Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-23 15:40:20

Tremendously funny, a great dark comedy.

This is one of the funniest movies I've seen in quite some time. I have to give credit to anyone who would agree to have anything to do with this movie, because there's some crazy stuff here. A very, very, twisted take on the "Little Red Riding Hood" story, featuring an illiterate prostitute as Red and a serial killer/rapist as the wolf. Aren't fariy tales fun?Anyway, this modern adaptation of the story follows said prostitute Vanessa (portrayed excellently by Reese Witherspoon) on her way to her grandmother's house after her parents are both arrested. On the way, she meets child psychologist Wolverton (Keifer Sutherland), who she learns is in fact the notorious I-5 killer. After attempting to kill him, Vanessa is arrested and sent to prison, where she meets even more fun friends to share her adventure with, including a disfigured inmate played by Brittany Murphy, who gives a great performance as well. I don't want to give too much away (I've probably said too much already), but I can tell you that this is one funny movie, and if your sense of humor has a dark side, than this just might be for you.I thought that one of the best things about this movie was Reese Witherspoon's performance, although I doubt that many "Legally Blonde" fans will like this movie much. She does a really great job with her role and is completely believable. The scene where she [possible spoiler here, so be warned] encounters Wolverton for the first time since the shooting is too funny and shows that she really was a great choice for the role. It's too bad that she doesn't do more films like this instead of Legally Blonde/Sweet Home Alabama/what ever other terrible movie she's working on next.As for the rest of the actors, there's some other performances that are certaintly worth mentioning. Keifer Sutherland does a nice job as Wolverton, although I didn't think his performance was all that amazing. Brittany Murphy does a good job, as do the 2 guys (whoever they are) that play the cops. All performances are pretty good and I didn't feel that there was anyone here who did a bad job.While the performances here are all at least decent, I think that the aspect of this film that really got it all the attention was the script. The dialog in this movie isn't the kind that you come across too often. You've got to be pretty brave to try making a movie like this, even in an industry as permissive as film. I can imagine that there was probably some feirce opposition to this movie at one time or another.I will warn you that if you're even a bit sensitive, this movie may not be for you. This movie is a lot of things, but for the easily disgusted it's not. It's bound to offend lot's of viewers with the profanity, dark humor, violence, sexual content, and all the rest, but for those who can appreciate a little sick humor every now and then, I encourage you to give this movie a try, there's a good chance that you'll like it.

ad2020 2012-05-23 02:08:06

It good, but I sort of don't like it.

I always think Reese Witherspoon is so miscast in this movie, but the truthis she does an decent acting job w/ her role. SPOILERS, I hope it doesn'tshoot out your nose... Maybe there are a few things that irk me.. thatMexican girl that Reese beats up, I don't think it would been that easy, Ialso don't think that she would've won that fight, but my guess is Vanessais supposed something more like Natasha Lyvonne in the sequel (which issupposed to be worse, but I still have to finish it.) Another scene wasfinding all those girlie mags in Bob Wolverton's study is too much a moralknock on porn, like that's gonna make someone think he's a serialrapist-killer, I need more twisted violent imagery!! He's a psycho, not apervert (well, he's a mixture of the two.) Also the fact she's trying toread for someone when she can really read makes me think she prefers mugginghorny men rather then seeking what less dangerous professions there are outthere. But it is true, that movie has a great supporting cast, plus it'smore gritty than most movies tend to be, but I'm still wondering whatVanessa's character is supposed to be about? You know she can't be going onto great things, and that end really is too far-fetched, I figured someonewould realize Grandma's dead. It's a 6.5, entertaining but it still shinesit's bad points with me.

hireswell 2012-05-22 16:14:34

An Off the Wall Film

If Quentin Tarantino were to have written "Little Red Ridding Hood","Freeway" is probably what you would get. Reese Witherspoon plays Vanessa,the modern Red Ridding Hood, who is the type of girl you would see on JerrySpringer (as the film begins she is struggling to read the sentence "The catdrinks milk"). Kiefer Sutherland plays Bob Wolverton, the big badwolf.After her mother and stepfather are taken to jail for being just too darnsleazy, Vanessa handcuffs her social worker to her bed and steals her car togo to her grandma's trailer. She isn't sure if her grandma is going toaccept her with open arms, after all, her mother did throw acid in her face.When her car breaks down on the freeway she is picked up by the seeminglynice Bob. Bob at first seems to be generally concerned about Vanessa, but this isKiefer Sutherland we're talking about here. We know that it's just a matterof time before he attacks her and he does. Up too this point I thought Iknew where this movie was going, but the result of Bob's attempt to murderVanessa sends the movie into an entirely different direction. A modern Red Ridding Hood would have to be a force to be reckoned with,especially if she came from a poor white trash background. There are morebig bad wolves these days then there were in Grimm's time. What's good about"Freeway" is how it has all the elements of the fairy tale but it's crossedwith a satire of true crime stories. I especially liked the way the actorsstayed completely in reality even when faced with the most absurdsituations. Kiefer Sutherland is stuck with an odd grimace for the secondhalf of the movies and he also has to smoke through his throat. ReeseWitherspoon encounters such events as: coming home from school to see hermom outside their motel room turning tricks, getting told to respect herstepfather because he spent all day standing in line getting rent vouchers,and later a female inmate in a juvenile detention center tries to make outwith her. And both actors maintain believability throughout. If you are afan of over the top humor then "Freeway" is definitely one for you towatch.

2012-05-22 07:48:36

What???

Okay this movie goes from one thing to another. First a girl who goes on her own. Then a suspense when the girl is threatened her life. Stuff happens then it is a jail movie. Then more stuff happens and there just isn't a strait story. But I loved it. Reese Witherspoon is excellent, and I hope she gets an Oscar for something because she deserves it. Kiefer Sutherland is great as a person who "changes" so to say. This is a pretty bloody movie. Also it is funny. And suspenseful. And a mystery sort of. Anyway you need to see this movie if you have free time.

Chetan 2012-05-20 06:15:12

awesome

Ultimate movie! Reese witherspoon and kiefer sutherland have done a wonderful job in this cool film. A good watch! The cast and direction is almost perfect. Nice storyline and good supporting cast is an added bonus.

corona-5 2012-05-19 17:41:26

this movie is lame

I know everyone loves Reese Witherspoon but she is by far the mostinteresting thing about this film, which is dull, violent anduninventive, and even her one trick pony gets old after a while. Idon't mind being made uncomfortable by a film but I expect something,anything, in return. This film is a complete cliché, and I've seenKiefer Sutherland play a crazed rapist one too many times now. I lovecult movies but this is the lamest and most contrived excuse for a cultfilm I have seen in a while. Go rent a John Waters movie.I was satisfied with the brevity of this comment, but unfortunately itwas not long enough. Now it is.If only the movie makers had had the same discipline.

tjc60 2012-05-19 08:08:16

A serial killer picks the wrong victim.

I've heard this described as a remake of the old children's tale "Little RedRiding Hood". Maybe. All the elements of the old classic are here. ReeseWitherspoon gives possibly her best film performance as serial killer KieferSutherland's seemingly "innocent" victim. As the film progresses,Witherspoon's character, Vanessa, becomes ever more violent andunpredictable, while Sutherland's character, Bob the killer, becomescomically pitiful, and almost even sympathetic. The backstory of the film isdark, violent, and depressing, but the film itself is often quite funny.It's the kind of film that makes one laugh out loud, but then look aroundguiltily to see if anyone heard you. That said, I can't in good consciencerate it higher than a 6, and only because of Witherspoon's and Sutherland'sperformances. Still, it's not a bad way to spend 102 mins.

kkeither1 2012-05-18 15:41:19

Interesting movie

I was at WalMart and was shuffling around the $5.88 DVD bin. I cameacross this gem of a movie and after reading the back, decided to getit. I'm a big Keifer Sutherlund fan so that was part of the reason. Igot home and planted it into my player. I had no idea what was about tohappen. I was totally blown away with the script as the movie unfolded.I was expecting a road trip type movie, but not like this!! This is adark comedy that will definitely snag you and pull you in! I almostfelt bad for laughing at the many gruesomely funny parts! Oh, and nowI've got to see Legally Blond. The gal who plays Mesquita in Freeway,is in Legally Blond 1 and 2. She is a total hottie!!

HeatherS 2012-05-15 08:42:03

Brilliant Casting/Acting

Phenominal Acting, Reese at her best. Follows the story of little red riding hood, in a wonderfully demented contemporary way. The plot can be choppy at times but stick with it. This director being able to pull such famous faces into such a far out movie just proves that the actors must've thought the story was worth when reading the script. I recommend if you haven't watched the movie with the director's commentary over it, you do so; as it emphasizes the plot and setting, as well as strong characters/actors. Explains a lot that one might not notice watching the first time, including symbolism with the fairy tale.

jtamburi 2012-05-14 20:12:09

Awesome movie

This was quite a surprise as I was expecting a rather dull video. This wasanything but. The characters in this movie do not act in predictable ways,which is a big selling point for me. From what I've seen, ReeseWitherspoonreally likes challenging herself; all her roles are fresh and unique intheir own way. So far, I have enjoyed 100% of Reese Witherspoon movies -this is a phenominal actress.

2012-05-14 13:37:28

No expectations; entertaining and fun.

I saw this movie at a friend's house over the weekend as just a way to pass the time together. I was indifferent about what we would watch so you can imagine my surprise when the movie came on that within the first 20 minutes I was completely engrossed. I do like Reese Witherspoon. Great in Fear, Walk the Line, Legally Blonde and so on. Freeway was hilarious. It's engaging from the first moment you learn that Reese is illiterate and that her trailer park crack-addicted mother has just been arrested for prostitution. The blatant stereotypes and outrageous plot make for a truly comedic film. Essentially, the film is about a runaway teen (Reese) who hitches a ride with a serial killer (played by Keefer Sutherland). Little does the killer know that [Reese] has an anger management issue and is able to turn the tables on the killer and ends up shooting him. And then robs him. Quickly, [Reese] is arrested and charged with attempted murder and robbery. And through various and outlandish means, she spends the rest of the film trying to clear her name and get on her way. In a nutshell.I would give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Entertaining film.

Dale Roberson 2012-05-14 03:42:29

Weird!!!!!!!

This is, without a doubt, one of the weirdest, strangest, most f***ed-upflms I have ever seen. The elements of this movie all amounts to trashyfun. I loved it! I have grown a new respect for Reese Witherspoon for herextreme versatility. The court scene when she ridicules Kiefer Sutherland'scharacter was her all-time greatest performance. This film is highlyrecommended. One of the best films of 1996!

vivaboheme 2012-05-13 01:26:49

Unashamedly Twisted

I love this movie. It makes no apologies for being completely twisted,andit defines the black comedy genre. Reese Witherspoon is wonderful, and Iparticularly love watching her mock Bob in the courtroom scene. It issharpsatire, picking on the legal system, the class system, racism, perversionand child exploitation.

2012-05-12 15:18:11

Simply Awesome!!!

Freeway is a dark comedy. Oh yeah, you probably knew that. Kiefer Sutherland and a young Reese Witherspoon have a bizarre chemistry in which she emotionally opens up to him early on, and then figuritively opens up on him later with no remorse whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, he has it coming. I will try not give the plot away, but I can't rate it high enough ... Two hearty thumbs up!

sk8ercheeto2003 2012-05-11 12:03:36

This movie was hard to watch.

I also watched this movie on HBO. I think that it was a pointless moviethattried to hand out a good lesson, "That you should work hard to achieveyourgoals." But was smothered in stupidity. In a nutshell, this is a moviethatjust made you feel "bad".

2012-05-10 22:07:29

The Dark Side of Little Red Riding Hood

A skewed take on "Little Red Riding Hood", this film is a (very) dark comedy. It's loaded with violence but not sex (awww) and, on its surface, seems to be little more than The B Movie That Could. The difference is that it's all a sort of joke. The kind where the writer/director is giving a wink to the audience that "gets it" and a middle finger to those that don't. I'll admit I fell somewhere in between. I watched the movie cold, meaning I had no idea what it was about but I picked up on the "Riding Hood" theme instantly and that kept me watching the entire movie just to see how they handled the major beats of the fairy tale.Freeway doesn't adhere to Riding Hood in any strict sense and the deviations are much to the advantage of the production. This is one of Witherspoon's earliest roles and she carries the entire film, successfully, upon her shoulders. I never imagined her as a tough chick but she makes you believe she is...I guess that's why it's called (que John Lovitz) ACTING!

Cablebot3000 2012-05-10 20:21:37

Without a doubt one of Reese Witherspoons best performances.

Freeway is an instant cult classic. Its crude,violent,graphic,gross,funny,and full of hilarious madness. I considerthis one of the two best performances in a comedy. Along with Electionthis is her best comical act ever. She did so great. Having only seennewer movies with her, I did not know she was so good. She did a lot ofhardcore movies before she switched to fluff romantic comedies. A mustwatch to see her true talent. Keifer Sutherland also did really well inthis as a sicko pervert. Though its not his greatest role, itsdefinitely worth the watch. All in all this movie is just awesome. Now,its not for everyone,you have to have a pretty strong stomach to makesee it, but its worth it. See it ASAP. I rate this 8/10. Rated R forstrong lurid violence and sexual dialogue,some sexual situations, drugcontent and language

Joe Buckstrap 2012-05-10 07:15:02

Witherspoon's best work yet.

The screenwriting for this film is quite above par. Good but not outstanding story structure, character development, dialogue.This was intended to be a provocative film that pushes the envelope and it fills the order. It's not pretty but it sick enough to be realistic.The downside is it's a tacky period piece.I give it a high grade because of Witherspoon's and Sutherland's performances. They really brought this sick script to life and grabbed your attention.It would be easier to take a snobby posture and just pan the film as being rude and without any socially redeeming value. To do so would miss the point. There really are sick people out there and bright people who've been handed a raw deal. These kinds of people are caught up in a system that can't handle the reality of our cultural pathology. That's what this film is about. I see this as Witherspoon's best work yet.

jzappa 2012-05-06 20:22:57

A Modern Fairytale Paradox In Three Acts

Freeway is not a thriller like I thought it would be. What it is is asend-up of the legal system and its biases, told sarcastically througha rough outline but very clearly intentional comparison to the story ofLittle Red Riding Hood. It goes off on tangents when it feels like it'sbeen too long since it's filled its violence quota, but it focuses onits three very different and contrasting acts. The first act involvesthe Little Red Riding Hood character, in this version an illiteratesouthern white trash teenager with an impetuous temper and a blackgun-dealing boyfriend, and her prostitute mother and her drunk, stonedand incestuous stepfather and the devastating situation caused by thelegal system that provokes her to flee with her belongings (that she ofcourse puts in a straw basket with a cloth cover over them) to hergrandmother's house. The second act involves the persuasion anddangerous encounter with Bob Wolverton (...Wolverton...almost missedthat one), a mild-mannered man who picks her up when her car breaksdown and comes off as friendly and protective in that suave collegeprofessor sort of way. The third act involves the legal system's naivereaction and stubborn handling of the second act, and of course thestrive to get to grandma's trailer home.Reese Witherspoon is actually brilliant in her uneducated but verystreet-smart and very temperamental role, playing her in the mostconvincing way you could play a role in a film like this. KieferSutherland, who can play the worst of evils in his sleep, issurprisingly weak through the majority of his screen time, with theimmediate exception of the hospital scene.Freeway is one of those movies that's just not found at the top ofanybody's favorites list, a movie that's so inextricably what it isthat it just could not be improved to a point near perfection, but it'sentertaining and it takes you for a ride.

2012-05-06 06:31:54

One Of The Best Killer/Kill The Killer Movies Avaliable...

Brilliant.... A must for all fans of Serial Killers Flicks! A fabo flick whith loads of foul language and good effect ( That are not over the top). A very beleivable film...