Catchfire **** (1990, Dennis Hopper, Jodie Foster, Dean Stockwell, Vincent Price, John Turturro, Joe Pesci, Fred Ward, Julie Adams) – Classic Movie Review 8153

Director Dennis Hopper’s 1990 Catchfire [Backtrack] stars Jodie Foster as an alluring modern artist called Anne Benton, who witnesses a mob killing and goes on the run from town to town, switching identities, chased by the gangsters, the cops and weird hit-man Milo (Dennis Hopper). The hit-man studies her life history and her art, and finds Anne (Foster) in Mexico by getting under her skin, prompting him to become infatuated with her.

This twisting thriller is tensely handled by Hopper, directing under the credited pseudonym Alan Smithee after disagreements over the final cut. This likely tale is played to the hilt by its top cast of eccentric performers with Hopper and Foster at their best. The labyrinthine plot offers as many surprises as thrills, and it is taken at a cracking lick with a good line in laid-back humour. It could be objectionable if it wasn’t so beguiling.

Also in the extraordinary cast are Dean Stockwell, Vincent Price, John Turturro, Joe Pesci (uncredited), Fred Ward, Julie Adams, Charlie Sheen, Bob Dylan (uncredited), Tony Sirico, Sy Richardson, Toni Basil (uncredited), Alex Cox (uncredited) and Helena Kallianiotes.

The screenplay is by Ann Louise Bardach and Rachel Kronstadt Mann, from a story by Rachel Kronstadt Mann. Ed Lachman’s location photography is a major asset.

Catchfire runs 116 minutes in the director’s cut under the title Backtrack, and 98 minutes in the original theatrical release print disowned by director Dennis Hopper and credited to Alan Smithee.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8153

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