In Los Angeles, a gang of bank robbers who call themselves The Ex-Presidents commit their crimes while wearing masks of Reagan, Carter, Nixon and Johnson. Believing that the members of the gang could be surfers, the F.B.I. sends young agent Johnny Utah to the beach undercover to mix with the surfers and gather information.
Similar titles
Reviews
Kathryn Bigelow, Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves in his first major role. What else to say? A cult movie that inspired many other movies and its special atmosphere still comes through. It is still fresh and enjoyable.
This movie has some great scenes, and that's why it has gone on to become so iconic. However, before you watch this bear in mind this was made before Keanu Reeves learnt how to act, and before Kathryn Bigelow pinned down her Directing style. Some parts are so bad they aren't even funny (Patrick Swayze's 'New Age' monologues, for example) and some parts (namely Gary Busey being Gary Busey) make the film worth a watch. Maybe one for a Sunday.
It's a tale old as time...undercover FBI agent learning how to surf while simultaneously infiltrating a gang of bank robbers that like wearing masks of former Presidents during their heists and have a penchant for extreme sports. Sign me up. While it might sound like a macho man type of movie it comes from a very gifted female director who would go on to win a well deserved Academy award ("The Hurt Locker") later in her career. Needlessly and poorly re-made a couple years ago. If there's nothing new or more to say with a premise then why re-do it? it. Stick with the original.
This movie is an action heist film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It stars Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in the roles of Johnny Utah and Bodhi respectively. The film's story is about a series of bank robberies committed by Bodhi's crew around the country, and Utah is tasked with bringing him in.Keanu Reeves is great for the character he was given, clearly elevating the material and making Utah more than your typical boy scout. But it is Swayze's Bodhi who steals the show as he has a more shady and ambiguous character to play with, and he clearly knows this because he chews the scenery in every scene that he is in. The set pieces in the film are astounding and awe-inducing. The action in the film is very well shot and the R rating is used well, so the screen doesn't fill up with gratuitous splatters of blood.The 2015 remake compared to this seems rushed,because in that movie they just want to get the next action scene as quickly as possible, and they don't let the film take a break from all the action.With a solid plot and likable characters I give this film 8 out of 10 stars stars.
