TRADING PAINT

US, 2019, 87 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Toby Sebastian, Shania Twain, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Kevin Dunn, Michael Madsen.
Directed by Karzan Kader.

Trading Paint is jargon amongst motor races. This film is set in Alabama, at the Talladega Raceway (the subject of humour from will Ferrell…).

There are quite a lot of racing sequences in the film which should please fans. However, the film is also a father-son relationship film. John Travolta plays the champion of the past. Toby Sebastian is his son, competing in the present, not quite successfully against past rival, played by Michael Madsen. The son is also married and has a young child. Travolta is a widower, his wife having been killed in a car accident, and the father not giving full attention to his son as he grew up.

The son goes to work with the rival, the rival inciting him to defeat his father. Travolta decides to race again, his son coming to work with him and there is a drama in the last two laps of a dramatic race.

More or less what might be expected from this kind of film.

1. Title? The jargon for racing, cars, competitiveness?

2. The Alabama setting, Talladega, the course, homes, garages, the countryside? The musical score?

3. Racing film, the racing sequences, the cars, speeds, lapse, dangers, crashes? The crowds and applause? Competitions? Results, champions, celebrations?

4. A father-son film, strained relationships, inadequacies of fathering, rebellion of sons? Possibilities for reconciliation?

5. John Travolta as Sam, looking grizzled? Is age? Past Championships? Relying on his son? Competitive against Linskey? Hostility? The race, cam and his car, failure to win?

6. The background of Sam, buying the car, love for his wife, in the car, the crash and her death? Visiting her grave? His commitment to racing? Neglect of his son?

7. Cam, memories of his mother, his father’s seeming lack of interest, his marrying, love for his wife, the baby? His reaction to the defeat? Hostility towards his father? Linskey and his approach, his agreeing, telling his father, his wife’s reaction, going to work, driving for Linskey?

8. The teacher, her coming to the town, the breakup of her marriage, friendship with Sam, dating, falling in love? Her support?

9. Sam deciding to race again, his reliance on his friends stumpy? Racing, Linskey urging Cam against his father? Sam winning, the celebration?

10. Cam, approaching his father, upset with Linskey and his advice? Returning to his father? Stumpy, the friend, the financial deal in buying the car, Stumpy putting in his bike? Getting the machine, working on it, the deadline to the race?

11. Sam wanting Cam to go in the car, the race, Linskey and his attack, two laps to go, Cam turning the car around, the speed, winning? The celebration?

12. The slowing of the pace, Stumpy telling his story, Sam saving his life, the debt of gratitude?

13. Happy ending, defeat of Linskey, father and son reconciled, Sam with the teacher, happy family?