Speed Review
by Steve Rhodes (rhodes_steve AT tandem DOT com)April 27th, 1995
SPEED
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1995 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2
Wow! SPEED is DIE HARD with all of the slow parts taken out. One non-stop roller coaster of a movie. White knuckle city. The woman next to me (seriously) had her fingers in her ears during the entire movie.
Amazing to me at least, I found a movie where Keanu Reeves (awful in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and only slightly better in LITTLE BUDDHA) finally proves that not only can he act, he can be do some great stuff if he is cast and directed right. Jeff Daniels (a much under appreciated brilliant actor from SOMETHING WILD and GETTYSBURG) is Reeves SWAT cop sidekick. Daniels is the brains and Reeves is the guts of this team. The mad bomber is played by Dennis Hopper who is known for his overacting (e.g. PARIS TROUT) but can be an excellent actor if the director keeps him under control. He is terrific in this movie because of the director, Jan De Bont. Lots of small actors do a great job. Alan Ruck (who was super as Ferris Bueler's pal in FERRIS BUELER'S DAY OFF) is the quintessential and obnoxious LA tourist. Sandra Bullock is great as the driver of the bus. Good slightly underdone, ongoing romance between her and Reeves.
The plot of the show sounds pretty ridiculous on the surface, a bus must never be driven under 50 miles per hour, or it will explode. In the show it works fine. Keeping the bus going at this speed in LA traffic can be pretty hard. Many great stunt and driving scenes. Watch the words on the bus and on the billboards for douses of subtle humor.
The script by Graham Yost is filled with memorable one liners. One of my favorite parts of the script is: "Pop quiz. You have a villain holding a gun to a hostage's head, and he is running for the plane and about to leave with him. What do you do? Answer: shot the hostage." You will have to see the show to hear why this makes sense.
SPEED runs 1:56 but feels like half that since it goes so fast. It carries a well deserved R rating for violence. Every teenager in America will probably want to see it and will undoubtedly enjoy it if they go. It easily won *** 1/2 from me and a big recommendation.
Watch out when you leave the theater. Your adrenaline is liable to be rushing so much that you are bouncing off walls. Best to have a designated driver who does not get to see the movie.
______________________________________________________________________ **** = One of the top few films of this or any year. A must see film. *** = Excellent show. Look for it.
** = Average movie. Kind of enjoyable.
* = Poor show. Don't waste your money.
0 = One of the worst films of this or any year. Totally unbearable.
REVIEWED WRITTEN ON: June 26, 1994
Opinions expressed are mine and not meant to reflect my employer's.
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
