Freeway (1996)Directed by Matthew Bright
Writing credits Matthew Bright
Kiefer Sutherland.... Bob Wolverton
Reese Witherspoon.... Vanessa Lutz
Wolfgang Bodison.... Detective Mike Breer
Dan Hedaya.... Detective Garnet Wallace
Amanda Plummer.... Ramona Lutz
Brooke Shields.... Mimi Wolverton
Reese Witherspoon hits the freeway to grandma's house. A big bad Wolverton picks up her little red riding scent. Oh no. The trip to grandmas may have to be delayed so Reese can deal with this killer wolf in yuppie's clothing.
I was enjoying "Freeway" while I was watching it. When it ended though, I felt let down. I kept expecting a payoff scene to appear but it never did. I thought "Freeway" was going to be a B-movie extravaganza with Reese Witherspoon doing her thing as a country girl hooker. Nope. It turns out that "Freeway" is just an acting showcase for Witherspoon. I was disappointed.
It's a shame too because there was a ton of potential here. Technically, this is not a bad flick. You've got killers and hookers and blood and fighting. Killer hookers. Bloody fighting. The acting is strong, especially Witherspoon. It only makes it sting that much harder. The exploitative heart in "Freeway" is barely beating. For some, that may not be a bad thing. For me, it's heartbreaking.
SCORE: 2 out of 4 rampaging Witherspoons
Freeway was one of the most outragious flicks I've ever seen! It cynically attacked almost every institution in modern society - Social sevices, law enforcement, the educational system, the juvinile justice and correctional system..... Freeway made bold stabs at todays cotroversies - welfare, gun control, gangs violence, incest, drugs, vice, racial prejudices (the black detective took little interest in Witherspoons' plight until he learned she was a 'coal burner' (inter racial relationship)) In my book this is one of the greats that are underappreciated! lots of stars rating!
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