Category Archives: Car Chase

2009, Car Chase, Crime, Drama, Suspense, Violent

Armored (2009)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Armored truck guards Mike (Matt Dillon), Baines (Laurence Fishburne) and Quinn (Jean Reno) turn against one another after their plan to steal $10 million from their own company goes seriously haywire. A witness throws a wrench into their seemingly flawless strategy, so each man scrambles to save his own skin — whatever the cost to the other conspirators. Nimród Antal directs and Columbus Short co-stars

In the beginning “Armored” seems ordinary. It establishes the tight bonds between the guards who drive the armored trucks (“Rescue Me” anyone ?). But once again stay with the film. Basically the film is much about moral character and how humans react in times of great stress. In fact some of the characters are not just black and white (no pun intended), rather they change as the film progresses. Of course, it IS a car chase film with its usual macho roughness. Matt Dillon is a great changeling. Laurence Fishburne is an overweight disappointment.

One of the more original films in the car chase category that I have seen.

2009, Car Chase, Crime, Detective, Lawyers, Suspense, Violent

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Michael Douglas stars as corrupt district attorney Mark Hunter in this remake of Fritz Lang’s noir classic about a reporter, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe), who sets himself up as the prime suspect in a murder he didn’t commit in order to expose Hunter’s misdeeds. Nicholas’s plans go awry, however, when Hunter discovers the trap and destroys the evidence that would exonerate the cub reporter. Amber Tamblyn and Orlando Jones co-star.

In this film the suspense is so overwhelming that I stayed glued to my seat the entire time. If at one point the story seems to have too easy a solution, stay with the film to the very last second. More I will not say, but there are plot twists.

Although I marked the film as violent, you do not see any personal attacks, just some threatening scenes and one amazing scene in an underground parking lot.

Jesse Metcalf is John Rowland in “Desperate Hosewives”. Amber Tamblyn is Tibby in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”.

If you like suspense, this is a must see!.

2006, British Mystery Series, Car Chase, Complicated, Conspiracy, Drama, Gay theme, Gritty, Love Story, Suspense, TV Series, Violent

The State Within (2006)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Jason Isaacs stars in this Golden Globe-nominated political thriller as Mark Brydon, a British ambassador to the United States who finds himself caught up in a complex conspiracy that could prompt a dangerous shift in political power. After a plane explodes over Washington, D.C., under suspicious circumstances, Brydon must scramble to uncover the truth before war breaks out. Sharon Gless, Ben Daniels and Lennie James also star.

Of the two discs, disc 2 is the better, so please persist. The story just gets better and more tense as it progresses. Just about all the actors in this British TV series (6 episodes on 2 discs) are excellent. Jason Isaacs is the perfect tower of strength in this involved conspiracy to start another war in the fictional former Soviet republic of Tyrgyzstan. Sharon Gless, the Secretary of Defense who is trying to start another war for personal gain, played Coleen Rose in 5 episodes of ‘Nip/Tuck”. Perhaps the Wikipedia article will help you remember who plays what government position.

There is violence. One scene involves a gruesome execution.

Often I can interrupt a film and return later (a benefit of NetFlix). But in this case the conspiracy was so compelling that I was glued to my seat. As is so often true, these British TV series are dynamite. Don’t miss this one!

2009, Acceptable for children, Car Chase, Conspiracy, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

Surrogates (2009)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Based on Robert Venditti’s graphic novel of the same name, director Jonathan Mostow’s sci-fi thriller is set in a futuristic world in which humans hibernate at home while living their lives vicariously through robot surrogates. When a series of mysterious surrogate murders occurs, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) ventures out into the world for the first time in years to investigate. Radha Mitchell and Ving Rhames co-star.

Easy to understand, clever digital effects, action sequences make this sci-fi suspense thriller fun to watch. But more importantly the film asks the question: Is it better to live your life through some physically perfect doll than to face your mortality and live a normal life ? Bruce Willis was lucky to get this part which he plays perfectly. When the film begins we see Willis looking really handsome and fit. It doesn’t take long to realize that we are seeing his young surrogate double. There are other surprises in store. You might call the plot predictable, but just the same I enjoyed watching this sci-fi yarn that lasts only 89 minutes.

2009, Car Chase, Occasional gore, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Unusual

District 9 (2009)

3 Comments

From NetFlix:

When aliens land on Earth, global business conglomerate Multi-National United forces them into rigid containment zones where they are compelled to labor, even as MNU commandeers their otherworldly technology for profit. As tensions build between human and non-human races, a rogue agent leads a resistance movement against MNU’s ruthless consolidation of power. Neill Blomkamp directs this cinema verité-style sci-fi thriller.

As one of the more original sci-fi films I have ever seen, the best adjective for this film is FRANTIC. By using hand-held cameras the constant tension never lets up. Sharlto Copley (who is really from Johannesburg, South Africa) is the perfect choice for the honest, well-meaning pawn of the weapons manufacturers. He is jittery and always a giant bundle of nerves. At first I groaned because the “prawns” (aliens) just looked so stupid. But soon even they fit perfectly into this tale of military-industrial suppression.

Subtle this movie is NOT. In a way the film is one big action scene from beginning to end. In this respect it might remind you of a car chase B film. Therefore, to enjoy this adventure you must like science fiction, action films, bloodshed, violence, and noise. What more could you ask for ?

And tell me, what is going on in the last scene ? What exactly did happen ? In fact, if you want to read a detailed spoiler see wikipedia.

2007, Car Chase, Horror, Occasional gore, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

The Invasion (2007)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

In the process of researching a mysterious alien epidemic that’s changing the nature of human behavior, a Washington, D.C., psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) learns that her son (Jackson Bond) might be the planet’s only hope for survival. Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam and Veronica Cartwright round out the supporting cast in director Oliver Hirschbiegel’s supernatural thriller that’s tinged with political undercurrents.

If you look for this film in IMDB, you will see that its USA working title was “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. Indeed it is a modernized remake with lots of scientific mumbo-jumbo. Car chases supply much of the palpable suspense, and I was indeed on the edge of my seat. The plot details are so different that you can enjoy this film no matter how much you remember of the several earlier (dare I say, better) versions. In some way Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, and Jeremy Northam seem to have settled for a B-film and indulged in a bit of B-acting.

Enough with the snide comments. It was a fun roller-coaster ride.

1998, Acceptable Trash, Car Chase, Suspense, Violent

Desperate Measures (1998)

Leave a comment

From Net

San Francisco police officer Frank Connor (Andy Garcia) desperately searches for a compatible bone-marrow donor for his cancer-stricken son. The only potential donor is convicted homicidal sociopath Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton), who seizes the opportunity of a hospital transfer to donate marrow and escapes custody. Connor must capture McCabe alive, so the hospital becomes the setting for a cat-and-mouse game between the two men.

Do not expect to philosophize, meditate, or even think during this film. Just sit back, relax, and watch the fun: super-smart villain, car chases, violence, and a really clever last few seconds. Still, it is a B film. The action sequences probably are downright impossible. In the real germ-filled world, the boy would have died at many places in the film. Never mind, just suspend disbelief and enjoy what should be termed acceptable trash.

2006, Car Chase, English Dubbing, French, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Suspense, Violent

Tell No One (2006)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

Eight years ago, pediatrician Alexandre Beck (François Cluzet) was the prime suspect in his wife’s murder. He’s put all that behind him, but now, two dead bodies have been found near his home — and once again, he’s the suspect. The case takes an unexpected turn when he receives an anonymous email showing his wife alive — and eight years older — instructing him to “tell no one.” Kristin Scott Thomas co-stars in Guillaume Canet’s powerhouse thriller.

To watch this French film I used the excellent English dubbing (and the subtitles). From the very beginning I was glued to my seat. All the acting is good, but François Cluzet is the center of attention throughout. Suprisingly the film turned out to contain alot of action sequences (running, car chases) and Cluzet is either in very good physical condition or there is some digital trickery involved. But this is French action, so no Hollywood fireworks (except for some car crashes). The plot was clever, involved, with many twists. Even if you get confused by the end of the film all will be made clear and easy to understand.

There is violence, nudity, and abused bodies. Not for children.

If you want a solid 2 hours and 5 minutes of suspensful escape, this film is a good choice.

1985, Car Chase, Detective

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

Leave a comment

From NetFlix:

After ace counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe) murders the partner of Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William Petersen), the gumshoe will stop at nothing to even the score. Big problem, though: Masters is, well, a master at the game and outfoxes Chance at every turn. Can Chance outwit him? William Friedkin directs this suspenseful, violent thriller with the City of Angels (a misnomer in this case) as the alluring backdrop.

I have a special corner of my heart for movies with good car chases (is that an oxymoron ?). Some notes on the film:

o This movie was made 23 years ago and offers a car driving on the wrong side of a highway. I thought that gimmick was recent, hah!

o William Petersen of CSI fame is really young in this film.

o His sidekick John Pankow was the crazy brother in the TV series “Mad About You”.

o There are good plot surprises.

o This is only a B-movie.

Please send me names of really good car-chase movies.