MovieChat Forums > Highwaymen (2004) Discussion > A Note from the director of 'Highwaymen'

A Note from the director of 'Highwaymen'

posted 20 years ago by rlh
93 replies | jump to latest

Hello, everyone...

I was curious see if there was any curiousity about my film, "Highwaymen" here on IMDB, and was pleasantly surprised to find lots of interest and lots of questions.

As time permits, I'd be happy to answer anyone's questions and issues about this film, as it's had rather odd post-production history. I'd like to be able to 'set the record straight.'

As is probably obvious from the few who've seen it, it's truly not a film for everyone. It's a dark and odd tale of revenge on the highways, with special emphasis on mood and tone. It somewhat resembles an earlier film of mine, "The Hitcher," but has met with an unfortunate studio decision to release only on DVD.

Anyway, I'm most interested in hearing what you all think after you've had a chance to make your own decisions -- the DVD release is August 24th.

Thanks.

Robert Harmon

[–] jappyboy511 20 years ago

Mr. Harmon,

I work for a small wholesale video distributor in the Mid-West, and I just wanted to let you know that there is a great deal of interest in your movie. I have been suggesting the title to all my customers, even the ones that only buy "box office" movies. When I tell them the story, the most common response is "It's about time.". Most of the video stores I have talked to say that they get alot of requests for "Hicher-type" movies, and this movie should do very well for them.
Even though I have not seen "Highwaymen", I can tell when a movie will be a fun ride, and look forward to seeing it soon. I hope the rental market can help you find success in this movie as it did for Richard Kelly's "Donnie Darko".

Just thought you would like to know,
And thanks for the films,
Jonny

[–] rlh 20 years ago

Jonny,

Thanks for the note.

I hope you're right!

Robert

[–] gilles008 20 years ago

Who knows?...Maybe you really are Robert Harmon...Anyway let me congratulate you for the quite awesome The Hitcher. It's easily one of my favorite movies. I have not seen Highwaymen but I plan to as soon as it's released on DVD. I am sure that I will like it. I can't see why I wouldn't!

[–] rlh 20 years ago

Gee, it never occurred to me that I might not be who I claim to be. If I wanted to masquerage as a director, I doubt I'd choose myself...

In any case, thanks for the kind words about "The Hitcher." Let me know what you think of "Highwaymen."

Best,

Robert

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] deeprisingfan 20 years ago

Hi Mr. Harmon
I sent you a private message.
much thx.

[–] MonsieurSmith 20 years ago

Hello Mr Harmon,

As a French movie-geek who liked "The Hitcher" very much, I will be glad to watch your latest effort "Highwaymen" on a big screen, since it is to be released in French theaters on August 4th (that is, tomorrow).

Just thought you would like to know.

Best regards.

[–] rlh 20 years ago

No, I didn't know that the French release of "Highwaymen" was August 4.

Please let me know what you thought, postive or negative.

Robert

[–] mylundon 20 years ago

Im going to check out your movie even if its bad or not. I was wondering if you can tell me if the studio made you cut things or change the ending. wait, maybe you could just tell what happend?

Think with Objectivity, and you will become depressed.

[–] hobokenaptdave 17 years ago

this movie suxed bigtime...i unfortunatly was flipping around and got stuck on this

it was like robocop/joyride combined into one movie

lame!zzzzz

[–] Phroggy 17 years ago

Here's from another French "Hitcher" fan ! I was writing a novel which ended up as my third published here when I saw it in a theatre, and the movie had such an effect on me I added a "gas station blows up" scene in it as a tribute.
I think "Highwaymen" had a very good idea and the first part was gripping, but frankly, it went downhill once the "bad guy" was revealed. Nothing wrong on your part, it was just a script problem IMHO.
For any clarification (if needed) : [email protected]

[–] MonsieurSmith 20 years ago

I know, I should have written this review sooner, but I was so busy with my real life these days...

I thought the movie was good - not as good as "The Hitcher", yet very enjoyable.

The negative things, first:
The major disappointment with this movie was the villain. Colm Feore doesn't have a tenth of Rutger Hauer's charisma and talent - and anyone who saw him in "Paycheck" or "Riddick" knows what I'm talking about. Therefore the fight between him and Caviezel is WAY less intense than the previous one between Howell and Hauer.
Also, the very last scene (Fargo being finished by the cop while lying helplessly on the ground) was, IHMO, unnecessary (and I suspect its funny aspect was unintentional - or was it ?).

The positive things:
Mr Harmon keeps showing a solid direction, especially in action scenes. I also liked the low-key acting by Jim Caviezel (so good without the crown of thorns !) and Rhoda Mitra (surprisingly convincing - four years after the ill-fated "Beowulf").

Overall, it's not a classic, but one that shouldn't be overlooked.

[–] j-littlehand 18 years ago

Hi Richard - how cool to have the director here, I hired this today from the dvd store because I'd seen everything else on the new release stand and I thought with a great actor like Jim Caviezel it woould be half decent, which it was not, just not very good at all really, I don't know what went wrong with the film, it's average obviously alot of effort would have gone into making it but in all not great, pretty junkie, a dark film No a wannabe dark film yes, I can totally see why this went straight to dvd, and I can see that without a good script you're just a director, the hitcher was a one off - your five minutes of fame but that was along time ago, taake a break from junkie scripts or do some tv but don'e tarnish your career making these films, you have a career based on one film The Hitcher, now find someone unknown with a killer script and start again, keep doing this low budget stuff sure but just do it with a good script and have test audiences that aren't your friends.

[–] uzeus 15 years ago

Mr. Harmon,

This may be a little late in coming, however, i must say that i have been a real fan of this genre since first seeing the Hitcher. And because i have the chance to see yet another masterpiece in The Highwaymen, i am doubly blessed. Funny i did not know you directed this second movie when i first watched The Highwaymen. Yet i was sure it was your work. Thank you sir, for your great work.

[–] noazrk 20 years ago

I saw the intense trailer for this around 6-8 months ago on the internet after reading about in EW. I was excited to see it and tonight while in Blockbuster I was wondering what happened to this movie.

If the studio is smart they'll put "JAMES CAVIEZEL" prominently on the cover as he is a big draw now.

I will definitely rent this as soon as it is released, due to my baby girl it didn't really matter that it didn't make the theater as we're not able to go much anyways!

Noah
Phoenix, AZ

[–] viper-87 20 years ago

Spoiler here

I ve seen the movie yesterday in theatre in France and I must say it was a great disappointment. The idea was good but overall the movie is a complete failure.

1 : The 2 lead actors are horrible, A few facial expressions from time to time would have been welcome.

2 : The bad guy is really a joke. I mean come on, the guys have no legs, no arms, one eye, and it takes 3 people to stop him (even when he s out his car). How on earth did he manage to take this girl from his cars to an hotel room, he can t even walk by himself. It reminded me of a Seinfeld episode where George Costanza is being pursued by old people on wheelchair

3 : The last scene with the cop shooting this poor handicapped guy at point blank range was a big laugh for me and for everyone in the theatre.

After all maybe I didn’t t get it and it was just really a big 2nd degree comedy.

[–] bigmattyk 18 years ago

Wow. You really are French.

"I want to say something about Dwayne Wade, but I fear I may get called for a foul."

[–] CJ_076 20 years ago

I liked "The Hitcher" so much Robert that I bought the DVD on it. I'm glad it was in it's original widescreen format too as I'm not a fan of this "pan and scan" stuff. I hope the special edition will be released here much like it was in the UK a while back. But I'm definetly getting "Highwaymen" when it hits DVD. I'm just dying to see it. The trailer got me hooked. But I'm also not shcokd that it went to video, New Line is a crappy company. Thye do thigns wrong. How lame films like Freddy Vs. Jason or Jason X hit theaters is beyond me. They play like the garbage you see on HBO at 3 am. Their better movies have all been released to video, so consider your film lucky enough not to be amongst the losers there. :) By the way, good job on "They" too. I loved it. :)

[–] moiself 20 years ago

I just saw your film, I liked it. And I'm not quite a fan of the "genre" -- if there is one to fit this film of yours in. I think that it's has a passable plot and the details are imaginative and modern enough. The cinematography is quite good, and so is the editing/rythm. Jim Caviezel is as impeccable as one expects him to be. I think I got it as to why New Line wouldn't care to see it in the theaters, they probably think they've been "cheated" out of the standard blood 'n gore and hysterical screaming and flooding "special effects" that are only special in the sense that they cover up for no sense at all.

It's not the salt of the earth, but it's quite a decent flick, dark and sober, you know what you were doing. Greetz :)

[–] you_know_what_it_is 20 years ago

I just got done watching highwaymen, and I enjoyed it, allthough i still like the hitcher better, because in my book the hitcher is a classic.

--------------------
"it's just my opinion, but i'm right" - Max Kellerman

[–] miniz33 18 years ago

http://imdb.com/title/tt0339147/board/thread/45464765

read that

[–] -Peavy- 20 years ago

dont really have any questions, but having just finished watching it, i have to say i greatly enjoyed it. It did feel very rushed tho, as if something was missing or wrong with the 5-10 minutes after Caviezels character introduction. Maybe a little too little exposition with Mitra and her friend, there were barely five words uttered between them before the friend dies. The history between Feore and Caviezels characters didnt feel like it had been properly fleshed out. Fargo knew that Renny had been after him and talked to him as if he were an old acquintance, even tho Renny says he saw Fargo for the first time again in five years in that car graveyard.
I did like the rest a lot tho, and felt that Fargo was a very original character. Surprising ending, never expected that very last thing to happen.

oh yeah, i do have one question; you said the movie had an odd post-production, what happened?