Bullitt-
A terse and brooding cop thriller, Bullitt follows the exploits of San Francisco cop Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) as he protects a mafia man turned stool pigeon from underworld reprisal. But things get ugly when the stool pigeon is found murdered while in police custody, and Bullitt must search for answers before the trail runs cold.This is the grandaddy of all modern car chases. Though the storyline is well executed and excellently cast (look for a particularly sleazy Robert Vaughn) Bullitt is most remembered for its car chase, and deservedly so. Because McQueen and his co-workers shared a great respect for cars, the chase shared little with typical Hollywood fare. Instead, the chase was pared to its essentials, two fast cars twisting through San Francisco's hills and curves. Innovative camera angles, including shots from inside the cars, keep viewers in the thick of the chase, while stellar driving keeps the action flowing. McQueen himself shared some of the driving credit, while stunt driver Bill Hickman appeared in a non-speaking role as the driver of the Charger (the one with the glasses) Cars to watch for include Bullitt's 1967 Ford Mustang GT and Hickman's Dodge Charger R/T. Ironically, in real life the small block Ford could never quite keep up with the big block Dodge, while a certain Volkswagon appears in numerous scenes as the editors took advantage of numerous camera angles.
Verdict: Rent it. Own it. Live it.
The Cars that Ate Paris
Death Race 2000
The Driver-
A seasoned getaway driver (Ryan O'Neal) catches the attention of an arrogant but driven detective (Bruce Dern) who swears to bring him down. In order to do so, the detective sets up a bank heist and taunts the driver to participate, prompting a high stakes game of cat and mouse which takes on a new level as the bank job goes bad.The Driver mixes underworld action with classic film noir, and with good results. O'Neal broods with a quiet restraint, while Dern's neurotic behaviour seems held in check only by his arrogance. The film contains several car chases, but the most memorable involves the driver's skills put to the test in an underground parking garage. Noteworthy cars include a big block Pontiac Firebird and a custom pickup.
Verdict: Dark and serious, just the way we like our car movies.
Duel
Eat My Dust
The French Connection
Gone in 60 Seconds-
Car theiving can be a lucrative business. But what happens when an order comes in for some fifty cars, all by next week? A group of auto theives for hire are about to find out.Unabashidly low budget, poorly acted, and bordering on silly so far as plot is concerned, Gone in 60 Seconds nonetheless is an entertaining film. Where director H. B. "Toby" Halicki shines is his use of the car chase, in this case making it one of the longest on record at almost 40 minutes. Halicki, a former used car salesman, did the driving, totalling an early 70s Mustang in the process, but the end result is surprisingly good, in part because Halicki drives like a real person rather than a Hollywood stuntman. The most notable car is "Eleanor," an early 70s Ford Mustang (which gets top billing in the credits!) Sadly, Toby Halicki was killed in a freak accident filming this film's sequal, but a big budget remake of this film, starring Nicholas Cage, is due out in June 2000.
Verdict: The best Mustang chase since Bullitt, and a curiously enjoyable film.
Grand Prix
Grand Theft Auto
The Gumball Rally-
A wealthy playboy sponsers a race from New York to Los Angelos, no rules and screw the speed limit. The prize: To be the first one there. Contestants are picked for their driving ability and their desire to see the race through under any circumstances.This is the first film based on a real life cross-country race, and remains the only one worth seeing. Unlike the later Cannonball Run movies, Gumball Rally contains genuinely funny characters (look for Gary Busey as a redneck mechanic and a young Raul Julia as an Italian racer) and sticks to the race as the focus of the film. Several unique and classic automobiles are featured, including a Ferrari Daytona Spyder, a Ford Cobra, a 1950s Mercedes SL convertable, and an early 1970s Camaro.
Verdict: This Gumball is loaded with flavour.
The Italian Job
Le Mans
Mad Max-
In the near future, Australian society has been pushed to the brink. On the highways, the dwindling Mounted Force Patrol struggles to maintain law and order as gangs prey on the weak and helpless. Max Rockatansky, a young MFP officer, struggles to balance the love of his new family with the utter brutality of his work. When a sadistic biker is killed in a high speed pursuit, his gang declared war on "the bronze," sending Max over the edge.Finely balanced between traditional police thrillers and science fiction, Mad Max exceeds all expectations. Although shot on a small budget ($300,000 Australian), the characters are surprisingly thought out; the organizatoin of the Toecutter gang could be used as a model for the successful business shark, while the unusual sensitivity of Max and his wife stand out from the violence. The atmosphere of the film also comes as a shock, as few films delve into such Conradian darkness so effectively (note the soundtrack, which practically drips with darkness) The stuntwork is strictly first rate, with a remarkable crashfest occurring in the first five minutes of the film. Cars to watch for include several Australian Ford Falcons (not sold in the United States), a Holden Monaro, a 1959 Chevrolet Impala, and numerous Kawasaki motorcycles (quite a contrast to the stereotypical Harley-Davidson bikes of American films) Most notably, the black coupe is a Ford Australia XB-series Falcon; this car has been mistaken as anything from a US Ford Mustang to a Jenson Interceptor.
Verdict: They say people don't believe in heros anymore. Well damn them. Get this film.
Mad Max II / The Road Warrior
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Ronin
Two Lane Blacktop
Vanishing Point-
A lone Dodge Challenger R/T streaks across the west. Though the car is to be delivered in Fresno, California over a three day period, the driver seems hellbent on speed. Along the way, evading numerous law enforcement personnel, he becomes something of a celebrity due to the ever present voice of a soul radio DJ. The plotline is surprisingly simple and the entire film unfolds on the roads of the west, but this serves to work to the film's advantage. Like many period films, Vanishing Point depicts a stark, bleak world, but injects life into the players throughout the film. The characterization of Kowalski is surprisingly involved, while the characters he meets along his journey, including a desert snake handler, a gay couple, a hippie packrat and his nudist girlfriend, are quite memorable. Cars to watch for include the aforementioned Dodge Challenger, Dodge Coronet police cruisers, and even a clapped out Jaguar E type.
Verdict: A stark but unusually well done road movie.
The Wraith-
In a small New Mexico town, a gang of high school motorheads earn a living by racing unsuspecting motorists for their cars, which they sell for parts. But when a new guy appears, along with a mysterious black car, the baddies begin to sense that someone or something is out to settle the score.Although far from the best of its genre, The Wraith benefits from slick production, which sets a slow, brooding mood for a small desert town. While far-fetched, the story revolves around a theme of vengeance without moral consideration, and is generally pulled off. While none in the cast deliver award-winning performances, Randy Quaid gives a darkly funny performance as the local sheriff. But the cars take center stage, with good chase scenes and excellent settings. Cars to look for include a modified 70s Corvette, a Dodge Daytona Turbo (an odd but interesting choice for road racing), a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda, and a certain black Chrysler concept prototype. The Wraith is mentioned here in part because it stands as one of the only real car movies of the 1980s.
Verdict: Not class leading, but still a far better bet than the Cannonball Run set.