Great Film: Gone in Sixty Seconds
Perfect casting and an precise sense of excitement make this flawed film successful. *** (out of four)
GONE IN 60 SECONDS / (2000) *** (out of four)
"Gone in 60 Seconds" is an energetic, slick, stylish action picture with
high octane star power and lots of awesome looking automobiles. If you are a
viewer interested in cars this production, by producer Jerry Bruckheimer
("Con Air," "The Rock"), is worth seeing just to feast your eyes on the
glossy vehicles. Although the film secretes a stench of weakness in many
areas, its precise sense of action and excitement make it a moderately
successful summer thrill ride.
The film stars Giovanni Ribisi ("The Mod Squad") as a young crook named Kip
Raines, who, as the movie opens, fails to deliver a long list of expensive
cars to the powerful criminal Raymond Calitri (Christopher Eccleston). When
Kip's life is threatened because of such, his older brother, Randall
"Memphis" Raines (Nicolas Cage), a retired but skillful car thief, is called
upon to complete a task in exchange for his brother's survival: steel fifty
cars-specified by model, color, year, and make-in only four days.
Memphis disburses the first three days recruiting a team of bandits to help
him pull off the heist. The crew includes Sara "Sway" Wayland (Angelina
Jolie), a sexy yet gruff retired car swindler knowing Memphis through
previous business, a fellow named Mirror Man (T.J. Cross), the aging and
wise Otto Halliwell (Robert DuVall), as well as Tumbler (Scott Caan), Atley
Jackson (Will Patton), Toby (William Lee Scott), and Donny Astricky (Chi
McBrde).
Contributing to the film's drive and tension is a subplot involving two
police detectives, Roland Castlebeck (Delroy Lindo) and Drycoff (Timothy
Olyphant), who suspect from previous experience that Memphis and his crew
are up to no good and keep an extra close eye on them.
There is not much time for character development here; the audience gets to
know these people though their rugged lifestyles and assume tough
personalities through the films hard core, stylish atmosphere. To make
matters even worse for the film, the dialogue fails to define the characters
with a gritty cultural tone. I am not stating I think profanity and
vulgarism is necessary for thrillers to flourish; I actually honor the
director's decision to sustain from extreme foul language in a movie that
could have very effortlessly earned an R-rating. However, I do believe in a
movie such as "Gone in 60 Seconds," to strongly develop the character's
enlightenment, dialogue needs to be believable and authentic.
In spite of problems, the characters are effective due to the top notch,
perfectly cast performers responsible. Nicolas Cage's melodramatic
performance is intense and convincing. Angelina Jolie's sleazy appearance is
completely appropriate here. Delroy Lindo is deliciously sturdy and
believable. Giovanni Ribisi, Scott Caan, Robert Duvall, Will Patton, and
Christopher Eccleston provide persuasive supporting roles.
The film contains standard structure, with a satisfactory first act that
elaborates on the story's style and the character's motives, sets up a
fast-paced theme of action, but lacks depth and strong character
introduction. In the second act we run into a few more problems: the story
wastes time during much of this segment, never really building up for the
third act. While the middle of the movie occupies much time, and a sex scene
provides a solid mid-plot, not a whole lot happens. The third act is pretty
much a sheer adrenaline rush containing furious wall-to-wall excitement and
one of the most intense car chase sequences ever filmed.
The soundtrack to "Gone in 60 Seconds" contributes a great deal to the
inspirational action scenes. It is scenes like the car chases that makes
this movie work in spite of several destructive faults. Dominic Sena, whose
career has mostly consisted of directing commercials, has an appealing style
and a decisive attitude in "Gone in 60 Seconds" which will grant audiences
with two hours of commotion, thrills, and excitement…but not much more.
Cast
- Randall 'Memphis' Raines played by Nicolas Cage
- Kip Raines played by Giovanni Ribisi
- Sara 'Sway' Wayland played by Angelina Jolie
- Mirror Man played by T.j. Cross
- Toby played by William Lee Scott
- Tumbler played by Scott Caan
- Freb played by James Duval
