Jack: If they want to drink Merlot, we're drinking Merlot. Miles: No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm l...
Jack: If they want to drink Merlot, we're drinking Merlot. Miles: No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any f*****g Merlot!
Member since:03.02.2004
Reviews:36
Members who trust:20
Director: Dominic Sena
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall, Giovanni Ribisi, Christopher Eccleston, Robert Duvall, Chi McBride, Will Patton and Vinne Jones
Story: Following a botched car heist by his brother Kip, ex-car thief Randall ‘Memphis’ Raines is forced out of retirement to complete the heist and Save his sibling from the Hands of psychotic criminal Raymond Calitri. The job? Fifty cars to be stolen and delivered in one night...
Credibility has never been one of Jerry Bruckheimers virtues. Only on rare occasions has substance (Crimson Tide) been allowed to creep into one of his many overblown productions. The Bruckheimer rules of filmmaking are simple yet effective. Put together a rogues gallery, make them look and sound good and then let them blow shit up. It’s a formula that worked for Con Air, The Rock and Armageddon, all of which proved huge successes at the box office. While never being mentally stimulating, if crash, bangs and wallops are your game, then you’ve definitely come to the
right place.
Gone in 60 seconds is one such movie. While not delivering the action quotient that is the standard for a summer flick, it still manages to trade on the overly familiar style over substance factor. Cage and company’s primary focus is to wear plenty of leather and act cool while spewing scripter Scott Rosenbergs continual barrage of one liners. The plot follows Randalls crew attempting to steal said number of cars inside 24 hours, while sticking to the adage that ‘anything that can go wrong, will go wrong’. Cue supposedly hilarious situations involving a mutt that eats car keys and the gang having to break into a police auto compound. So anyone expecting a story grounded in reality will be shocked to see such a quality cast so shamelessly wasted. Three Oscar winners, supported by fine actors like Will Patton and Delroy Lindo would be any directors dream, but the problem is the cast is so large that there is a lack of priority throughout. It’s Cages’ movie, that’s clear enough, but how can Sena justify Robert Duvall’s five minutes of screen time? Jolie is also woefully underused, just on screen to look hot and pull in the male audience.
This is a Bruckheimer movie after all so at least the colourful collection of cardboard cutest can take a back seat to some searing action right>? Well not quite, as GISS, while serving up a few cracking car chases towards the end, simply doesn’t raise a sweat. Most of the film is spent preparing the heist and shopping around for the cars with an occasional scene of Detective Castlebeck (Lindo) making promises that this time he will bust Randall’s ass for good. 60 seconds simply lacks the high-octane thrills we’ve come to expect from this sort of movie.
So why does it still merit three stars? To put it simply, Gone in 60 seconds still manages to be an incredibly fun movie. For all its shortcomings, it DOES entertain. Everything is played for laughs and this manages to be the films saving grace. Cage and Jolie do give the film some much needed charisma, Lindo relishes his role as the antagonised detective, McBride is in scene stealing form as the comic relief and our man Vinnie proves his sheer hardness with the minimal material he’s given. Sena takes the standard care chase and tries to mix things up a bit with helicopters, cranes and gas canisters all coming into play. Unfortunately the films ‘jump’ payoff sequence feels a little tacked on and would have worked better if Cage hadn’t stopped and contemplated it first.
The real highlights of the picture are the cars themselves. Shown as true works of art, any auto fanatic will definitely get their rocks off, as hands are run along bumpers lovingly, headlights spring up and engines purr profoundly. Many different models are feature ranging from the standard Mercedes to the Porsche to the classic 67 Ford Mustang. There’s something on offer for car lovers everywhere.
So just when it all looked a disaster, we’re reminded why we watch Bruckheimer flicks after all. 60 Seconds is a pure unadulterated two hours of supreme coolness. The cliché’s are all in place, the hip dialogue dominates every scene, the music rocks and patience is rewarded with a great car chase. Never has a movie been so much in the spirit of its season. And with a rival gang leader called Johnny B, just how can you take it seriously?
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Great review...I like Jolie and Cage but this stretched believability a little too much. We can't exactly expect more from Jerry Bruckheimer...although I loved Pirates. xxx
MotherMacLean 28.06.2004 15:12
I got this film in my vast selection of DVD'S an i find it a little boring myseld but my partner totally loves it so great review continue with the good work Em
ralfschumacher 22.06.2004 23:27
I liked this film but thought 'The fast and the Furious' was better. --Chris--
The Assignment: To steal 48 muscle and exotic cars.The Challenge: avoid getting ... more
caught!When the cops catch up with master car thief Maindrian Pace, he has no choice but to rock them through a full-throttle chase, wrecking five cities making his escape....
![Gone In 60 Seconds [DVD] [1974]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78497805.jpg "Gone In 60 Seconds [DVD] [1974]")
Apr 28th, 2004
very helpful by (93%):
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