Prime Video and YouTube.
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2024-10-09 02:01