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Gina Gershon, Til Schweiger Rated PG-13 for language and some intense crash sequences RATING CANADA... Rated PG for some language and some intense crash sequences |
 Drama and Action/Adventure |
250 miles per hour 20 races One championship |
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DRIVEN is not a film with a great plot and does not even have any plot holes, mostly due to the fact that the plot is thin. This film is about racing, winning and about surviving long enough to find oneself and that is all. DRIVEN is a good film, one worth paying for and worth seeing in a theatre on a large screen. Even if you do not go out of your way to go to the live races or watch racing on television, you will be drawn into the excitement of the racing sequences. The new effects abilities of today's technology make for some spectacular crash and racing sequences. The acting by the young crew is adequate but whenever, Stallone, Reynolds and Gershon show up on they screen the acting is a vast improvement. One of the best scenes is between Stallone and Reynolds arguing about their past and the consequences that led Reynolds into a wheelchair for the rest of his life. "A distraction...sorry." The story revolves around an ongoing track rivalry between Jimmy Blye (Kip Paradue) and Beau Brandenburg (Til Schweiger); two racers that are the prime candidates to win the championship race. Both are also destroying and questioning their lives. At the beginning of the film Beau is so intent on winning that he is afraid to even being remotely distracted. This causes him to commit to a stupid move. Beau dismisses his long standing fiancee, Sophia Simone (Estella Warren) as a distraction, a distraction that sends her into the arms of Beau's rival Jimmy. To the credit of script writer Stallone he does not let this become a cliche, where the girl becomes the object of a hated rivalry. He handles the situation well and turns it around nicely. The young talented racer, Jimmy Blye is going through a time in his live where he has doubts about the direction it should take. These doubts cause him to lose focus and are distracting him, affecting his racing. The doubts cause him to lose some races which in turn prompts concerns with his boss, Carl Henry played nicely by Burt Reynolds. Jimmy is slipping in the ranks and is having a hard time dealing with his overly ambitious manager/promoter brother, Demille (Robert Sean Leonard. Carl, a seasoned car owner realizing he has to correct the situation calls in for help from former car racing star and friend, Joe Tanto (Slyvester Stallone). Joe's career spunout of control after a near tragic accident that almost killed him and left his friend Carl in a wheel chair. Now Joe has to help steer Jimmy in the right direction and save his career and quite possibly his life. Joe still a great driver has to come to grips with some of his own demons. He has come to grips with his ex wife Cathy, marrying a friend and fellow racer Memo Moreno (Cristián de la Fuente). Cathy is played with just the right nastiness by Gina Gershon. She has no respect for Joe and seems to only hang on to Memo for the glory. Memo is replaced by Joe on the team and of course this only angers her more. Joe and Memo on the other hand were and are still friends. Memo understands Carl's actions of replacing him with Joe, but in private we see that Memo is hurting deeply. This all changes when Memo is involved in the most spectacular crash sequence in DRIVEN. This sequence is shown in such a way that I found it lyrical; I think you will see what I mean when you see the film. This sequence brings out the best in everyone, when we see racers, friends and foes alike attempt to do the impossible. They risk their lives to save a fellow racer from an incredibly dangerous situation. If this movie does nothing else it helps to promote the old addage that it is not about winning or losing but it is about how you play the game. This is an inspiring sequence that works well just like it did in other Stallone written features that had to do with that other hero Rocky. It worked well then and it works well now, in DRIVEN. As for the races, we start off in Miami where Blye wins and then we head off to Brazil where Beau wins the day. We get to see numerous races around the world and of course the Molson's Indy 500 in Toronto, near my home town. All these races are spectacular but the most interesting one happens on a city street when Jimmy in a fit of anger and frustration takes a prototype racer from a Proto Party in Chicago, Illinios. The streets of Toronto substitute for the streets of Chicago in this incredible chase. No the cops aren't involved. Joe "borrows" a prototype as well and goes after the young racer, Jimmy, in a wild ride at incredible speeds through the city. A ride that stretches the imagination, in some scenes, just a liiiittle bit. Keep in mind these race cars are really low so when I say they race under a bridge that is only about maybe four or five feet high you'll understand. When they charge underneath a truck it is acceptable as well. Keep your eyes open for a really cute scene when they fly by a female pedestrian wearing a rather loose, flowing dress. It is one of those priceless scenes, often imitated and first performed by Marilyn Monroe. The major stretch here is that the cops do not even arrest them but fear not they are punished to teh tune of a $25,000 fine by the racing commission. Joe has to straighten Jimmy out or Carl will boot him from the team. While attempting to steer Jimmy to the top, Joe has to contend with Lucretia Clan (Stacy Edwards) a newspaper reporter covering the male dominated racing scene. Joe has to figure if he is ready to commit to another woman and is Lucretia the one. Time and a few races will tell. Does it all come together in the end? Who will end up the champion? Will you be impressed by this movie? Yes I think you will. So head off to your nearest theatre and enjoy this film. Of course I would recommend you see this at a drive-in theatre as it seems more appropriate somehow. Load up on the drinks and popcorn as you will need something between your teeth otherwise the tension could cause you to grit those pearly whites. Sit back and enjoy the ride. "I did win it." Oh yes, thanks to the courtesy of the good people at Warner Brothers who kindly gave me a copy of the soundtrack cd. I sat back and listened to the entire cd and I highly recommend that you pick up a copy as soon as it is available, it is well worth it. i'm off now...vvvrrroooommmm!!! |
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vjm@metrocity.com