Breakdown is a 1997 American mystery crime thriller film directed by Jonathan Mostow and produced by Dino De Laurentiis and Martha De Laurentiis. The screenplay was written by Jonathan Mostow and Sam Montgomery and is based on the story by Jonathan Mostow.
Rated: R (movie contains strong violence/terror and language)
Run Time: 1h 33min
Release Date: May 2, 1997 (USA)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Budget: $36 Million
Box Office: $50.2 Million
Breakdown stars Kurt Russell, Kathleen Quinlan, J.T. Walsh, Jack Noseworthy, M.C. Gainey, Rex Linn, Moira Harris (Senise), Jack McGee and Ritch Brinkley.
Breakdown is the story of Jeff Taylor (Kurt Russell) and his wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) who are moving from Boston to California and traveling across country when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere in the New Mexico desert.
The two catch a break when a passing truck driver, Red Barr (J.T. Walsh), stops and offers to drive Amy them to a nearby cafe called Belles Diner where they can call for help. Worried about leaving the car, Amy volunteers to go to town to the cafe while Jeff waits for help. Meanwhile, Jeff is able to fix the car and makes his way to the cafe, only to find his wife never arrived at the cafe and no one has seen or heard from her.
Jeff tells the bartender that he is going to go look for her and if she shows up, to have her stay put until he returns. He hits the road and sees the truck that stopped for them and he maneuvers his car in front of the truck to stop it. When he does, Red Barr comes down from the cab claiming he has never seen Jeff or his wife and that he must have mistaken him for someone else.
Frenzied, Jeff flags down a passing police car and tells the Sheriff the story who then searches through Barr’s truck and finds no signs of Amy. Now Jeff must attempt to find his wife knowing something is afoot. Jeff soon learns that Amy has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom and it is up to Jeff to save her.
Movie Quotes
“If I never see another couple from Massachusetts it’ll be too soon.” – Al
“I don’t believe this! My wife did not leave me!” – Jeff Taylor
“Mr. Taylor, I’ve seen it a hundred times. You put two people in a car long enough, they’re gonna go at it. Lovers, married couples, gay guys – hell, I’ve seen men dump their women on the side of the road and vice versa.” – Sheriff Boyd
“What do you want?” – Jeff
“It’s not what I want, it’s what you want, and how bad you want it. ‘Cause it’s gonna cost you. Can’t show you right now, but it’s about 5’5″, 115 pounds…nice curly brown hair, upstairs and down. Interested?” – Red Barr
“Before you get any half-baked ideas about calling in the cavalry, just remember we’re gonna be watching you every step of the way. And we’ll be listening to our police scanners. And if we see anything unusual, an unmarked car or truck, or if we see you talking to anyone who even remotely smells like a cop…well, you can just keep your money and we will mail you pieces of her from time to time.” – Red Barr
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Kurt Russell as Jeff Taylor
Kathleen Quinlan as Amy Taylor
J.T. Walsh as Red Barr
Jack Noseworthy as Billy
M.C. Gainey as Earl
Rex Linn as Sheriff Boyd
Moira Harris (Sinise) as Arlene Barr
Jack McGee as Bartender
Ritch Brinkley as Al