Our P.O.W. for this week comes from Hennie Blaauw and is a nice behind-the-scenes shot of Sly from Driven.
Craig Zablo
(November 3, 2001)
Category: Driven
POW: “Driven”
– Craig Zablo
(October 28, 2001)
SLY: START YOUR ENGINES!
The October 19th issue of Entertainment Weekly contains a bit of Sly news in the On the Air column by Lynette Rice: And so on…
Gentleman, start your engines! Hoping that racing fans will go along for the joyride, NBC is developing two NASCAR-themed dramas for fall 2002. Sources say Sylvester Stallone is teaming with Brad Grey Television to produce a spin-off of his motion picture Driven, while Regency Television is developing a series about two NASCAR drivers and their families. Why the interest in fast cars? Consider the recent appeal of NASCAR on NBC and TNT: Ratings are not only up 20 percent over last year, but the sport has begun to pique the interest of the advertiser-friendly 18-49 demographic – many of whom turned out to see this summer’s drag-racing drama The Fast and the Furious…
– Craig Zablo (October 20, 2001)
“Driven” Opens Strong
Brett Sporich’s column in the September 27th issue of The Hollywood Reporter reported that “Driven” starring Sly Stallone earned an estimated $5.49 million during its opening week which represented “a healthy 16.8% of its estimated $32.4 million domestic boxoffice”. The VHS version of “Driven” was not retail priced.
“Driven” placed sixth after five days of rental and came in number 2 on VideoScan’s First Alert DVD sales chart for the week ending Sept. 23.
- Craig Zablo
(September30, 2001)
The “Driven” DVD is Released
The “Driven” DVD is released. The extra features include: • Commentary by director RENNY HARLIN • Theatrical trailer(s) • 2 Behind-the-scenes documentaries: The Making of Driven and Conquering Speed Through Live Action and Visual Effects • JO DEE MESSINA Burn music video • Widescreen anamorphic format
“DRIVEN” DVD ADVANCE REVIEW
The DRIVEN DVD will be released on Sept. 18th.
Pre-orders can be made |HERE| now at a special low price!
Here’s excerpts from an advance review of the Driven DVD by Matt Brighton. For the full review click [HERE].
– Renny Harlin… can certainly deliver action movies that appeal to a vast audience…I find that many of Harlin‘s movies are among my favorites.
– And we all know that he and writer/actor Sylvester Stallone collaborated on the Memorial Day hit of 1993, Cliffhanger.
– Being a new movie to DVD, we can expect that it will look great. Especially coming from the folks at Warner Brothers. It does.
– The visual presentation of this movie is a true testament to what DVD can do for a movie…
– The races, of which there are a lot, look great.
– The cars, sporting their colorful sponsors and glossy paint jobs seem to almost race off the screen.
– I’ve said it before and I’ll certainly say it again…Renny Harlin’s movies sound awesome.
– The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack takes full advantage of all the channels and delivers on each occasion.
– Imagine being inside the car…it sounds corny, but that’s how it felt when I watched this movie. Literally every base is covered here. The dialogue sounds clear and the surround effects (of which there are a LOT) make every effort to bring you into this movie and they succeed. Truly, when watching Driven, this is what you can show your friends and say “Listen to this”…
– Renny Harlin is also one of the directors who uses the advantages of DVD to his own. In other words, his discs are usually loaded with features. Driven is no exception, featuring a commentary and over 45 minutes of deleted scenes with commentary by Sylvester Stallone.
– The commentary track for the movie is like most of Harlin‘s others.. his commentaries are full of information
– Two featurettes (labeled Documentaries on the box) are included, including “The Making of Driven” which is another stock interview with the actors and showing some of the key scenes and sequences from the movie.
– Also included is “Conquering speed through live action and visual effects”.
– A theatrical trailer is also included as well as some deleted scenes with screenwriter/actor/producer, Sylvester Stallone.
Thanks to DVD Authority and the “heads-up” from Paulie
-Craig Zablo (September 9, 2001)
SLY IN TOTAL FILM
Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes sent in the pics and quotes from TOTAL FILM (August 2001/issue 55)
- “Ask him which movies he rates from the past, and he’ll list First Blood, Nighthawks, F.I.S.T. and Cop Land. Ask about the choices he’s likely to make in the future, and he’ll stress that he’s looking for more ensemble pieces, more character work. “
- “There’s a kind of thrill at seeing something that came off the page being enacted before your very eyes as opposed to just being an actor for hire.”
- “Next up he’s acting opposite Madeline Stowe as a mafia bodyguard wanting payback for his boss’ murder in Avenging Angelo, before carrying on down the revenge trail as a widower out for justice in Dolan’s Cadillac.”
- “In fact neither the remake of Get Carter nor cop thriller Eye See You (aka Detox) look likely to get theatrical release over here (UK ).”
- “His career did perk up momentarily , however, when racing movie Driven thrust him onto the winners podium as it took the number one spot at the US box office in April.”
Thanks to Jazz for sharing! – Craig Zablo (September 3, 2001)
Sly Makes an Impact
Paul Corr sent in the pic above and the following:
Just a note to let you know that STALLONE is in the Impact mag again. Impact UK issue 117 They have a website www.maipublications.co.uk
Two pages on the SLY Guy – Titled “Driven to Distraction”“SYLVESTER STALLONE is back in front of the Camera and behind the wheel of this racing cert”
“After a long delay, SYLVESTER STALLONE‘s Driven finally makes it to British cinemas in October. Impact takes a look at the latest movie to rev its engines.
“If dinosaurs don’t tickle your fancy this Summer, this film might well prove a fast paced alternative.”
It’s great news to finally know a SLY picture is showing soon in Ireland, I can’t wait.
P.S. Just a note to let you know that I got one of the Rambo First Blood II figures [on EbaY] and it is as good, if not better than you reported. I also fought to the last minutes and won a ROCKY matchbox car collectible, aren’t they a touch of class. If it wasn’t for the StalloneZone, I would never have known about the items. Thanks for the Zone.
Paul Corr [Belfast, Ireland]
And thanks to Paul for sharing!
PS – I agree with you on both the Rambo action figure and the Rocky matchbox car (really partial to it!)
– Craig Zablo
Two Tidbits
The July 2001 issue of Cinefex contains an article on the special effects used in Driven. Thanks to Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes for the heads up and photo!
People Weekly has put out a special edition covering the 80’s. Sly appears in a photo from Rambo III along with a column talking about the impact that Rambo made.
– Craig Zablo (August 19, 2001)
Sly in Japan
SYLVESTER STALLONE and KIP PARDUE met Japanese racing drivers HIRONORI TAKEUCHI and MASAMI KAGEYAMA at a special preview of the film “Driven,” in Tokyo on Monday, Aug. 6, 2001.
– Craig Zablo
[August 6, 2001]