TORQUE
US, 2004, 85 minutes, Colour.
Martin Henderson, Monet Mazur, Ice Cube, Matt Schulze, Jay Hernandez, Will Yun Lee, Adam Scott.
Directed by Joseph Kahn.
More Fast and Furious shenanigans, this time on revved-up motor bikes. The plot involves speed, macho attitudes, corrupt police, grunge heroes, murder, shootouts and explosions. Who could ask for anything more...!
There is a whole lot of posing and posturing going on with dialogue like, 'Get out of my face', 'Wha chew think ya doin?', a great deal of 'attitude'. New Zealander Martin Henderson (The Ring) is the tough hero, Ice Cube his foe until he realises that the murder rap is a set up by a hostile bikie leader who wants his drug stash back. Plenty of action, though it's all torque.
1. The popularity of this kind of rev-up action film? The style of The Fast and the Furious? On motorbikes?
2. The title, torque as a force that produces rotation, a turning or twisting force? As applied to the motorbikes, the characters, the interactions?
3. The Californian settings, the city, the desert, the towns, the open roads? Plenty of space for stunt work? The chases, the visual style, editing and pace, special effects - especially for the chase on the roof of the train, through the carriages? The musical score and songs, pounding as appropriate accompaniment to this kind of story?
4. The plausibility of the plot, characters - or not? Types for this kind of action show? The plausibility of the plot? Bikers, gangs, the drug dealing, the agents, the double crossing? Guns, deaths, explosions?
5. The struggle between good and evil, the ambiguous hero figure, his disappearance, his return and vindication? His being framed by the villains? His becoming the victim of the frame-up? The double dealing FBI agent?
6. Ford, his back story, being in Thailand (and people thinking he was in China)? His relationship with Shane, his disappearance, the bikes, the drugs, her warehouse? His return, teaming up with Dalton and with Val? His meeting Shane again, her being upset with him? The confrontation with Henry, Henry wanting the drugs? The encounters with Trey? The set-up for the confrontation? Ford, resuming his relationship with Shane? Trey's brother dead? The evidence that Ford had killed him? Henry and the set-up? The pursuit of Ford, the dangers, the chases? Trey and his pursuit, especially on and in the train? Shane and her urging Ford to get in touch with the police? His finally getting evidence? Ringing the FBI agent? Getting the final set-up, the confrontation with Trey but saving his life and getting Trey on-side? The FBI agent and his double dealings, the explosion? Henry and his death? The confrontation between the two women, Shane and the warehouse - but having Ford at the end? Routine adventures and action for this kind of film?
7. Shane, the warehouse, her relationship with Ford, her upset about his absence? The reconciliation? Supporting him, the chase, with the friends, her fight with Henry's girlfriend?
8. Trey, the gang in Los Angeles, his brother being killed? The Reapers and their activities? Wanting vengeance on Ford, the pursuit, the train, his life being saved, his puzzle, his realising the truth, participating in the final set-up and confrontation? His wanting to remain boss of the Reapers and not wanting anyone else in his area?
9. Val and Dalton, friendship, mishaps, adventures, jokes, romance? Val's girlfriend? The participation in the chases, the confrontations and the finale?
10. Henry, drug dealer, leader of his gang, Ford having hidden the drugs, his wanting them, framing Ford for Trey's brother's death? The confrontations, Ford and his getting the special bike, the pursuit of Henry, his death on the road? The FBI agent, his partner, getting the drugs, shooting his partner (but her having a bullet-proof vest)? His comeuppance?
11. The portrait of bikers, their activities, their bikes, speeding on the roads, the guns, the bike culture, drugs, violence, FBI agents and the police? Mixed and stirred into a routine road action thriller?
