Point Break and the Soft Masculinity of Action Movies

[@BroeyDeschanel]

Aw to everyone getting upset at the vid - I am not the first person to say Point Break is homoerotic and I certainly won't be the last. This has been the general discourse around the movie for a couple decades now. By both men and women.

[@dimercamparini]

In the world (and especially in the internet) a lot of ppl say things...a lot of ppl are wrong about things... They are perfectly entitled to say those things (bacause, you know, free speech)...but, in the end...still wrong (and laughable)... Your case (and many others I guess) it's a perfect example of the old say: "when you are a hammer everything you see are nails"...

[@milanmohan7731]

Yeah, overthinkers like you tbh 😅. I really like your narration tho.

[@darkdream1469]

@@dimercamparini and a lot of people, you included, are delusional. 😂

[@dimercamparini]

@@darkdream1469 ofc I am...bacause you (a random guy on the internet) say so...sure... (funny thing...this reply of yours circularly proves my 1st post above) :DDD

[@drainagecontractor]

Aww these people are going to be so upset when you tell them about the volleyball scene in Top Gun.

[@hermioneziggeraut7617]

So right after Bodhi says 'you want me so bad', Johnny jumps out of the plane without a parachute, literally risking his life to chase and catch him. Then they have a passionate wrestle, hit the ground and roll around in some sheets together. I mean...it's not subtle.

[@bluebird3281]

I thought he was trying to capture the bad guy

[@Paroex]

@@bluebird3281 It can be both. Unless your mind literally never delves deeper than the surface level, and you believe that metaphor and allusion doesn't exist in art, in which case, sure.

[@bluebird3281]

@@Paroex I believe some people look at a puffy cloud and see a unicorn and others see a horse with a homoerotic horn on it's head. The didn't wrestle on a sheet it was a parachute. He didn't risk his life for love or lust he did it to catch a dangerous bank robber like cops do every day. Does a husband give his wife a "passionate" beating or is it spouse abuse ? So the "passionate" wrestle was just a odd adjective to used by the OP to describe a fight. "You want me so bad". You might not understand this if growing up you've never been chased by cops or another group of kids that meant you harm. Imagine after a chase you've eluded and frustrated your foes then get away. You feel the thrill of surviving and the wonderful since of satisfaction busting their balls as you get to the bus or hop that high fence. "You want me so bad" is a lot less of a come on then is "alluded" to. It is a Rorschach test for people. I am sure the director meant most of that subtext but it is for the initiated and those looking to see things like that. A woman can go to a mechanic and ask for her tires to be rotated and the mechanic could reply "Sure I will rotate your tires" and be alluding to something completely different through the use of metaphor. Is the mechanic a sublime genius or do they just have a dirty mind ? The subtext of my post "I thought he was trying to catch a bank robber" was humor. At least that is my claim, now is the humor actually there or was I seeing humor where their wasn't any ? It is up to you the viewer of my art to decide....If all those metaphors in the movie are as deliberate as you say then it is a terrible movie about Keenu stalking and attempting to sexually assault Patrick Swazye as he tries to escape.

[@hemamshuratnakaram4520]

@@bluebird3281 just brilliant

[@kanetyler4399]

To trace the only lead to the location of his hostage witness girlfriend? That’s why he jumps out of the plane lmao.

[@RyanLawless]

Came for the social commentary and film analysis, stayed for the unconsumated yearning and phallic symbolism. Was not disappointed. * passionately fires gun into air until spent *

[@justinanderson617callme]

ruthless. this is what i came for. fire away

[@gildedpeahen876]

That was indeed intense

[@savvieisahipsta]

i took a film class at my university called 'sex and relationships in film/tv' and we literally had a whole class day dedicated to homoeroticism in action movies, especially in point break !! wish i could show this to my professor, she would have loved it

[@keanureevesfanspage6208]

Hello dearest thanks for your love and comments towards me I really do appreciate message me through my hangouts email address. [e-mail]

[@skibidiboobop]

dude you should! email your professor a link to the video fr

[@milanmohan7731]

Do a better degree lol

[@georgie8154]

@@milanmohan7731 you seem very mad don't take everything so seriously and personally

[@milanmohan7731]

@@georgie8154 "mad", no one's mad

[@Jason-ue7gi]

None of the angst would've happened if Johnny and Bodhi had simply explored one another's bodies

[@freebee8221]

They arent gay and even if they were it wouldnt have changed anything

[@esobelisk3110]

@@freebee8221 lmao take a joke

[@sakshikhatavkar3562]

@UCo3zgg4Lt2sayUeYi-Kn0xQ Lmao fucking snowflake. Is you masculinity so fragile that it gets shaken up by the mere insinuation that your action heros might not be completely heterosexual? Pathetic.

[@MondeSerenaWilliams]

@@freebee8221 Men were men back then, I’ll tell ya. If you wanted to do something private with another man, it wasn’t gay, you know. It was just two men… celebrating each other’s strength.

[@thereality3398]

@Sound Logic someone is jealous

[@athenajaxon2397]

I never understood why people considered action movies to be for men when the main characters are usually hot, sweaty, shirtless men. My mom used to rent Commando and Rambo all the time because she thought they were hot lmao I've seen Point Break, Speed and The Matrix so many times because of my crush on Keanu. Also I'm so sick of people giving The Matrix credit for launching Keanu Reeves as an action star when this movie came first and then Speed.

[@alexandrumircea]

@@cellophane329 very well said!

[@freegadflyathome]

@@cellophane329 Right. Like said in the video, Keanu isn't the typical look for an action star, yet as a cis straight female, I find him much more attractive than any i can think of.

[@samsalamander8147]

I think your forgetting about Bill and Ted he was super famous long before point break and speed

[@athenajaxon2397]

@@samsalamander8147 I know I was talking about him being an action star

[@samsalamander8147]

@@athenajaxon2397 I agree that speed pushed him into an action direction but before that he was super famous but he was type casted as the stupid surfer guy.

[@kitwhitfield7169]

Ooh, and another piece of mischief: Bigelow makes a satirical point of character motivation. The Ex Presidents aren’t really robbing banks for money, so much as for a life where they don’t have to think about money. What they’re all about is the adrenaline high - which means that their motivation for doing action scenes is ... to be in action scenes. They’ve dived so deep into the action movie that they’ve turned it into a religion. And it converts Johnny. He taps out before they do, but he obviously comes to share their values - because he has to, he’s an action character too. The yelling police chief is so cartoonish that it makes the surfer scenes feel hyper-real: police work doesn’t feel part of the workd because it’s a tacked-on excuse for action, and that’s how the film makes us experience it. It flips ‘gratuitous’ so hard that it lands as Zen (or at least pop Zen.) The whole aesthetic is about embracing the fact that we’re here for the action, to the point that it doesn’t need a reason to exist beyond itself.

[@im19ice3]

good comment 🤯

[@davidgoeller5843]

This is a brilliant reading. Will be thinking about this a lot the next time I watch it, which will probably be soon because this video has me jonzing now

[@oliviag1119]

I love how dumb the name Johnny Utah is 😭😭

[@Shalmanese]

More or less dumb than Johnny Mnemonic?

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

It’s a perfect formula for any action hero name.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Better that Johnny Wyoming. 😆

[@tuxedojunction9422]

And then you layer on how Gary Busey pronounces it in the film, Johnny U-taawww. I love this film.

[@jillyancardona3793]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia Johnny North Dakota Or…Johnny Pennsylvania

[@sarannspiegel4490]

i've always found it ironic how rom-coms are shamed because they're so obviously made for women, but action movies are so obviously made for men and yet are considered cultural touchstones.

[@sarannspiegel4490]

@IntrepidTit no it’s just sad 😀

[@jasonm7684]

Can you give me an example of an authority or public figure who has shamed 'rom coms'?

[@jasonm7684]

@IntrepidTit I think the reason rom coms get 'shamed' is that they tend to follow the same predictable story line and its highly unrealistic, setting cringy relationship expectations that never materialize for the average individual.

[@jasonm7684]

@IntrepidTit Action movies are generally acknowledged to be fantastical. The main character is expected to be outlandishly strong and invincible. The problem is that rom coms come so close to reality that for many young impressionable women, they offer a glimpse into a world that seems possible and highly desirable. If you cant see how a guy jumping 10 feet in the air and killing a whole army of people is different than the nerdy girl getting the affection of the most popular guy in school, I dont know what to tell you. Same goes for rom coms where the nerdy ugly dude gets the girl of his dreams for being 'nice' and 'respectful'. These archetypes are so close to reality that they spin people into a useless frenzy until after some time they realize the futility of setting that standard, due to the lack of any results. This in my opinion is why 'rom coms' are 'shamed', they are cringy because of the over sweet optimism and blind positivism.

[@jasonm7684]

@IntrepidTit Not everything needs to be some sort of patriarchal conspiracy. Sometimes cultural norms are there for a good reason, this one being one of the few that is actually palatable.

[@AcolytesOfHorror]

YES! More video essays need more Kathryn Bigelow love! Your comments on her knack for genre bending and unconventional masculinity makes me think about this story Tarantino likes to tell about how he once showed an early cut of Pulp Fiction to all his director buddies, and everyone was like "Huh?" and only Bigelow was like "YES. I LOVE THIS" Also, that early line of "Action movies are a safe space for men" is just excellent writing

[@BroeyDeschanel]

she's such an interesting/misunderstood figure! and thank you so much :')!!!

[@pdzombie1906]

Hey, I know you!!! What is this a cross over episode?

[@earthgrazer2164]

I love when directors kinda make you rethink what cinema is. I imagine she had the same reaction

[@flamejob4260]

@@BroeyDeschanel i would KILL for a near dark essay, it's one of her best movies and an amazing queer allegory vampire movie

[@nathanjones8667]

Hey, love your content AoH!

[@bicycleninja1685]

Bodhi, Swayze's character, was very passionate. His clique had basically splintered off from society as society moved on from the 60's. Seeing some of those scenes of Keanu in the rain and all those cut muscles and eye contact made me realize I've been watching an epic romance all along!

[@Pensive_Scarlet]

I wish there were still room in the world for a clique like that today...

[@abdielgonzalez7344]

@Erwin Lii 😂😂😂😂😂 that’s a good one!

[@indiefairy09]

The final scene in the rain and Johnny saying he’s been searching around the world for him for a year was pure The Notebook!!

[@PuertoRicanBoi127]

there is. starts in your mind first. these people are not our kings or queens.

[@insulaarachnid]

Early 90's Keanu really was painfully beautiful, I was a teen at the time and had posters of him all over my room.

[@WizardLvl24]

This is one of my father's favorite movies, he's just a sucker for action movies. As a kid, I always felt there was more to the protagonists relationship. Amazing video.

[@madisoncannoles4907]

I did too whenever I saw it at 13-ish

[@darthtepes]

It's my No.1 movie I love to watch since I was like 8 years old😆 I wonder how I would feel next time when I watch it upon this analysis...BTF I rewatched it today in the morning before seeing this🙃

[@ocelotonatiuh1255]

It's about cops and robbers. It isn't too deep

[@Rosabel_Believe]

Heard the line about assholes, paused the video, watched the entire movie, and came back. Totally worth it. Thank you!

[@LovelyPariah]

Ohh it’s the “Have you ever fired your gun up in the air and gone, 'Aaargh” movie! Great analysis!

[@ТатьянаЗеленская-ч3э]

"Action movies offer a safe space for men, a low culture comfort not unlike rom coms for women with each one fulfilling a set of familiar cliches." After hearing this I immediately tried to subscribe to your channel for the second time. Loved that line! Thank you for the great video. I watched this movie quite a few times when I was young but I've only seen it dubbed (not a native speaker) so I had no idea how over the top it is - it was totally lost in the translation. But the clips you've included are absolutely hilarious in both language and delivery. Maybe I should watch it again - in English this time.

[@ТатьянаЗеленская-ч3э]

@pyropulse You know, usually at this point of discussion (when one is inclined to have a discussion - I’m not) the obvious things are stated - like the difference between general trends and individual preferences, personal circumstances, exceptions, case studies, anecdotal vs. systematic, etc. But in this particular case there’s no need to go there, cause yeah, dude, from what you’re describing it does sound like “action movie or something visually striking" could be a thing that offers you personally a safe space. Obviously I cannot know that - I don’t know you, I’m not your psychologist, there’s not enough details in you comment to make any conclusions - and I’m not even going to try. What I’m saying is nothing that you said in any way contradicts the idea that action movies offer you a safe space. If anything it does seem likely that in your case the line from the video might be on point. Again, I cannot know that, that’s not my business frankly. That is something for you to introspect on if you inclined to. I just wanted to point out that you are not making a counter-argument you seem to think you're making.

[@barbarne]

You're almost certainly going to love the Point Break references in Hot Fuzz! One of the best things in that already fantastic movie :)

[@amyharrington1961]

have you ever shot your gun in the air and gone aaaarrrggghhhhhh?!

[@marsduke8244]

@@amyharrington1961 no i have never fired my gun in the air and gone aaaaargh

[@straitJacketFashion]

15:52 this nitpick correction, Reagan not Nixon, led me to think it’s an interesting choice for that to be Swayze’s mask during the AIDS pandemic.

[@alejandromolinac]

Yet AIDS is like the most preventable illness ever…. Sigh.., I am an old gay BTW….

[@OM-wl7qe]

@@alejandromolinac It's a preventable disease in light of what we know now, don't be a dick

[@esobelisk3110]

@@OM-wl7qe we would’ve known what we know now a lot sooner if it hadn’t been for politicians refusing to fund research out of homophobia.

[@rabnerd28]

This is the second channel I'm subscribed to that has talked about Point Break in the past two months. I think the universe wants me to watch Point Break.

[@user-xz9cz7my3l]

What other channel made a video about Point Break?❤

[@nataschavisser573]

The movie is worth watching.

[@freegadflyathome]

What other channel? And yes, such a fun movie.

[@ecamifna]

finally, someone who also recognizes Kathryn Bigelow's genius!!

[@valeriarossini543]

I second this request!!

[@gingerkid1048]

Also Near Dark is the best vampire western ever.

[@transfemme5749]

Zero Dark Thirty was very Islamophobic and left many muslim viewers uncomfortable for valid reasons.

[@Shannon_Robbie]

@@gingerkid1048 One of the most underrated vampire movies.

[@alexisaguirre5526]

Know that why the movie was my fave, I guess it's help that Keanu was my first boy crush. Also in those days of intense flamboyant masculinity the baby face, and softness was the epitome of male beauty

[@littlegreymouse2484]

I’m so happy to see you talk about my FAVORITE movie! I really hope you inspire more people to watch this because… I need more fanfic to read…

[@joshwi4193]

Another rad video, but I can't wait for your analysis of Hot Fuzz - the greatest buddy cop movie ever made.

[@GrandArchPriestOfTheAlgorithm]

As The Grand Archpriest of The Church of the Algorithm, I bless this video with a comment.

[@VinceWhitacre]

If it makes your script editor feel better, i used to work with a guy named Dick Woodrow.

[@evie-gf2fl]

I have never been more emotionally, spiritually, and mentally enraptured into a video essay about a movie I've never watched before, in a genre a don't normally care for. My only experience with action films come from having watched James Bond films with my dad growing up and maybe the matrix. I've only ever heard about point break in passing from other media like the avengers and b99. I'm definitely watching it after this, as well as the other films you mentioned by its director. I was genuinely sad to have clicked the link to your sponsor today, only to find out that the app was not available where I live. Lots of kudos to you, and everyone else behind the production of your videos. I may not be able to support your channel as directly as I would to, but I do hope my like and subscription can be enough. A+ content

[@BodhiTOuellette]

This movie, this woman and that script is the reason why my first name is Bodhi. Absolutely am in debt to this film, great analysis. 👏🏻

[@hannahqin1930]

The way this is the first sponsor that genuinely interests me and it isn't even available in my country 🙃🙃 Please come to Aus likewise haha

[@gelatin.skeletin]

Lma0 my girl Broey is about to watch Hot Fuzz and then have to change the title of this video when she realizes how incredible it is. Check out all of Edgar Wright's films! He is a director unlike any other.

[@diya_dulle]

You convincingly showed me the homoeroticism of a movie I never thought much about, and at this point, I think you can convince me about anything. Loved this analysis :-)

[@0o0ooo0o0oo0]

"At this point, I think you can convince me about anything" this is true, except for the part where you think

[@ryanedwards7487]

I honestly had never really thought of action movies as "homoerotic" before. I always thought the "male eye candy" shots were for the women (and homosexual men as well) watching to movie. I was thinking it was kind of the same way all romantic comedies always seem to have their main actress and her friends dressing a certain way. You made me question some stuff.

[@darthtepes]

Top Gun is homoerotic as heck, and I'm still unsure to what kind of audience the whole premise tried to appeal...Not a regular "girly girl movie", huh😁

[@ryanedwards7487]

@pyropulse I am very comfortable with my sexuality. I also can look at a pretty man and say: That's a handsome dude. I'm just saying I had never considered the argument in the video.

[@ocelotonatiuh1255]

Action movies AREN'T homoerotic

[@ktakashismith]

Did you seriously never stop to think why men always say things like "I wanna get ripped like Brad Pitt in Fight Club", or "that dude has a Captain America chest"? We're not creative creatures, and those "male eye candy" shots are more to make men shape their ideals of what makes them think "that's a handsome dude" than anything else. Everyone gets in a twist about "virtue signaling" when a movie opaquely supports an ideology that doesn't fit with the dominant political zeitgeist, but no dude bats an eye as long as the virtues being signaled are "take steroids", "obtain women", "drive irresponsibly", "repress emotions", "solve problems like an enraged primate", and "kiss your bro because you cherish him". Wait, scratch that last one.

[@SalmanHusainGplus]

the writing in this is SO great. usually your work feels like a really good lecture (and I love it!) but this is so much more!

[@priyaburleson4751]

This is one of the best takes i’ve been on point break- always loving yr videos dude!!

[@keanureevesfanspage6208]

Hello dearest thanks for your love and comments towards me I really appreciate message me through my hangouts email address. [e-mail]

[@karolineCPH]

I love that you mentioned Hot Fuzz, a movie that also really leans into the trope of homoeroticism in action movies!

[@remembertotakeshowerspleas355]

You have no idea how much I appreciate those subtitles.

[@teacherdude]

I absolutely loved this movie when it came out in the cinema. It really stood out from the rest of the 1990s action-movie pack.

[@Breadboyinc]

This video is everything I’ve ever wanted in a video essay : action, social commentary, 90’s heartthrobs , gender deconstruction and lots of gay stuff 💖💖💖thank you Broey this made my day

[@LonelyDad42069]

Fantastic video! I really adore the 80's/90's era of Bigelow's work! One thing I will bring up, do you think that maybe the relationship between Johnny and Bodhi could be a different sort of longing outside of romantic? By this I mean that you're right about Johnny not being the traditional early 90's ideal of "masculine" and the police force almost represents this exhaustingly masculine, rigid and bureaucratic environment. I think Johnny see's Bodhi as an escape from that environment. I think Bodhi makes Johnny question his rigid world ideals rather than his sexuality (or hell, maybe both). Bodhi isn't full of machismo like the policemen are but he still fulfils the essential traditional "masculine" ideals of being athletic, daring/impulsive, womanising and capably violent. To Johnny he's the walking embodiment of living a truly "free" lifestyle. Free from the boss, free from the law, free from institutions and societal expectations. To Johnny killing or arresting Bodhi is him getting rid of that hope as well as that part of himself (I'd argue he realises it by letting him go at the end). Bodhi may not know that Johnny is a cop yet but he can see the longing in Johnny and almost leads him on, even if unintentionally due to his free spirited nature. Johnny wants Bodhi but due to the very things about Bodhi's nature that makes him so desirable in the first place, Johnny can never have him. Then again you and everyone you cite in this video are much more well researched than I am so there's a good chance I could be wrong lol. Just thought I'd bring this up since as a man, I've definitely found myself at these crossroads of "masculinity" and "masculine spaces" before (I love having my nails painted with absolutely maximalist and or frilly designs buuuut I also participate in boxing on a weekly basis too. I find that both those spaces aren't entirely accepting of me as a whole and more so certain parts of myself). Also I would argue that a plutonic longing is actually pretty common place for men. People like Dan Bilzerian and The Rock probably have more male Instagram followers than female followers lbh. I doubt that all those dudes follow them because they secretly want them in that way but more so because they long to have their lifestyles and physique.

[@badinfluence3814]

Your post is spot on.

[@OmegaPointZen]

"Point Break is a celebration of the Human body moving through space." Patrick Swayze

[@lizc6393]

Well, I didn't expect to hear an impassioned feminist defense of Point Break today, but here we are.

[@EhDemeter]

Your videos are never long enough for me. They're always amazing, and I always want them to keep going. I'm so glad I found your channel.

[@kennethrussell1158]

My wife and I just discovered your channel and we love it. As movie fans this is a welcome breath of fresh air.

[@samantha.redacted]

I remember that this was my dad’s favorite action films, he praised the “man” that directed it

[@bikenesmith]

love love love to see deep analysis of these kinds of films 💜💜💜

[@alexanderford3831]

I think that Bigelow is drawing from a secondary genre, albeit an unconventional one; the romantic thriller. Since the trope of the romantic thriller is that the protagonist becomes involved knowingly or unknowingly involved in a dangerous but untenable relationship, usually work adjacent, that begins with them in control, before a gradual submission, and eventually spiraling into an often volatile confrontation. While Johnny enters a relationship of convenience with Tyler (via a file he researched at the Bureau), the True romantic love interest is Bodhi, who, like a jilted lover escalates the stakes of their erotic dance jeopardizing the lives of everyone around them, in an attempt to destroy what Johnny means to him. It seemed like the first season of Jessica Jones drew inspiration from it as well. While this is implicit within the framework of a very masculine action film like Point Break, it's much more explicit in another Bigelow film, Blue Steel. I'd also recommend Jagged Edge, starring the queen of the 80's romantic thriller, Glen Close with Jeff Bridges.

[@keldakadar977]

i watched point break for the first time a month ago and my first unfiltered thougth was: oh if only the romance was between the guys was a bit more obvious, this would have been a great, ahead of its time action movie. if i wanna go deeper in symbolism and character methapors i feel like johnny, as you said, is on the path of self identification. he starts an "adult job" and tries to create an "adult self". however he is portraited as an outcast in this environment: his boss is constantly humiliating him, he doesnt conform to the masculine ways of problem solving, he has to work with another outcast and eventually he even fucks up a mission. part of his plan to do his job "right" is getting the interest of a girl. tyler gets him closer to a more true sense of self through surfing, danger and connection, however it is only until he meets bohdi, when the actual self realisation and transofrmation begins. thats when johnny starts his self discovery and gets into a conflict with himself: is he going to live by the law and follow the rules of his environment or is he going to give into the temptation, excitement and possible danger, that bohdi offers? is he going to live as an outcast and follow his heart and bear the costs of it? johnny can not really make a decision. he sticks with his "adult self", but chasing bodhi all the time, trying to catch him. he even handcuffs bohdi to himself as a final desparate act to pull his opposing desires together, but in the end he decides to let go. his love for bohdi is just too big, to chain him into a society, that has no place for him. i think at the end the true adult self is realised, a version of johnny who decides to live by the rules, but acknowledges his desires. and tyler can fuck off. thanks for coming to my shite analysis everyone.

[@kipp4805]

Every time I watch a Broey Deschanel video she goes higher and higher up my list of top tier KZbin channels. Good stuff!

[@MarkArandjus]

I've often said Keanu was the one who broke the trend of big burly muscular western action heroes. But I wasn't aware he did it long before the Matrix came along.

[@InTheHoursOfDarkness]

I have always loved Point Break, and at the same time appreciate its cheesiness, but after watching this, it has added another layer that I hadn't seen before and now I love it even more. That was fantastic! Thank you.

[@tyzerro]

as one of my favorite films of all time, i was very glad to see this perspective hasn't been completely overlooked.

[@ruthcrean2316]

I'm so sad that likewise doesn't work in Ireland!! Great video. I love action films but I find it hard to watch so much damn misogyny; I've to actively turn off a part of my brain to enjoy them. That's why Point Break so great, I don't need to switch off my views on the world.

[@keanureevesfanspage6208]

Hello dearest thanks for your love and comments towards me I really appreciate message me through my hangouts email address. [e-mail]

[@athenajaxon2397]

I feel like the best ones usually don't have misogny and that's why they hold up well

[@Al-ji4gd]

Must be exhausting.

[@hoemogenic]

it's the way Johnny's relationship with Tyler had no substance or relevance to the plot 💀💀💀 they also had like... no chemistry fff

[@Supermunch2000]

I love Point Break and caught the vibe the first time I watched it at the theater. I was 15 and kinda wanted to not like it but... come on, it's Keanu and Swayze - I felt like I was allowed to just... accept it.

[@alexjames7144]

The irony of spending so much time thinking the actors are so hot I didn't even notice it was gay

[@slavmetal]

You have no idea how happy this video makes me, I've been annoying everyone I know for years about how this film is a subversive masterpiece 😅

[@spookyhood]

You might be my new favourite video essayist. Your topics are so unexpected and interesting!

[@DubiousConsumption]

Yeah, there's no reason this should have such low views. This is stellar work. Sorry the algorithm is taking out its frustrations on you.

[@killaken2000]

"You try watching Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire and not feel a little conflicted." - Tim LaFlour, Senseless

[@blackoutcity123]

I watched Point Break as research for the Hot Fuzz chapter of my thesis on Edgar Wright. I'm really glad I did. Partly just cause the movie was fun, but also because it's brand of homoeroticism really helped to inform that chapter.

[@BanyanMakes]

I find it interesting that, although you delve into her personal life and artistic origins, also including a glowing quote about her from "James Cameron". You avoid acknowledging that she was married to the famous film director during the time she was making the movie you are discussing. Like it would somehow diminish her abilities or accomplishments to include that in the expositionary context you provided. Is it unfeminist to engage in romantic partnerships with like-minded, similarly talented people?

[@kaleshabastion2332]

This was one of my favourites growing up and I think this video has made me understand why, 2 of my biggest celebrity crushes, who seem to crush on each other? Obviously sold. Although my favourite Patrick movie of all time has to be To Wong Fu.

[@keanureevesfanspage6208]

Hello dearest thanks for your love and comments towards me I really do appreciate message me through my hangouts email address. [e-mail]

[@zucchinigreen]

Patrick Swayze really was that guy, the guy that guys wanted to be and the guy women wanted to be with yet somehow also made a gorgeous woman lol. He always carried himself with so much grace. Forget Killmonger, Bodhi is the best villain of all time m

[@isaiahd2123]

I think you should do a video on Conan. Because it definitely seems like purely hypermasculin fantasy on surface level there's some really cool moments of friendship and equality that surprised me. I'm sure it isn't perfect but from what I remember there was more than just the masculine imagery we think of when we see Conan.

[@burbujas4448]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed this. I never used to watch actions movies before I got with my partner. But when we watch them I swear I see some homoeroticism but didn't know if I was just reaching

[@Zombiezay]

I adore your channel such good work !

[@MoxieMcMurder]

I love Point Break, I'm surprised it stands up as well as it does.

[@mayawinshell335]

Another fantastic video! I love love love when you talk about art/film theory. I thought Point Break was generally entertaining, had plenty of hilarious moments, and I definitely enjoyed reading (and watching!!) all the analysis of the homoeroticism between the two male leads. But I have a question for you (or anyone with an opinion on this): what do you think about the treatment of the women in this movie? Tyler is a separate matter I suppose, because as you discussed in the video, she’s this kind of masculine foil to Johnny’s more feminine male protag (and I guess her being more or less abandoned after being taken hostage hammers home the fact that Johnny had his real sights set on someone else). Still, I watched the movie alongside several other women, and all of us were particularly put off by the way women were shown half- or fully-naked in the house raid scene, exposed and screaming and then grabbed and thrown violently to the floor. It felt difficult to find a feminist lens for it. I feel I’m often encountering scenes or shots in movies directed by women that, despite any and all efforts to reframe a usually patriarchal trope to hold new, nuanced meaning, just come across to the audience-the untrained eye I guess-as, well, the exact same trope. (Like the shot of Scarlett Johansson’s sheer-pantied butt in the beginning of Lost of Translation, for example. I myself could read into that shot a whole message about the vulnerability of being a young woman coming into her particular femininity and sexuality amid a confusing transitional stage of her young life-but I know PLENTY of straight men who love that shot because it’s hot). I feel like your average male action movie theatergoer isn’t gonna find anything subversive in a naked blond woman screaming and getting tossed around (one KZbin commenter on that scene simply wrote “the blond chick is hot lol”), you know? And there’s then that annoying plausible deniability where he could say, “Well, it’s not misogynistic because if was directed by a woman!” (as if women aren’t totally capable of misogyny/internalized misogyny). While I personally couldn’t find any hidden subversive message behind the scenes I’m talking about, I’d be eager to know if anyone did. It otherwise just feels like a careless perpetuation of dangerous misogynistic tropes. And all of this I guess raises a broader question: is it the responsibility of the director to make all those subversive messages clear to the untrained eye of the audience, or does that responsibility belong to the audience alone?

[@inkasaraswati7625]

IMO it's a way of using genre conventions and cranking it up to 11 to subtly make fun of it, like what she did with the yelling chief. I do think she makes anyone outside of Bodhi's group and Tyler to be caricatures of masculinity for contrast. That surfing group was unnecesarily antagonistic from the beginning, their weapons arsenal was laughably excessive, and the women were a part of that. Although I do think, just because a director is progressive in one aspect does not mean they'll be progressive in every other aspects too, but I think it was intentional in this case. Whether you see it as perpetuating misogyny or not, that's another matter tho.

[@Pensive_Scarlet]

I'm a sad girk and I found that subtle jab in the ad spot to be quite wounding. ;

[@bebo.586]

It’s so cool seeing how quickly your literally growing I remember when I first subbed to you a couple months ago you were only on 24k I can’t believe you’ve hit the 150k milestone

[@annaczgli2983]

Whoa! This is the first time I've heard of this take on Point Break! Nicely done!

[@kirreranin9991]

You should watch the Hindi film 'WAR' with Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. The homoerotic chemistry between them is undeniable and the film emphasises it at every point. The film is also a fun action movie romp with a ridiculous plot in the best smart popcorn movie way. Just a suggestion! :)

[@845sSuperman]

"The Fast and The Furious"(The first one) is literally point break but street racers. I was shocked when I first watched Point Break because of how similar the two movies are

[@samsalamander8147]

Keanu and Patrick are so beautiful in this movie they both where in there prime. I like to imagine them having a tryst in there dressing trailers.

[@alexanderbutler2989]

It's funny that your next choice for a movie to watch similar to Point Break is Hot Fuzz. The movie Hot Fuzz isn't so similar itself to Point Break but the two heros in Hot Fuzz end up watching Point Break together in their own movie. There is at least one other obvious reference to Point Break in the movie. The algorithm must have picked up on the mention of Point Break in the screen play and dialogue of Hot Fuzz because the two movies aren't very similar except in a very broad sense. Still worth a watch. I had the DVD and saw it at least a dozen times. Never seen Point Break though but now I want to

[@Itcouldbebunnies]

Bankrobbing surfers, Keanu, blonde Swayze, and MLM subtext. This movie has basically everything a girl could possibly want.

[@burymeinjhenny918]

What does MLM stand for

[@kylefry8980]

@@burymeinjhenny918 marxist leninist maoist.... lmao jk its Man Love Man or something to that effect

[@EzekielVilloldo]

This is an excellent and true film review of one of the bests action films ever. Thank you from Argentina!!

[@wiesejay]

@1:23 just realized Tom Cruise broke his nose at some point Edit: three times evidently See, this is why he’s the Chad-Emperor

[@andrewray2507]

I love this movie! Appreciates the explanations about the technical shots. Not something I would have had the eye to see, but definitely felt it. Lol

[@AKSourGod]

I'm rocking with your videos. Very well thought out and intriguing to hear. Here take my subscription! 👍🏾💯

[@pascalcooper4518]

Oh jeez. They're flaunting male bodies to draw women who are not the target audience, and utterly mis-cast Tyler so as not to threaten the women who do attend.

[@myettechase]

Every character Keanu Reeves has ever played is transmasc-coded, and I mean that as the highest of compliments.

[@W41K.3R]

as he should. I guess as WE should actually bc I kind of copied him.

[@thearcadegamer8128]

What the fuck does that mean?

[@hoemogenic]

no its trew its trew

[@thereality3398]

Wtf ? Trans masc aren't men , Keanu is a cis male

[@youcanthandlethetruth8873]

So because he isn't a dumb himbo, he can't just be a cis guy?

[@nathanslay6342]

Point Break is a film that I love!! I love Point Break so much and it’s such an amazing thrill ride! I love how it plays out and I love the characters too! Classic classic 90s film!!

[@artiemulford8445]

Great video. Loved the use of Dark Knight’s Batman & Joker ... Johnny Utah & Bodhi play a similar, ambiguous game of cat & mouse for sure. Also, I forgot how amazing the foot chase between Johnny & Bodhi was - that shot at the end, where the 2 characters stare at each other after Johnny gets injured is so intense & even chilling, due to Bodhi’s eyes behind the mask

[@VishaAntoinette]

This title! Got me racing to click 💘 Love to see it. Xx

[@keanureevesfanspage6208]

Hello dearest thanks for your love and comments towards me I really appreciate message me through my hangouts email address. [e-mail]

[@pennryan970]

The remake from 2015 has a similar theme. There's flirtation and physicality. A fight scene.

[@SamlovesLulu]

Broey, darling... you and your opinions deserve each other.

[@joebailey8294]

Ah yes, Bladerunner, a nonstop action thrill ride

[@totttrax]

Very well put together and interesting video ...I'm just going to pretend I never watched it

[@deckofcards87]

Point Break is fun and thought it was pretty intelligent, in some ways. My favourite is the one Bigelow did afterwards called Strange Days, which is still pretty confronting even for today. And a film more relevant now than ever. Haven't much cared for anything she's done since The Hurt Locker, though.

[@literaIIyshy]

Oh my god please do one of these for Fast and Furious (first one) 😭 i felt the same vibe with Brian's first scene meeting Dominic

[@Lazamattaz]

I only watched this movie once many years ago, and I don't think I managed to pick up on the subversion at the time so I will definitely have to revisit it with this lens in mind! Thank you for another great video!

[@niccolog2166]

18:43 why is "woman filmmaker" patronizing in this context (interview)? It's a term used by the interviewer to stress that Bigelow is what I'm inferring being a rare case , if not the first case , of female filmmaker in Hollywood. If a "woman filmmaker" is patronizing , what is a "man bun" considered?

[@loorthedarkelf8353]

Heyo Broey, new viewer who just arrived after Ian Danskin said you make good stuff on Twitter. KZbin failed to tell me another amazing film analyst existed, but thankfully I managed to find your channel anyway! Subbed! And I'll be recommending you around since it seems KZbin can't be bothered

[@Fromtheforgottengardens]

Thanks for covering men's issues in such a nuanced way.❤️❤️

[@justo4343]

I know this is a video more about Kathryn Bigalow than about masculinity in action films, but I really appreciate all the scholarly research you shared regarding point break, and I’d be really delighted to hear you being that same rigor to a discussion on some of the other subtleties of masculinity in action films. Mainly because I hear so much about the barely hidden homoeroticism, but much less about what it means that violence is necessary for a lot of male characters to feel safe expressing friendship and platonic intimacy. Not a criticism in any way. This was a great discussion. I just wonder what’s out there in terms of scholarship on that subject. Seems a lot of times that a major draw in war films in particular is a kind of yearning for male friendship in a culture that doesnt facilitate it. I dunno. Regardless, thanks for this really great discussion. I had no idea that Bigelow studied with Susan Sontag AND Edward Said. That tracks

[@mikeydashank3897]

Bodhi broke my heart when he went for the vault.. I would have rode with you forever Bodhi 😭 He got the whole team killed... Seeing him come down from his adrenaline high and become desperate was truly sad.. even when he escaped and was about to ride that epic storm wave.. he looked worn out and empty. Things went bad.. real bad.

[@IvoirePunk]

Looove Bigelow. My favourite vampire movie is Near Dark. It's gritty and western. The protagonist has feelings for one of the vamps but his real loves that he'd die to protect are his baby sister and father. The vampires are their own sort of family complete with an old vamp turned as a tween that just longs for a partner of his own like the older vampires are capable of having. They're outlaws and they're dirty. Everything is dusty and bloody and sweaty. I adore it.

[@Zephur0s]

If I was taking a class in cinematography, I would consider this as part of my lectures :)

[@wannabesurferdude6385]

Some of Broey’s vids totally belong in a film class! I noticed she even cites her sources like an academic 🤓.

[@IzzyDoesntCare1234]

just found your channel recently and i really enjoy your content! love your perspective (:

[@milosixx2458]

Does anyone else agree that a gun over a dude's head or shooting bullets to the sky is not really an example of homoerotic imagery?

[@Izthishandleavailable]

I just love the spirituality & brotherhood of the movie. The beach scenes & sky diving scenes are therapeutic. But still there’s more to it than that.