Inspired casting puts sparks into Flashback, a comedy of counterculture clash between an aging 1960s radical and a buttoned-down FBI agent. Dennis Hopper plays an Abbie Hoffman-esque 1960s activist and prankster who lands in the custody of a conservative young agent (a suitably uptight Kiefer Sutherland) and proceeds literally to unravel the agent's carefully constructed front through a series of slippery mind games. Hopper has a blast as the unreformed relic, and Carol Kane is delightful as a hippie holdout who puts both men back in touch with their identities. There are few surprises, plenty of heart, and even a little sentiment in this story of rebellion and the legacy of the counterculture. The soundtrack is gilded with well-chosen 1960s anthems. --Sean Axmaker

Brill film of the new hero of 24hours in his younger days.
"When we leave the 80's the 90's are going to make the 60's looks like the 50's."
And where did the 90's go?

Shame there were no extras but the subtitles were just great.
A great fun hippy film to watch.

I had this film as a VHS recording from german TV and I loved it since I first saw it in 1990. Now that DVDs from other countries are readily available thanks to the Internet, I decided to order the film in English.
It had me laughing really hard, even more than the dubbed german version. And also had me shedding some tears when John Buckner (K. Sutherland) finally confronts his past while watching an old 8mm film. That scene is the ultimate "Flashback", despite all the Sixties references, music and all. Which are great fun. Dennis Hopper even makes fun of his Easy Rider image in a scene with some ex-hippies.
OK, what is it with Kiefer barfing in his films? Do they have to do that? Seems to become a running gag, doesn't it ;-) ?

This is one of the few films I will watch again (and again and again).

with a bit of action. I really like this film, and can't understand why it isn't more widely known - maybe because the political climate wasn't right when it was released in 1990. It makes some witty and astute points about the social fallout from Reagonomics and the whole greedy git era. Although there is a strong supporting cast, it's mostly a two-hander between Dennis Hopper and Kiefer Sutherland, who are great together. Kiefer Sutherland starts off as a precious and pompous FBI 80s boy convinced that his way's the right way. It takes getting tangled up with Dennis Hopper's chancer/hippy survivor character to put him on the right track. It may seem unlikely to some, but Hopper's character is charming, clever and very funny and completely blows away all his other crop-up-in-your-nightmares roles. Lots of nods and refs to Easy Rider, and the soundtrack has some great sixties stuff including Born to be Wild. There are a few 80s synthpop horrors in keeping with the time but not enough to ruin things. No mammoth surprises, but it's a pleasure to watch the characters develop and interact with each other while the story unfolds with a few diversions along the way which all link together comfortingly neatly at the end. 24 fans may appreciate an early example of a vomiting scene from Kiefer, which is well up to his usual high standard, as well as the relief of seeing him be lighthearted for a change. Go on - give it a go!

Dennis Hopper as Huey Walker - an Ex-Hippie and and Kiefer Sutherland as FBI-Agent John Buckner who should bring him to another state-prison. On this trip Walker escapes again by fooling Buckner and making him drunk...

A comedy about confusion. What's really fascinating about it isn't actually the story itself. It is the spirit of the 60th combined with the advantages of today. A great landscape - and soundtrack from Steppenwolf's "Born to be wild", Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane up to REM's "It's the End of the World as we know it".
FLASHBACK is kind of romantic. Not just for those who haven't forgotten the spirit of the 60th in spite of modern times.
Hopper states: "The 90th are gonna make the 60th look like the 50th".
Thank you PARAMOUNT that this movie is finally available on DVD in Europe too!!!