Tuesday April 24 2:13 PM ET
from 
By MALCOLM RITTER, Associated Press Writer
``Driven'' celebrates the macho brotherhood
of auto racing, where men compete nobly at more than 200 mph
and women look sexy. Don't expect an intriguing plot or social
message. But the racing footage will blow you away.
The camera thrusts moviegoers into the middle of the
action, whether in the cockpit or anywhere close by. Just like
the driver, you may see other cars jockey for position with you,
or you may be blinded by rain.
Spectacular crashes unfold in slow motion, with cars
hurtling through the air. And the action isn't confined to the
track: A scene where two race cars whizz through traffic on the
streets of Chicago, hitting 195 mph on a cop's radar gun, is
thrilling.
The movie tells the story of promising rookie Jimmy
Bly, played by Kip Pardue (``Remember The Titans''),
whose success is undermined because he can't handle the pressure
and hype. The impatient owner of his racing team (Burt Reynolds)
brings in washed-up pro Joe Tanto (Sylvester Stallone)
to help Jimmy out. Joe not only does that, with some plain talk
about being true to oneself, but also shows he's still got the
touch behind the wheel.
There are some women in this story, like Tanto's vindictive
ex-wife, and Sophia (Estella Warren), whose affections
shuttle between Jimmy's main racing rival, played by Til Schweiger
(``Judas Kiss''), and Jimmy himself. But make no mistake:
This movie is about guys, at their best and worst.
And if you're in the mood for that, you can sit back
and enjoy it.
``Driven,'' distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures,
was produced by Stallone, Elie Samaha and Renny
Harlin, and directed by Harlin. Stallone also
wrote the screenplay. Mauro Fiore was director of photography.
At 109 minutes, it is rated PG-13 for language and some intense
crash sequences.
- Craig Zablo (April 25, 2001) |
