Timon
Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol
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Got my DVD of the now legendary shorts of The Hire -conceived by David Fincher today!
For those unfamiliar, they are a series of films each episode directed by a different famous director and show the adventures of The Driver as drives several BMWs in a series of adventures.
“Ambush” (John Frankenheimer)
The Driver has to ferry a diamond-dealer to safety in what looks like New York City. Since Frankenheimer was something of a legend in filmmaking circles when it came to car chases, he was the obvious choice to inaugurate the series. However, the story is rather basic, so the car stunts feel rather small-scale, too.
“Chosen” (Ang Lee)
The Driver has to take a young Tibetan monk to a safe house, and the boy gives The Driver a gift that provides a cute reminder of Lee’s then-next film (that would be “The Hulk”). Lee was able to shoot car chases better than Frankenheimer could with “Ambush”, and the warmth and humor found in this short film is charming enough to bring a smile to your face.
“The Follow” (Wong Kar-wai)
The Driver tags the gorgeous wife (played by the goddess-of-a-model Adriana Lima) of a movie star, for the star thinks that his wife is cheating on him. “The Follow” has a very romantic feel to it that was created with great mood music and beautiful night-time shots. This is probably the most artful of the BMW shorts, and the longing that it inspired in me made me wish that I had a great love whom I lost just so that I could have a forlorn story to share, too. :-P
“Star” (Guy Ritchie)
The Driver is hired to give a diva (Madonna, appearing in her hubby’s movie) the ride of her life in order to teach her a lesson. While this is the short that offers the most pure fun, it is also the least consequential of the series.
“Powder Keg” (Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu) The Driver accompanies an acclaimed photojournalist from hostile territory to lands friendly to Americans. This one manages to provide social commentary rather than the usual action set pieces, and its elegiac tone moved me to tears. This is also the only one shot with extremely grainy film stock, and the resulting visual look imparts a gritty, third-world weariness on the final product. Gonzalez-Inarritu attacks the drug trade as well as the rich of America whose demand for cocaine ravages South America’s social order. “Powder Keg” also has a heartbreaker of an ending when The Driver discovers what the photographer meant when he said that his mother taught him “how to see”. Were it not for the fact that it played on the Internet before appearing elsewhere, I’m sure that “Powder Keg” would’ve been nominated for some of the most prestigious of film awards like the Oscars.
“Hostage” (John Woo)
Woo’s film is the one that won an award at a film festival, and it offers an intense race against the clock as The Driver tries to save a woman trapped inside the trunk of a car that is sinking into the ocean. This is stylish, aggressive work from a guy who doesn’t even know how to drive a car!!!
“Ticker” (Joe Carnahan)
The Driver does some “Company Business” (i.e. CIA work) as he transports a government agent with an important package. While this is well-made, it seems to contradict the message that “Powder Keg” raised.
“Beat the Devil” (Tony Scott)
It turns out that James Brown sold his soul to The Devil a couple of decades ago, so the Godfather of Soul challenges the Prince of Darkness to a drag race. Tony Scott’s entry throws a bunch of great jokes at the viewer, and the ending is a riot.
Very cool stuff and the DVD comes with some cool features - audio commentaries from ALL the directors and featurettes on all the stunts and driving.
You can get the DVD from www.bmwfilms.com - it's ONLY 4 quid!!!! BUT you need a MASTERCARD/VISA. Well worth it.
NB - It gets withdrawn on Oct 31st so hurry up.
_____________________________
"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."
Twitter: @timonsingh
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