‘F9’ Film Review: Superheroes and Soap Opera Soaked in Gasoline and Testosterone, and It Still Works
Starting at about the fifth entry in the series, the “Fast and the Furious” saga zoomed past dealing with car thieves and drag races and went right into international-superspy territory. “F9” shows the strategy still succeeding, even if it makes zero sense that a gaggle of car fanatics with shady pasts is all the planet has to protect it from massive global cyberterrorism.
Don’t bother asking why said car fanatics are the only people sent to investigate a plane crash in a foreign country; “F9” won’t be providing answers to that, much less to how and why some of the crew go into actual outer space by the final reel. These films demand that you just roll with the cockamamie plots, and in return, Justin Lin will craft a breathtaking melee of automotive destruction that plays like Wile E. Coyote and M.C. Escher competing in the Cannonball Run.
Don’t bother asking why said car fanatics are the only people sent to investigate a plane crash in a foreign country; “F9” won’t be providing answers to that, much less to how and why some of the crew go into actual outer space by the final reel. These films demand that you just roll with the cockamamie plots, and in return, Justin Lin will craft a breathtaking melee of automotive destruction that plays like Wile E. Coyote and M.C. Escher competing in the Cannonball Run.
- 6/24/2021
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
This year’s Saturn Award nominations have been announced and include a number of horror movie and TV releases, such as The Conjuring and The Walking Dead:
“Los Angeles – February, 2014 – Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity and Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug both received 8 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 40th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented in June.
Other major contenders that packed a real punch were The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim, Star Trek into Darkness, The Book Thief, Her, Oz The Great and Powerful and Ron Howard’s Rush. Also making a strong showing was the folk musical fable Inside Llewyn Davis, which proves that the Coen Brothers are a genre onto their own. And Scarlett Johansson was the first Best Supporting Actress to be nominated for her captivating...
“Los Angeles – February, 2014 – Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity and Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug both received 8 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 40th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented in June.
Other major contenders that packed a real punch were The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim, Star Trek into Darkness, The Book Thief, Her, Oz The Great and Powerful and Ron Howard’s Rush. Also making a strong showing was the folk musical fable Inside Llewyn Davis, which proves that the Coen Brothers are a genre onto their own. And Scarlett Johansson was the first Best Supporting Actress to be nominated for her captivating...
- 2/26/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Universal City, California, October 3, 2013— The latest blistering addition to one of Hollywood’s greatest action-movie franchises, Fast & Furious 6, roars into the holiday season as the unbeatable choice for “Highest-Octane action yet!” (Meriah Doty, Yahoo!) A transcontinental caper that reunites fan-favorite stars from the blockbuster franchise’s earlier films, Fast & Furious 6 earned almost $800 million at the box office worldwide. Fast & Furious 6 comes to Blu-ray™ Combo Pack including Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital HD with UltraViolet™ and On Demand on December 10, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on Digital November 19, 2013. Found exclusively only on the Blu-ray™ is a special Extended version with even more intense action, as well as over an hour of exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus features, only available for a limited time in collectible Steel Book packaging
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Fast veterans Vin Diesel (Riddick, xXx), Paul Walker (Takers, Flags of Our Fathers...
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Fast veterans Vin Diesel (Riddick, xXx), Paul Walker (Takers, Flags of Our Fathers...
- 10/4/2013
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
What exactly is our fascination with the Fast and Furious franchise that makes the ridiculous nature of it all acceptable where in any other film we would just as soon walk out of the theater before enduring another high flying feat of impossible derring-do? Up until the fourth film in the franchise (2009's Fast & Furious) there were minor levels of absurd behavior taking place, but after Tokyo Drift each film has found a way to one-up the last, leading us to Fast & Furious 6 where not even a tank can discourage our band of criminals who find themselves in London, helping the feds this time around in exchange for full pardons and a clean slate. I had a hard time accepting the over-the-top action in Fast Five, not entirely impressed with the massive safe-stealing set piece at the film's conclusion, but I think it prepared me for what Fast 6 had to offer,...
- 5/28/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The most surprising moment in Fast & Furious 6 comes when someone mentions Moby Dick. The notion that anyone involved in this sequel has ever read a book, or even a BookRags synopsis of one, is quite earth-shattering.
But then there are numerous Melville-esque harpoonings in this whale of an annoyance directed by Justin Lin, a young man who exhibited promise early in his career (Better Luck Tomorrow) and has since gone on to directing SAG members who can't act or enunciate, delivering lines from screenplays that are incomprehensible hodgepodges of inane excuses to drive souped-up Tin Lizzies fast, and who beat up or get beaten up by villains who have as much personality as washing machine lint.
Another revelation is that Vin Diesel -- Hollywood's bemuscled cardboard take on the star of those Mr. Clean ads, any of which are more memorable than the offerings of this putrescent series -- shaves his underarms.
But then there are numerous Melville-esque harpoonings in this whale of an annoyance directed by Justin Lin, a young man who exhibited promise early in his career (Better Luck Tomorrow) and has since gone on to directing SAG members who can't act or enunciate, delivering lines from screenplays that are incomprehensible hodgepodges of inane excuses to drive souped-up Tin Lizzies fast, and who beat up or get beaten up by villains who have as much personality as washing machine lint.
Another revelation is that Vin Diesel -- Hollywood's bemuscled cardboard take on the star of those Mr. Clean ads, any of which are more memorable than the offerings of this putrescent series -- shaves his underarms.
- 5/25/2013
- by Brandon Judell
- www.culturecatch.com
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in Fast & Furious 6. Reuniting for their most high-stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Sung Kang, John Ortiz, Gal Gadot and Elsa Pataky are joined by badass series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano.
Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.
Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to...
Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.
Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to...
- 5/10/2013
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 38th Annual Saturn Award Nominations were announced earlier this week and we now have the full list of nominees. The Saturn Awards recognizing outstanding Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror releases in the last 12 months. Included in the list of nominees is multiple nominations for American Horror Story and The Walking Dead.
“Hugo and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 each received 10 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, June 20.
Other leading titles in the Academy’s film categories were Super 8 (eight nominations); Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger (seven); and The Adventures of Tintin and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (six each). Rise of the Planet of the Apes breathed new life into a classic sci-fi franchise with five nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Andy Serkis.
“Hugo and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 each received 10 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, June 20.
Other leading titles in the Academy’s film categories were Super 8 (eight nominations); Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger (seven); and The Adventures of Tintin and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (six each). Rise of the Planet of the Apes breathed new life into a classic sci-fi franchise with five nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Andy Serkis.
- 3/2/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films has announced the list of nominations for the 38th Saturn Awards, which will be presented on June 20th. These are presented without comment, other than to say to certain TV series, “Surprise! Welcome to Sci-Fi!”
Hugo and Harry Potter Cast Their Spells and Lead Film Nominations for 38th Saturn Awards
Breaking Bad and American Horror Story Scare Up Most TV Nominations in Banner Year for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror; Winners to be Announced June 20
Los Angeles – February 29, 2012 – Hugo and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 each received 10 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, June 20.
Other leading titles in the Academy’s film categories were Super 8 (eight nominations); Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger (seven); and The Adventures of Tintin...
Hugo and Harry Potter Cast Their Spells and Lead Film Nominations for 38th Saturn Awards
Breaking Bad and American Horror Story Scare Up Most TV Nominations in Banner Year for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror; Winners to be Announced June 20
Los Angeles – February 29, 2012 – Hugo and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 each received 10 nominations as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films today announced nominations for the 38th Annual Saturn Awards, which will be presented on Wednesday, June 20.
Other leading titles in the Academy’s film categories were Super 8 (eight nominations); Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger (seven); and The Adventures of Tintin...
- 3/1/2012
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films have announced the nominations for its 38th Annual Saturn Awards. In the film categories Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and David Yates’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 each scored 10 nominations; whilst in the TV categories AMC’s Breaking Bad scored 6 nominations, followed by American Horror Story with five. The awards ceremony will take place in June in Burbank, Calif.
The complete list of nominees is below:
Film
Best Science Fiction Film
The Adjustment Bureau (Universal)
Captain America: The First Avenger (Paramount/Marvel)
Limitless (Relativity Media)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Fox)
Super 8 (Paramount)
X-Men: First Class (20th Century Fox)
Best Fantasy Film
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros.)
Hugo (Paramount)
Immortals (Relativity Media)
Midnight in Paris (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Muppets (Walt Disney Studios)
Thor (Paramount/Marvel)
Best Horror/Thriller Film
Contagion (Warner Bros.
The complete list of nominees is below:
Film
Best Science Fiction Film
The Adjustment Bureau (Universal)
Captain America: The First Avenger (Paramount/Marvel)
Limitless (Relativity Media)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Fox)
Super 8 (Paramount)
X-Men: First Class (20th Century Fox)
Best Fantasy Film
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros.)
Hugo (Paramount)
Immortals (Relativity Media)
Midnight in Paris (Sony Pictures Classics)
The Muppets (Walt Disney Studios)
Thor (Paramount/Marvel)
Best Horror/Thriller Film
Contagion (Warner Bros.
- 3/1/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Awards season may have come and gone, but sci-fi fans still have something to look forward to with today's announcement of the Saturn Award nominees.
The awards, presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, recognize excellence in these genres, which are often underrepresented at other awards shows.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this year's big movie contenders are "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," "Hugo," tied with 10 nominations each.
A number of the movies scoring big have been commercial successes but have not received awards show love, including J.J. Abrams' $260-million grossing monster hit "Super 8," which nabbed eight nominations, and "Captain America: The First Avenger," which earned nearly $400 million worldwide, coming in with six.
One of the most surprising cross-genre hits is Woody Allen's romantic comedy "Midnight in Paris," which took home the award for Best Original Screenplay at Sunday's Oscars, in...
The awards, presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, recognize excellence in these genres, which are often underrepresented at other awards shows.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this year's big movie contenders are "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," "Hugo," tied with 10 nominations each.
A number of the movies scoring big have been commercial successes but have not received awards show love, including J.J. Abrams' $260-million grossing monster hit "Super 8," which nabbed eight nominations, and "Captain America: The First Avenger," which earned nearly $400 million worldwide, coming in with six.
One of the most surprising cross-genre hits is Woody Allen's romantic comedy "Midnight in Paris," which took home the award for Best Original Screenplay at Sunday's Oscars, in...
- 2/29/2012
- by Sarah Crow
- NextMovie
Who will Ricky Gervais go after next at at the Golden Globes, and what will he wear? "... Gervais asked his Twitter followers what their requests might be for 'targets' during his third-return hosting gig at the 2011 Golden Globes. The British comedian also floated a couple of wardrobe possibilities ... A few of Gervais’ followers were offended by photo #2, which is par for the salty course. In terms of the upcoming NBC broadcast, FishbowlLA has just one suggestion–no more Mel Gibson jokes, please. You've been there, done that (twice)." Media Bistro Making an unlikely case for Oscar consideration: "Ladies and gentlemen, what I am about to say may cause some of you to scoff. I understand this and am prepared for it. But once your giggles have passed I ask that you pay attention to what I say and give it some serious consideration. Because I believe this to be true:...
- 11/27/2011
- Gold Derby
Ladies and gentlemen, what I am about to say may cause some of you to scoff. I understand this and am prepared for it. But once your giggles have passed I ask that you pay attention to what I say and give it some serious consideration. Because I believe this to be true:The Fast Five editing team of Kelly Matsumoto, Fred Raskin and Christian Wagner deserve serious consideration for the Best Film Editing Academy Award. And here's why.While the editing process is obviously of vital importance to films of all genres the skills of an editor take on a special significance in the world of an action film. Like no other type of film the action film relies on dominantly visual storytelling - on...
- 11/23/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Buckle Up For An Adrenaline-pumping Heist From The Explosive Franchise Built On Speed Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson And A Reunion Of Returning All-stars In Fast Five Including Never-Before-Seen Extended Edition and Universal.s All-New Second Screen Feature Available Exclusively on Blu-ray. On Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD and Digital Download
Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding physical action are set against the mesmerizing beauty of Rio de Janeiro.s exotic thoroughfares in Fast Five, the most successful installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the phenomenally successful franchise built on speed plus action superstar Dwayne Johnson (Faster) in the all-new action caper available October 4, 2011 on Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand.
Available for a limited time only, the Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs bring the full-throttle excitement of...
Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding physical action are set against the mesmerizing beauty of Rio de Janeiro.s exotic thoroughfares in Fast Five, the most successful installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the phenomenally successful franchise built on speed plus action superstar Dwayne Johnson (Faster) in the all-new action caper available October 4, 2011 on Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand.
Available for a limited time only, the Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs bring the full-throttle excitement of...
- 9/23/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Fast Five does not arrive on Blu-ray and DVD until October 4th, but there will be plenty of high octane action between now and then. Tyrese Gibson and Jordana Brewster will be on hand at the Chicagoland Speedway on September 16 to jumpstart the action of the Nascar Camping World Truck Series race. Fast Five was my personal favorite installment in the franchise, and I am excited for what is to come in Fast Six. Keep reading for all the details about the event and to check out the Blu-ray trailer and some bonus clips from the disc!
Official Press Release:
In a first of its kind for Nascar, Chicagoland Speedway today announced the blockbuster movie Fast Five, the biggest and most successful installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise debuting October 4 on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, as the event title sponsor for the Nascar Camping...
Official Press Release:
In a first of its kind for Nascar, Chicagoland Speedway today announced the blockbuster movie Fast Five, the biggest and most successful installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise debuting October 4 on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, as the event title sponsor for the Nascar Camping...
- 8/18/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Buckle Up For An Adrenaline-pumping Heist From The Explosive Franchise Built On Speed
Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
And A Reunion Of Returning All-stars In
Fast Five Including Never-Before-Seen Extended Edition and
Universal.s All-New Second Screen Feature Available Exclusively on Blu-ray.
On Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD and Digital Download
From Universal Studios Home Entertainment October 4, 2011
Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding physical action are set against the mesmerizing beauty of Rio de Janeiro.s exotic thoroughfares in Fast Five, the most successful installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the phenomenally successful franchise built on speed plus action superstar Dwayne Johnson (Faster) in the all-new action caper available October 4, 2011 on Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand.
Available for a limited time only, the Blu-ray. and DVD Combo...
Starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
And A Reunion Of Returning All-stars In
Fast Five Including Never-Before-Seen Extended Edition and
Universal.s All-New Second Screen Feature Available Exclusively on Blu-ray.
On Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD and Digital Download
From Universal Studios Home Entertainment October 4, 2011
Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding physical action are set against the mesmerizing beauty of Rio de Janeiro.s exotic thoroughfares in Fast Five, the most successful installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of returning all-stars from every chapter of the phenomenally successful franchise built on speed plus action superstar Dwayne Johnson (Faster) in the all-new action caper available October 4, 2011 on Blu-ray. and DVD Combo Packs, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand.
Available for a limited time only, the Blu-ray. and DVD Combo...
- 7/29/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sticking close to its B-movie, second unit-dependent origins, the "Fast and Furious" franchise drifts across the Pacific for souped-up car races in and around Tokyo, all customized with teen angst and Japanese pop culture in "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." Jettisoning any connection to the previous two films and relocating the fast-girls-and-faster-cars concept to exotic, neon-lit Tokyo pays off for producer Neal H. Moritz: It's not much of a movie, but a hell of a ride. So what if the movie dumbs down Japanese culture to a bad yakuza movie and features Japanese characters who can barely speak Japanese? The cars are the stars here. Everything else is lost in translation.
Universal pegs the worldwide boxoffice take of the first two installments at $443 million. "Tokyo Drift" will add considerably to that figure. It's not as sharp and savvy as the first film nor, on the other hand, is this one running on empty as the second film did. Teens, especially males, will dig the action and the hot Asian babes, so probably few are going to mind that its hero is a moron.
That would be Sean Boswell, played by young Lucas Black, his native Alabama accent going full throttle yet the guy gets upset when Japanese youth call him a gaijin, meaning foreigner or outsider. In the movie's first extended sequence, which takes place somewhere in Red Neck, USA, Sean flirts with another guy's girlfriend and finds himself challenged to a car race.
In the movie's second extended sequence -- after his mother is forced to send him to his dad, a military man stationed in Japan, in order for Sean to escape the legal consequences of the destruction caused by the race -- he flirts with someone else's girlfriend and gets challenged ... oh, you get the picture. This is a guy who not only is not going to learn from past mistakes, the movie actually takes these failures as a solid character trait.
When he trashes a Nissan Silvia S15 in the second race, this lands him a a job as a stooge to Japanese-American gangster Han (Sung Kang). Strangely, director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan see nothing ominous in their hero's easy transition into crime. This is just a setup for his immersion into the Japanese racing phenomenon known as "drift" racing.
Drift is the rubber-burning, slide-and-glide maneuvers that allow racers to negotiate hairpin turns and switchbacks in the mountains and canyons of rural Japan and the parking structures of urban Japan. Sean totals several cars before mastering the art, but like all Americans in Japan before him -- think Tom Selleck in "Mr. Baseball" and Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai" -- he soon can out-Japanese the Japanese.
Plot developments that bear little scrutiny involve Sean's growing affection for Neela (Australian newcomer Nathalie Kelley, whose ethnicity is never clear), the girlfriend of a gangster known as D.K. (Brian Tee) as in "Drift King". There also are a few speeches about trust and character and knowing where you belong as the movie wants to cast its characters as misunderstood youth. In fact, they are thoroughly understood as amoral, sensation-seeking youngsters who care about nothing save themselves.
The car stunts, especially the drifting, are brilliantly choreographed, though at times the choreography shows. Cinematographer Stephen F. Windon and editors Fred Raskin and Kelly Matsumoto display these stunts to maximum impact.
The movie's basic problem is that Sean is the least interesting character and Black the least interesting actor in the film. Even Bow Wow as Sean's sidekick Twinkie has more depth and the gangsters -- including D.K.'s uncle, played by legendary Japanese film star JJ Sonny Chiba in his "Godfather" whites -- are more charismatic. Or at least they are before the auto eroticism takes over.
More worrisome is the steady decline in ambition in director Lin. Coming off the high of one of Sundance's most electric titles, the edgy, satirical "Better Luck Tomorrow" in 2003, both of his 2006 films, "Annapolis" and now this one, have displayed not one iota of a filmmaking personality. That's drift of the wrong kind.
Universal pegs the worldwide boxoffice take of the first two installments at $443 million. "Tokyo Drift" will add considerably to that figure. It's not as sharp and savvy as the first film nor, on the other hand, is this one running on empty as the second film did. Teens, especially males, will dig the action and the hot Asian babes, so probably few are going to mind that its hero is a moron.
That would be Sean Boswell, played by young Lucas Black, his native Alabama accent going full throttle yet the guy gets upset when Japanese youth call him a gaijin, meaning foreigner or outsider. In the movie's first extended sequence, which takes place somewhere in Red Neck, USA, Sean flirts with another guy's girlfriend and finds himself challenged to a car race.
In the movie's second extended sequence -- after his mother is forced to send him to his dad, a military man stationed in Japan, in order for Sean to escape the legal consequences of the destruction caused by the race -- he flirts with someone else's girlfriend and gets challenged ... oh, you get the picture. This is a guy who not only is not going to learn from past mistakes, the movie actually takes these failures as a solid character trait.
When he trashes a Nissan Silvia S15 in the second race, this lands him a a job as a stooge to Japanese-American gangster Han (Sung Kang). Strangely, director Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan see nothing ominous in their hero's easy transition into crime. This is just a setup for his immersion into the Japanese racing phenomenon known as "drift" racing.
Drift is the rubber-burning, slide-and-glide maneuvers that allow racers to negotiate hairpin turns and switchbacks in the mountains and canyons of rural Japan and the parking structures of urban Japan. Sean totals several cars before mastering the art, but like all Americans in Japan before him -- think Tom Selleck in "Mr. Baseball" and Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai" -- he soon can out-Japanese the Japanese.
Plot developments that bear little scrutiny involve Sean's growing affection for Neela (Australian newcomer Nathalie Kelley, whose ethnicity is never clear), the girlfriend of a gangster known as D.K. (Brian Tee) as in "Drift King". There also are a few speeches about trust and character and knowing where you belong as the movie wants to cast its characters as misunderstood youth. In fact, they are thoroughly understood as amoral, sensation-seeking youngsters who care about nothing save themselves.
The car stunts, especially the drifting, are brilliantly choreographed, though at times the choreography shows. Cinematographer Stephen F. Windon and editors Fred Raskin and Kelly Matsumoto display these stunts to maximum impact.
The movie's basic problem is that Sean is the least interesting character and Black the least interesting actor in the film. Even Bow Wow as Sean's sidekick Twinkie has more depth and the gangsters -- including D.K.'s uncle, played by legendary Japanese film star JJ Sonny Chiba in his "Godfather" whites -- are more charismatic. Or at least they are before the auto eroticism takes over.
More worrisome is the steady decline in ambition in director Lin. Coming off the high of one of Sundance's most electric titles, the edgy, satirical "Better Luck Tomorrow" in 2003, both of his 2006 films, "Annapolis" and now this one, have displayed not one iota of a filmmaking personality. That's drift of the wrong kind.
- 6/14/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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