When the top billing in a movie goes to a car, you know you are watching something a little outside the mainstream. Though with Gone in 60 Seconds the car is definitely the star of the show. A 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 to be precise. Named Eleanor. All males reading this may take a pause, look at the picture, and sigh.
I watched this movie because after seeing and loving Tarantino's Death Proof I wanted to go back to the original source material and see the influences. This movie was one of them. As that movie said, "The original not that Angelina Jolie bullshit". I enjoyed the Jolie / Cage remake, but viewed in the context of this movie I can add the 2000 version to the growing argument against Hollywood remakes.The Jolie / Cage version tries to add character development, back story, and a reason for Nicolas Cage to go on the 50 car stealing spree. But it is all so unnecessary. In 1974 he steals cars because....he is a car thief! Brilliant! Ah, early 1970s film-making when we didn't need or want our heroes to be redeemed.
That said, the 1974 version has no plot and no character development. It does have wooden acting and cheesy dialogue. But who needs plot when you have a 40 minute car chase?
Would I watch it again? - probably not. But it does stand as an artifact of real independent film-making, that grab your friends and make a movie ethos.
Bottom line: No CGI, No problem! But only watch if you a) love cars and/or b) wonder how deftly Tarantino navigates the thin line between homage and rip-off (I'm currently leaning 60-40 homage). 2.5 TKs out of 5.
Favorite quote: Almost no dialogue worth mentioning; little dialogue period. But this movie did remind me about when I watched Vanishing Point as the other Death Proof influence. So I'm taking this opportunity to declare the idling engine of a big American muscle car one of The Top 5 Sounds in the World. That rumble of barely contained power. That deep, throaty purr that seductively whispers - "C'mon, boy, let me off the leash."
Sigh.
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