Customer Reviews

Backtrack [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

For those who don't know, there are two versions of this film:

The European version titled "Catchfire", which runs 98 minutes (more or less) and has a music score by Curt Sobel. The director of the film, Dennis Hopper disowned this version--it is credited to Alan Smithee instead.

Then there's the director's cut, "Backtrack", which runs 116 minutes (more or less), and features a different score by Michel Columbier. This version is available on video.

I don't know why, but the DVD release is in fact the shorter European cut w/ alternate score--despite keeping the "Backtrack" title and Hopper's name on the credits as director. Oh, and the back of the box credits Michel Columbier as composer, which is very odd considering not a note of his music is present in this version.

A simple mistake by the distributor Artisan? Or are they simply trying to pull a fast one on the consumers? Either way, I strongly suggest that you either wait for a proper release on DVD or purchase the VHS version instead, which to my knowledge remains as the director's cut.

Maybe Hopper changed his mind about which cut he prefers, but I highly doubt that.

Don't buy this DVD. Buy the VHS director's cut. The movie has been wrecked by haphazard edits. The DVD doesn't even make sense. This is not a bad film. Buy the VHS, but run as far as you can from this DVD. It's a rip-off.

A word to the wise from one who got burned: the Artisan DVD release is the expurgated cut. The story makes no sense once they've trimmed the Jodie/Dennis sex scenes, so don't buy it. Shame on Artisan.

READ ALL REVIEWS BEFORE YOU BUY. If I had taken the time to read the warning about the cut DVD version, I never would have bought this DVD. Too late schmart. It's a hatchet job. Very sad and SO maddening that an intriguing film in which one could luxuriate has been turned into a goofy trivialization. And I can't return it because I've opened it.

The Widescreen simply cuts off the the top and bottom of the full screen VHS. Left out some of the Jodie Foster Shower scene and cut some the touchy feely between Hopper and Foster.

People, can you spell: M.I.S.S.E.D. O.P.P.O.R.T.U.N.I.T.Y.?

Please be aware: This is not the 116 minute Director's Cut of this movie (previously released on VHS by Vestron Video), but the 99 minute version (and not 102 minutes as the description and artwork claims).

I took a gamble, since the Video box artwork also states 102 minutes but was in fact 116 minutes, that this would be the proper version, but sadly it was not...

You're better off trying to find the VHS version of this film as it is, even without widescreen, far superior over this version.

I had seen the movie before and thought the story to be off-beat and quirky enough to be enjoyable. However, I was curious why the DVD version seemed to have been abbreviated. By my recollection, you saw a little more of Jodie Foster preparing for her shower scene, a lot more of her in lingerie in a motel room with Dennis Hopper and the original final scenes included an exchange between Fred Ward and a departing Vincent Price that is not on the DVD. Again, if my memory is correct, the apparent editing was a bit disappointing.

This film has gotten much bad press. For example an offish interviewer in US magazine in 1994 asked Jodie "can you tell us how Backtrack" (the 1990 bomb) happened" as if the film were some sort of dark secret Ms. Foster should be ashamed of. Nonsense. This was a good film with a great cast and an interesting plot. A hard-boiled hitman (Hopper) is sent to track down and kill a reluctant mob witness (Foster) after finding her he falls in love and can't kill her but can't really love her either. The films greatest line Hopper: "I gave up my career for you". The cinematography and lush location filming make it a treat to watch. Jodie has never looked better, especially in a wonderful scene where she rescues a lamb, a noisy lamb, and cradles it in her arms against an Arizona sunrise, beautiful. There are two things however that make this film not so good. One is a contrived, TV cop show, style ending, the other is the criminally stupid scene in which Hopper points a gun at Jodie and forces her to strip and come to bed with him. It is the most agonizing scene ever filmed. Ever. Hopper should have talked to any of Ms. Fosters fans who would have told him that she simply does not take her clothes off on film. Ever. He should have known that. Nonetheless, the scenes of her LED box art projects, which sell for $20,000 and up, have messages like "Murder has it's sexual side" are fascinating. The film is worth owning and watching, it is well crafted if misguided. Sadly I have never heard of Dennis Hopper ever directing a big budget film ever again. It's a shame.

If your a male fan of Jodie Foster's and you saw this movie on cable, this version is a disappointment. A couple of the scene's showing her dynamite leg's were cut from this version. It's rated R, they show her topless, but they cut out the best leg scene's, go figure?

I usually love DVD's of old films,but this time it's not the case!!! The DVD is a butchered shorter version with a new score,YUCK!!! If you have the old director's cut on VHS tape,I advise you keep it until a Director's Cut version on DVD come out!!! I kept mine thank God!!! Great film,Bad DVD,I'm glad I did not buy it!!! THIS IS NOT DENNIS HOPPERS DIRECTOR'S CUT!!! Nuff said!!!