If Billabong captured a generation of childhood imaginations with the unforgettable slogan “only a surfer knows the feeling”, then 1991 cult classic Point Break made damn sure any kid within two hours of a beach wanted to learn how to surf. And fight.
We were some of those kids. And so was Luke Bracey – a Freshwater grom who frothed so hard on Bodhi and the Dead Presidents’ shredding in the opening scenes it took him four goes to get through the movie without splitting 10 minutes in to go for a surf in angst.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJMRIQcGhY
Now, the Freshie frother and one-time Home and Away dreamboat has lived out his childhood dream – starring as Johnny Utah in the 2015 re-imagining of Point Break, out Christmas Day.
We caught a sneak peek of some of the film’s epic action sequences then sat down with Luke to talk all things Point Break, Chopes and, of course, Northern Beaches. And just quietly, the 3D scenes we saw at Chopes are worth the ticket price alone.
LWA: Luke! Three words – Johnny fucking Utah…
LB: Haha. Oh, man. When you get that phone call saying they’re looking at you and a couple other guys to be Johnny Utah… I just dropped everything. There was just no way I wasn’t going to do this movie. It was the first time in the six or seven years of me doing this (acting) that I kinda went – “I have to do this movie. No one else can do this movie”. And for the next three days before I flew back to America for the audition me and my friends just lived our lives quoting Point Break the original.
LWA: Speaking of the original, what effect did it have on you as a grom growing up?
LB: Man, my parents live in Newport and I grew up in Freshie. I grew up on the beaches there. So the original is such a love of mine. I spent many hours as a kid watching it and quoting it. I’d watch the first 10 minutes and get too stoked to watch the rest and have to go for a surf. Man, I still quite haven’t come to terms with it. I mean, that’s just like the dream isn’t it?
LWA: The names and title may be the same but from what we’ve seen, this film is a different beast entirely – bar one or two scenes. You know know what we mean…
LB: Haha. There are a couple of homages in there and that [shooting the gun into the air] is the one that matters. That’s the one that I wanted there to be. I didn’t want it to be a highlight reel of everyone’s favourite little bits from the original. And for me, that’s the bit I would have picked out of the original. Just because it truly works in our film as well. And to do that scene, I’m giddy about it. I feel really stoked that I got to do it.
LWA: The footage in 3D is mind-blowing – like five action sports movies in one with a plot…
LB: Dude, exactly, man. And that’s the thing. A lot of extreme sports, it’s literally been born post the original Point Break. Laird Hamilton hadn’t really invented tow-in surfing yet. They were still sky-diving – wingsuiting wasn’t even a dream yet. Haha. I mean, heli-skiing was probably in its infancy. The fact is that extreme sports has taken just huge leaps since 1991. These are true athletes. True sports. And to be able to give that to the world and show them these sports – and to have it not be on a shaky GoPro camera but with beautiful cinematography – it really shows the beauty of them. It’s just amazing to see really.
LWA: Tell us about that scene at Chopes at 40 feet. Crazy…
LB: Oh, man. That’s gotta be the most intense thing. I was actually there that day of the swell in the channel. I was swimming next to Brian Keaulana when that wave came through and Dylan [Longbottom] and Bruce [Irons] were on it. It was the coolest day of my life! I was like “oh, man. I’m 24 years old and have I just had the coolest day of my life already? Nothing’s gonna beat that.” It was awesome but also a little depressing at the same time. It’s like a beast. It has it’s own personality that’s extremely unforgiving but extremely true and pure.
LWA: We know you surf. Did you get a paddle in? It’s safe to say we’d stay on the boat…
LB: Haha. I did everything in that scene except actually catch the wave! Like, Laird comes and picks me up from the back of the boat – and that’s just insane to think about. I mean, I whistled at Laird Hamilton from the boat and he comes past on a ski and I just grab the rope and hoon off. The day after the swell when it was still maybe 15 feet, he picked me up on the ski for a tow and we went out and came back on the top of one – like, right on top of one. And he kind of gave me a look back as if to say like “this is what it’s like to stare down the barrel of one”. I kind of edged out a bit to get a better look – and looked like I was trying to whip myself in – and he just looked back, shook his head and hooked it left to get me right out of there.
LWA: Speaking of surfing, where’s your fav wave back home in Sydney?
LB: Back home, I always love surfing The Alley in Freshwater because it’s my home break. But from Winki to Fairy Bower through there, when that goes off, it’s a great wave.
LWA: Best place for a post-surf coffee?
LB: I do love Zubi Bar up at Newport. That’s a great little cafe. Shout out. I wanna say G’day to Steve and all my friends up there at Zubi Bar. They take good care of you. It’s a great cafe.
LWA: And fav place for a beer?
LB: I love the Newport Arms and I love the Harbord Hilton. I also love the verandah at The Clock in Surry Hills on Crown street. That’s a great place for a beer, too.
