{"id":362357,"date":"2021-11-04T04:38:54","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T01:38:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary\/"},"modified":"2021-11-04T04:38:54","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T01:38:54","slug":"26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary\/","title":{"rendered":"#26 Things We Learned from Kurt Russell&#8217;s &#8216;Breakdown&#8217; Commentary"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2491742b6a6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2491742b6a6\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary\/#Breakdown_1997\" >Breakdown (1997)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary\/#Best_in_Context-Free_Commentary\" >Best in Context-Free Commentary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/26-things-we-learned-from-kurt-russells-breakdown-commentary\/#Recommended_Reading\" >Recommended Reading<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#26 Things We Learned from Kurt Russell&#8217;s &#8216;Breakdown&#8217; Commentary<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure class=\"sf-entry-featured-media \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/filmschoolrejects.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/breakdown.jpg\" class=\"articlethumb wp-post-image\" alt=\"Breakdown\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><!-- START BYLINE --><\/p>\n<div class=\"row align-items-center justify-content-center my-4 text-center medium dark-gray\">\n            By\u00a0Rob Hunter\u00a0\u00b7 Published on November 3rd, 2021\n            <\/div>\n<p>        <!-- END BYLINE --><\/p>\n<p>        <i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Welcome to\u00a0<\/i><b data-stringify-type=\"bold\"><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Commentary Commentary,<\/i><\/b><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\"> where we sit and listen to filmmakers talk about their work, then share the most interesting parts. In this edition, Rob Hunter celebrates the long overdue release of Breakdown on Blu-ray by listening to the new commentary with Kurt Russell and Jonathan Mostow<\/i>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Fans of action <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">movies<\/a> know that one of the best to come out of the 90s is 1997\u2019s <strong><em>Breakdown<\/em><\/strong>. Weirdly, it didn\u2019t actually hit Blu-ray until earlier this year with a slick release\u2026 in Australia. Paramount Pictures finally realized the error of their ways, though, and has released it in North America as part of their Paramount Presents line. It\u2019s a terrific Blu-ray complete with a new transfer and extra features.<\/p>\n<p>The highlight, of course, is a new commentary track with director <strong>Jonathan Mostow<\/strong> and star <strong>Kurt Russell<\/strong>. The latter is well known around these parts for giving great commentary tracks, but it\u2019s been a while \u2014 would he still have a spark? A clear and complimentary affection for his fellow cast and crew members?That ridiculously infectious laugh? The short answer is yes. The long answer? Keep reading to see what I heard on the commentary for <em>Breakdown<\/em>!<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3 class=\"graf graf--h3\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Breakdown_1997\"><\/span>Breakdown (1997)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"graf graf--p\">Commentators: Jonathan Mostow (director, co-writer), Kurt Russell (actor, legend)<\/p>\n<p class=\"graf graf--p\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Mostow considers <strong>Dino De Laurentiis<\/strong> to be \u201cold school\u201d in that he was a hands on, involved producer. \u201cWhat I loved about Dino is that he loved movies,\u201d adds Russell. \u201cHe really cared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>2.<\/strong> The film originally opened with a dialogue sequence between Jeff (Russell) and his wife Amy (<strong>Kathleen Quinlan<\/strong>) meant to establish their characters and dynamic, but Mostow never liked it. Executives wanted it claiming it was necessary to get to know these people, but the director fought and thankfully cut the scene. Russell agrees with the decision saying that the opening sequence showing this Massachusetts couple driving through the desert already gives viewers all they need to know about them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.<\/strong> \u201cFundamentally we share a belief about storytelling which is that character is revealed through behavior,\u201d says Mostow about his lead actor, adding that he recalls Russell suggesting numerous lines of dialogue be dropped as unnecessary \u201cbecause I can act it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> Russell recalls reading the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">script<\/a> and enjoying the idea of playing a character who was \u201cslightly comically obnoxious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>5.<\/strong> <strong>Dennis Liddiard<\/strong>, Russell\u2019s longtime makeup artist \u2014 since 1989\u2019s <em>Tango &amp; Cash<\/em> \u2014 was unsure about this character saying he preferred the idea of Snake Plissken kicking the bad guys\u2019 asses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6.<\/strong> \u201cThis was a tough show for a female to do, physically,\u201d says Russell, showing a mild naivete when it comes to kick-ass women.<\/p>\n<p><strong>7.<\/strong> The story idea came about after a deal to adapt Stephen King\u2019s \u201cTrucks\u201d \u2014 previously adapted in 1986 as <em>Maximum Overdrive<\/em> \u2014 fell through. Mostow had already done research and location scouting, so he repurposed it all into <em>Breakdown<\/em>. A tipping point was a friend in the FBI who mentioned how missing adults often get lost between the cracks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8.<\/strong> Russell says <strong>J.T. Walsh<\/strong> might just be his favorite American actor. He also recalls how both he and Mostow had independently decided on who should play the trucker and were pleased to discover they were both thinking of Walsh. \u201cHe\u2019s flawless. Nothing fake, nothing phony.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>9.<\/strong> The roadside cafe at 15:25 was built for the production, and Mostow regrets not buying it outright after filming. \u201cIt has been in five gazillion car commercials, you see it constantly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>10.<\/strong> Russell had hesitated on signing on to the film as he had just finished a movie and wanted to be home every night, so De Laurentiis worked some extra magic to make it happen. \u201cYou were picked up every morning, taken to a private airs<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>, flown by jet then there\u2019d be a helicopter waiting to fly you to the makeup trailer,\u201d says Mostow, \u201cwe\u2019d finish somewhere around 4:30 in the afternoon and we\u2019d hear the helicopter coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>11.<\/strong> Mostow and Russell met a couple years prior when the director was trying to land <em>The <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Game<\/a><\/em>. Neither talent ended up on the film which instead went to David Fincher and Michael Douglas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>12.<\/strong> Russell says this was the most exhausting film he\u2019s ever made, \u201cand it was couched in impotence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>13.<\/strong> Mostow suggests this isn\u2019t the kind of film that could get made today if only because the transportation department was one of the budget\u2019s biggest expenses. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019d be practical.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>14.<\/strong> The director recalls meeting with Walsh to go over the script, and when the actor passed it back to him he had scratched off nearly half his own dialogue. Mostow was confused, but Walsh told him \u201cI am a much better villain if I don\u2019t need anything from him, just the money. Anytime I need something emotional from him it takes away my own power.\u201d Genius.<\/p>\n<p><strong>15.<\/strong> The shot of the town at 42:03 is \u201cthe one visual effect in the movie.\u201d It\u2019s a digital matte, but it\u2019s actually one of only a few visual effects including a digitally augmented truck stop to exaggerate the number of trucks in the lot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>16.<\/strong> Mostow recalls his wife overhearing a conversation in a theater bathroom after a test screening, and the people were talking about how the movie was incredibly stressful. That was good to hear for a suspense thriller, but then they mentioned they gave the film a terrible score\u2026 because it was so stressful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>17.<\/strong> The bathroom at 48:16 was a \u201ccover set\u201d that the production basically carried around in a truck for weeks ready to construct and use at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>18.<\/strong> Russell says he\u2019s been lucky as an actor and that there are only a handful of films that he realized halfway through production were a chore that he just wanted to end.<\/p>\n<p><strong>19.<\/strong> Hollywood was already into digital editing when <em>Breakdown<\/em> was produced, but Mostow had it cut on film anyway. His editors (<strong>Derek Brechin<\/strong>, <strong>Kevin Stitt<\/strong>) were initially annoyed, but they came to realize the added time doing physical manipulations \u2014 cutting the strip, moving pieces, etc \u2014 offered more time to think.<\/p>\n<p><strong>20.<\/strong> Early drafts of Mostow\u2019s script included a substantial role for \u201cin my mind\u201d Morgan Freeman as a man whose own wife had been abducted by this gang years prior. \u201cHe just lived in a camper van traveling the western United States trying to find his wife.\u201d Russell talked him out of it, but Russell doesn\u2019t remember that and instead suggests that had Mostow mentioned Freeman\u2019s name he would have said yes im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely.<\/p>\n<p><strong>21.<\/strong> \u201cWhen you\u2019re an actor, you act,\u201d says Russell after Mostow asks if he ever doubted the character or his portrayal. He references Dakota Fanning in Steven Spielberg\u2019s <em>War of the Worlds<\/em>, saying \u201cShe screams as much as she talks in that movie, but she\u2019s got fifteen different screams.\u201d His point is that \u201cyou\u2019re playing the same beat, but you can\u2019t play it the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>22.<\/strong> Russell believes the movies are a visceral experience, not an intellectual one. \u201cYou might see things that teach you something or educate you or make you think, but it\u2019s the feeling overall that you remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>23.<\/strong> Mostow noticed the crew seeming a bit sluggish in the final weeks of shooting, and he pressed his First A.D. as to a reason why. He finally relented and said that the crew was disheartened because they think \u201cthis movie doesn\u2019t work.\u201d It left the director depressed, but once it was all wrapped and delivered he realized that they don\u2019t know any different from anyone else.<\/p>\n<p><strong>24.<\/strong> There are some miniatures used during the bridge sequence, \u201cbut you\u2019d never know it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>25.<\/strong> The original script had Jeff drop the truck on the villain, but Russell suggested while filming the sequence that it should actually be Amy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>26.<\/strong> Kurt Russell movies mentioned by Kurt Russell include <em>Escape from L.A.<\/em>, <em>Tequila Sunrise<\/em>, <em>Executive Decision<\/em>, and <em>Backdraft<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"graf graf--h3\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_in_Context-Free_Commentary\"><\/span>Best in Context-Free Commentary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote\">\u201cThis is an interesting time to be able to sit down and watch a movie on the big screen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m looking at my wardrobe choices, and the guy doesn\u2019t belong there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about as far from Snake Plissken as you can get.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery studio passed on it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s some crazy shit about to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere goes the sequel.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"graf graf--h3\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"graf graf--p\">Real talk? <em>Breakdown<\/em> is still a tight, thrilling, banger of a movie. Russell is the beating heart of it, but the cast is aces across the board. A deference towards practical effects and stunts means there\u2019s a tangible feel to the car chases and other action beats. it\u2019s just a fantastic ride from beginning to end. The commentary track once again sees Russell as a fun, enthusiastic talent and real fan of movies. Rewatch the movie then give this track a listen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"graf graf--p\">Read more Commentary Commentary from the archives.<\/p>\n<p>        Related Topics: Breakdown, Commentary Commentary, Kurt Russell<br \/>\n        <!-- AUTHOR BOX --><\/p>\n<div class=\"gray-bg p-4 border small mb-5\">\n<div class=\"row align-items-center text-md-center\">\n<div class=\"col-md-2\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dca6f7118e64ea9aa6ef4f60221cfe7e?s=96&amp;d=mm&amp;r=x\" class=\"circle img-fluid\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md\">\n            Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since before you were born, which is weird seeing as he&#8217;s so damn young. He&#8217;s our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists &#8216;Broadcast <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a>&#8217; as his favorite film of all time. Feel free to say hi if you see him on Twitter <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FakeRobHunter\">@FakeRobHunter<\/a>.        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>        <!-- START RECOMMENDED READING 1 --><\/p>\n<section class=\"recommended py-5\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommended_Reading\"><\/span>Recommended Reading<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- END RECOMMENDED READING --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social Media category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/filmschoolrejects.com\/kurt-russell-breakdown-commentary\/#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kurt-russell-breakdown-commentary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#26 Things We Learned from Kurt Russell&#8217;s &#8216;Breakdown&#8217; Commentary&#8221; By\u00a0Rob Hunter\u00a0\u00b7 Published on November 3rd, 2021 Welcome to\u00a0Commentary Commentary, where we sit and listen to filmmakers talk about their work, then share the most interesting parts. In this edition, Rob Hunter celebrates the long overdue release of Breakdown on Blu-ray by listening to the new&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":362358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/filmschoolrejects.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/breakdown.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-362357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-mediaa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=362357"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362357\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/362358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=362357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=362357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=362357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}