NEED FOR SPEED
US, 2014, 123 minutes, Colour.
Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Michael Keaton, Scott Mescudi, Rami Malek, Harrison Gilbertson.
Directed by Scott Waugh.
Some people have a need for speed. Other people have no need for speed. This will be the criterion on which people can make their choice as to whether they see this film or not. It is definitely for the need-for-speeders, mostly definitely not those who have no need for speed.
The niche audience for this film is probably teenage boys, young adult men, though there is quite some attention in the screenplay to make it attractive to young women. It is based on a computer game, plays like a computer game – best not to examine the screenplay minutely for credibility or consistency in detail, the speed and the adrenaline are the thing.
Everybody then makes a comparison with The Fast and the Furious – which a hostile reviewer dabbed ‘The Fast and the Fatuous’. Perhaps it’s too unkind to use this for Need for Speed, but it is a strong temptation…!
The stunts are everything, as well as the way they are photographed and edited, for maximum impact. There is a warning at the end that these stunts were supervised and would be too dangerous for anyone to try them on their own – but, unfortunately, the rush-to-the-exit-as-soon-as-the-credits-loom audience are already on their feet and they will miss this salutary warning.
A couple of young men who run a garage in New York state are the main ones with the need for speed. Toby (Breaking Bad’s popular star, Aaron Paul) is an expert at work, as well as driving. He is also in competition with driver, Dino, who turns out to be more than nasty, (Dominic Cooper). In the background is a millionaire who whose adrenaline activity is hyper. He is played by Michael Keaton something in the way that he did 30 years earlier (hyper) when so many of his characters and their performances were frantic. He runs a secret and illegal competition, so we know that by the end Toby and Dino will have a confrontation. And they do.
However, there is some drama in the meantime, the young men having access to Mustangs with power to go over 200 mph. Something goes wrong during a race, Toby behaves well, Dino does not and Toby has to bear the consequences.
Two years later, Toby has the opportunity to drive in the secret race. Dino is already a candidate. But it does mean that Toby has to drive from New York to California in 44 hours – which gives a lot of opportunity for high speed, police chasing, helicopter guiding and pursuing, a range of American scenery, especially in the Colorado-Arizona? area, plenty of stunt work. Toby is accompanied by Julia, Imogen Poots, a British expert in handling the sales of cars. It is her expert driving in the western states that is the film’s reaching out to female audiences.
It is silly to be too critical of this kind of film. Motor fans will enjoy it immensely. Surprisingly, there is scarcely a swear word, no delaying over sex scenes and the nudity is by way of a joke! And, all things considered, it does achieve what it sets out to do, a night out for petrolheads (or whatever name is appropriate for the fans).
1. The niche audience? Motor fans? A satisfying entertainment for them?
2. The film based on a computer game? Contents, style, competitiveness? Goodies and baddies?
3. The settings over the US, New York, Arizona, Colorado, California? The landscapes? The musical score?
4. The title, and audiences with a need for speed?
5. Tobey and his friends, their work, the cars, bonds, friendships? Tobey testing the cars? Speed? The rivalry with the Dino?
6. Julia, British, her style, sales pitch, decisions?
7. The three-car race, Pete and his being killed? Dino and his disappearance from the race? Tobey and the police? His going to prison?
8. Two years later, getting out, parole and not leaving the state, getting the car, the millionaire, Julia? An opportunity to race?
9. The drive across America with Julia, the stunt work, the relationship, her driving?
10. The helicopter, his friend, giving advice? The helpers? Finn and his taking off his clothes and the jokey episode? Their continued support, refilling the car while driving?
11. The range of cases, the police, the crashes?
12. Michael Keaton as the millionaire, his control, money, communication? His frantic behaviour and excitement? everybody watching the race? Even from prison?
13. Dino, his arranging for bounty hunters, the shooting at Tobey? The confrontation in the hotel in San Francisco? The car overturned in the San Francisco street?
14. Anita, love for her brother, relationship with Dino? Her disillusionment? Giving Tobey the information to get the car?
15. Tobey, arriving just in time for the race? The drama of the race, the range of police in pursuit, crashes, chases?
16. Tobey swerving and Dino crashing, Tobey returning to save him? Dino and the arrest, going to prison? Toby and Julia and happy ever after?
