Gone In 60 Seconds [DVD] [2000]

"Memphis" comes home to help his younger brother, Kip, who has followed in his older brother's footsteps, but is not as skilled at stealing cars. Having screwed up a major car boost, his employer, a sadistic, maniacal individual, will kill him, unless "Memphis" agrees to fulfil a contractual obligation of stealing fifty top of the line cars for which Kip's "boss" has made a commitment. The only glitch is that "Memphis" has a decidely short deadline in which to make his quota.

For reasons that those who view the movie will immediately discern, "Memphis" agrees to this thankless task. He gets his old crew together, including Angelina Jolie in the role of the proverbial eye candy, and with his former nemesis, a hard nosed detective played by Delroy Lindo, in hot pursuit, the games begin.

Look for lots of action, some great car chase sequences, and a bit of suspense. If you are looking for some mindless entertainment, then this film will fit the bill. Kick back your shoes, and hang on for the ride!

Don't get me wrong, Gone In 60 Seconds is still a fine example of a car chase flick, with a little bit more besides. Gone In 60 Seconds was probably created on two credits; 1. The phenomenon and success in the gaming world of Grand Theft Auto; and (least likely) 2. It's a tribute to the film of the same name made years before. As someone who's never seen the original, I can only judge on the first factor, and it does do its job well.

Nicholas Cage who plays Randall "Memphis" Raines is the former car thief, who left his business and more painfully, his own home behind to escape his reputation and his brother following the same line. Unfortunatly in the end the latter isn't possible and it isn't long before Randall must return to save his kid brother who is now deeply in trouble for bodging a mission. To do this, Randall must steal 50 high class cars including Porche's, Ferrari's, and Jaguar XJ220's. As far as that goes Cage plays his part fine, with help along the way from some good acting by his supporting cast (including Angelina Jolie, as his former girlfriend, and Robert Duvall, as a past friend who helped him out a few times), but in the end the acting is only average, but you get the distinct feeling that it's supposed to be that way.

Although the acting isn't top class, just about everything else is. Although a predictable storyline (and let's face it, do you really expect originality and shiny new things from a car chase film?), some of the effects and camera angles are superb, especially in the car scenes and the lighting effects are particularily good to make up for the acting.

Sure, this could be a guys film for the fast cars, and of course, for Angelina Jolie, and that's what it seems to have been made for, but I can see it being enjoyed by the ladies likewise if they like a film for the nice little touches, which Gone In 60 Seconds has oddles of.

There are also some fine extras and a fine booklet provided telling brief stories and character profiles, which add to a fine package, if not to try to enhance it. It basically comes down to this: If you like action movies which may not be totally orginal but contain some fine modern day effects, lighting and angles, and contain some fine cars, involved in some fine car chases, then you will like this...if you don't then you won't.

Although Gone In 60 Seconds doesn't add anything to the over-crowded car-chase movie market, it still provides a fine couple of hours filled, and some very enjoyable eye candy. Let's face it, wouldn't you like to drive a '67 Mustang through California? I know I certainly would.

4 Stars.

Far from being just another car-chase flick, this film has enough depth to the characters, to make the viewer actually care what happens to them. The cast makes the film, with Cage capturing the "one-time hellraiser, now wanting a quiet life" Raines absolutely brilliantly. Further highlights are the hilarious consequences of two distinct generations of car thief being forced together, and the bizarrely respectful relationship between Raines, and his law-enforcing pursuer Castlebeck, played brilliantly by Delroy Lindo. Angelina Jolie is fantastic as the fiercely independent and unbelievably sexy Sway, Robert Duvall as the wise and universally respected Otto, and Christopher Ecclestone as the nasty British gangster Raymond Colitri. These are just highlights, as there is not a bad or unconvincing performance in the entire cast.

Then of course we have the cars. Anything containing a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 (or an accurate replica anyway) will cause any car nut to salivate wildly, but we also have Porsches, Ferraris, Astons, a Jaguar XJ220, various Lamborghinis and all manner of other jaw dropping exotica on display. And the pumping soundtrack, which contains something to suit everyone's musical taste, is the icing on the cake.

Bags of atmosphere, quality acting, great cars, plenty of classic one-liners, and a fast and plausible plot make this one of the most enjoyable films in recent memory, and a much better effort than its often named alternative, The Fast and the Furious. I would recommend this to anyone.