How John Woo’s 1996 Action Thriller Broken Arrow Redefined the Hollywood Villain
In short: Before John Travolta played the rogue Major Vic Deakins, he had never seen a John Woo film. Influenced by Quentin Tarantino and a desire to channel Chow Yun-Fat, Travolta helped turn this high-stakes nuclear heist into a commercial success that grossed over $150 million despite mixed critical reviews.
Released in February 1996, Broken Arrow marked John Woo’s second American directorial effort. The plot centers on a stolen stealth bomber carrying two nuclear warheads, leading to a frantic chase across the American West. While the film was a financial hit, earning over $150 million worldwide, it remains a polarizing entry in Woo’s filmography. Critics were divided, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 54% approval rating, while Metacritic noted a generally favorable average score of 61.
The production was an ambitious undertaking, with principal photography beginning in April 1995. Filming spanned diverse locations, including the Mojave Desert and Glen Canyon, before culminating in a complex six-week shoot on the Central Montana Rail. The film’s distinct soundscape was crafted by Hans Zimmer, who famously recruited guitarist Duane Eddy to create a signature, Ennio Morricone-inspired score. This music, particularly the track 'Rope-A-Dope,' became iconic enough to be reused in later films like Scream 2.
Despite the technical polish, the film faced scrutiny for its adherence to action movie tropes. Roger Ebert famously criticized the 'Fallacy of the Talking Killer,' noting that the villain’s tendency to monologue allowed heroes to escape. This critique was so persuasive that it led Gene Siskel to reverse his initial positive review. Nevertheless, the film remains a fascinating study in the collision of Hong Kong action sensibilities with the high-budget, pyrotechnic demands of 1990s Hollywood cinema, anchored by Travolta’s intentionally hammy performance.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Broken Arrow (1996 film)
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