Gone In 60 Seconds (Blu-Ray) (2000)

...suppose that may not have gone down well with the authorities!

---Facts---

Apparently all the stars went on a 3 day course on how to steal cars, performed by ex criminals. Some cars stolen are shown in the film how to disable their electronics. Interesting!

---Bonus material---

Not too much to shout about here. You get a Jerry Bruckheimer interview and filmography, featurettes on the big ...
...trailer

---Overall---

Overall i think this is a fantastic film. I would have loved to had an extra hour on top of it to establish the credibility of Raymond Calitri, maybe showing some of his previous deals as a crime boss and maybe having a late involvement from Jonny B either as a hindrence of a help to Memphis. Any game out the back of it would increase the backgrounds of the other crew members and each would have ... more

Another mega blockbuster from Jerry Bruckheimer originally released in the summer of 2000. I remember watching a dodgy copy in some bar in Ayia Napa, this is 200x better. A remake to the original film, the cars, action sequences and car chases are intense and a great addition to anyones film collection. The blu ray version just tops it off with its high def detail and bright colours on the top level vehicles which are about to be pinched.

---Plot--- (spoiler alert)

Nicholas Cage plays Memphis Raines, a retired car thief who is asked to get back in the game to help resuce his brother Kip (Giovanni Ribisi) who has attempted to follow in his brothers footsteps. Kip and his crew take on a contract to steal 50 top end cars and deliver them to crime boss Raymond 'the carpenter' Calitri, played by Christopher Eccleston. Unfortunately a 'boost' on a Porsche goes wrong and the cops infiltrate their stash which leaves Calitri fuming and after blood. The contract has to be met other wise Kip will die so Calitri pursuades Memphis to come out of retirement, steal some cars and be a big brother. By the time Memphis pulls his old crew together and does his homework, he and Kip must steal all 50 in one night.

Memphis' old crew consists of barmaid and former lover Sway, played by a blonde Angelina Jolie, driving instructor Donnie Astricky (Chi McBride), former mentor Otto played by Robert Duvall and the non speaking Sphinx portrayed by Vinnie Jones. As the oldtimers come back together, Raines' old nemesis in the police force, Detective Castlebeck (Delroy Lindo) realises everyone is back in town. He and detective Drycoff (Timothy Olyphant) are keeping an eye on them all including Kip and his crew.

To gain access to the whereabouts of the desired cars, Donny uses his job as a driving instructor to personally approach the DMV, Toby, part of Kips crew, hacks into the DMV mainframe and Memphis plays a role as a flash posh lover of cars who goes to a Ferrari dealership and discovers their warehouse. As both crews scout around for the cars, Castlebeck targets the Mercedes as where they will catch Memphis in the act as previously Kips crew managed to get laser cut keys from a dodgy salesman at the dealership, he eventually turns and becomes informant giving the police a path to an arrest.

Kips crew do have their skills and with both sets of old and new style car thiefs its possible to get all 50 cars stolen before the deadline. The only stumbling block being the Shelby GT500 which Memphis has never been able to steal without something happening.

Otto co-ordinates the heist from his warehouse where all the cars will be stored prior to deliver to Calitri. The crews go out in pairs and start to extract the cars, some with a few obstructions including police, snakes and lovers! All are in touch with each other through walkie talkie and all members are advised to leave the car alone if theres any heat, as the Mercedes have taps on them, Kip comes up with the idea of taking back the original Mercs that the police took and put in the impound. These are then collected with relative ease!

As night turns to day and the deadline approaching, Memphis goes out looking to get car number 50, Eleanor. As mentioned previously, The GT500 always provides Memphis with a big challenge and this is the main chase in the film which is a long and gruelling street and freeway chase involving a dock and a few crashes to say the least. As Memphis gets away he is caught in front of an ambulance and must make a dramatic jump to clear it. As the car pulls up at Calitris yard, he realises he is late and therefore fails to live up to his promise. As Castlebeck is hot on the tail of Memphis, Calitri attempts to kill Memphis but fails and in the end only ends up being pushed to his death leaving Castlebeck to let Memphis get away

---Character performance---

Pretty good. Cage is a car fanatic anyway so playing this role is easy for him. Giovanni Ribisi always plays a good character and doesnt let anybody down with his portrayal of Kip, his attempt to cook at the start of the film sets the tone for his continued bad luck and going that step too far. Jolie has little screen time compared to most roles she plays but as a sexy car loving blonde, shes the best. The other supporting characters all play their role well with a few characters youd like to find out more about including Tumbler (Scott Caan) Raymond Calitri and Jonny B (played by Master P)
Its probably worth noting that Vinnie Jones probably got paid £25000 for every word he said, with one speech at the end, they were his only words in the film!

---Action sequences and chases---

With the cars on offer here, it would be difficult to perform a bad car chase. The opening scene is Kip racing a stolen Porsche which sets the tone for the rest of the film. The fight sequences could have bene better but i suppose you cant have everything.

---Memorable moments---

Police car being put through a wall with the help of a wrecking ball. Drycof informing asking the driver if he was ok, seeing as he just went through a wall

The old crew getting pumped up listening to Low Rider by The War.

Donnie doing a driving lesson with a young student who cant drive

---If only---

What i feel could have made this film become a franchise, is a computer game and a second film. The idea of stealing cars has been used widely on GTA and others but an actual game dedicated to car theft and the art of it may have been a winner. I suppose that may not have gone down well with the authorities!

---Facts---

Apparently all the stars went on a 3 day course on how to steal cars, performed by ex criminals. Some cars stolen are shown in the film how to disable their electronics. Interesting!

---Bonus material---

Not too much to shout about here. You get a Jerry Bruckheimer interview and filmography, featurettes on the big chase, making of, stunt driving school, actors interviews and the trailer

---Overall---

Overall i think this is a fantastic film. I would have loved to had an extra hour on top of it to establish the credibility of Raymond Calitri, maybe showing some of his previous deals as a crime boss and maybe having a late involvement from Jonny B either as a hindrence of a help to Memphis. Any game out the back of it would increase the backgrounds of the other crew members and each would have their own skill. I wonder if that idea is copywritten!!?

Anyway before i carry on ranting, i would highly recommend this film, especially on this format. As with every blu ray film it ups the visual experience and with action films more so. With the cars on offer here, its only right they should be shown in hi def! Get on board with this and live the dream!

 

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