Speed Racer

[BuffaloWilder]

I really can't understand how anyone can even argue with Irish on this, to some extent - I mean, yes. Everything apart from the visual excess of the movie (which is kind of the underlying point) is pretty sloppily done, although they do manage a few rousing moments near the end of the film. It feels hollow, because it comes from a source material that is inherently hollow and empty, and the two directors have made no effort to expand or even add any kind of emotional weight to anything that was even scantly present, to begin with.

All of the cast do what they can and have fun with it, but - it's just hollow, and weightless. There's the faintest glimmer of emotional resonance near the end as Speed wins the race and we're treated to that great little montage, but that's really about it. You guys can say its simplicity is its charm - but, simplicity can be done well, and especially with a concept like this (wacky road racing, in which there are many really quite good exploitation films out there on the subject from the seventies onward). Here, it just never meshes. It's never cohesive, or self-evident in its construction. The races aren't visceral or involving, or blood-pumping, which at their base is kind of a prerequisite. It's a gloppy mish-mash of colors and half-assed everything else.

To be fair, the visual excess was interesting and well-done. If there is ever a Sonic the Hedgehog film to be done in the style of the Genesis games, they need to look here for visual inspiration. Just - you know, with a better director and everything else behind it.

[Irish]

Irish it's hard for me to understand your critisisms of the soul of the movie when every tv discussion you've had in the past month has been based on ratings and placement of characters and stories around commercial times. You seem very structured in your opinions and not really someone who bases things on soul. Like a scientific viewer of movies versus and artistic viewer of movies.

You're right, I usually don't. But this movie is remarkable in its lack of humanity. Everything in it is polished to a high sheen, even the people. They come off as automatons, machinma.

I'd say the only two actors who approach human (and who also seem to know exactly where they are and what kind of movie they're in) are Roger Allam and Matthew Fox.

I think the style is so overhyped (and rightfully so) that the substance is undervalued -- and remember, the substance is anchored by a rock solid foundation that is forged on the chemistry/performances of Sarandon and Goodman, both of whom deliver touching and heartfelt moments that rise above the genre of live action family film.

There is little substance. Where it exists (around the Racer X character), it is badly handled.

Sarandon and Goodman don't have any particular chemistry together. When they're in the same room together, they barely acknowledge each other's presence. When they aren't, they're delivering tearjerker supporting roles that are precisely timed and fixed.

Speaking of which, I don't understand the high praise for them in this movie. They're pros who have been around a long time and here they do exactly what I'd expect them to do: deliver a professional level performance.

But there isn't anything in those performances that's particularly remarkable, outside of, well, just them being them. (Seriously, have you ever seen these two give a bad performance in the last twenty years?)

The movie isn't anchored on anything, much less anything human. That's its big problem.

[TGM]

What little I've seen of this film I didn't like, though reading through this thread makes me really want to actually give this movie a proper viewing.

[monolith94]

I'm glad you at least give Roger Allam some credit at least. His monologue in this movie was so, so brilliantly performed.

[max314]

A lot has been made of the performances in the film being wooden.

I agree — they are wooden. But I think that's kind of the point.

What's fascinating is that much of the dialogue in Speed Racer is essentially stripped of subtext. With the exception of Royalton and Racer X, characters generally say exactly what they mean.

There's an earnestness to the style, and one that clearly harkens back to the original TV show. So I see this as a deliberate choice, especially since we've seen in films like Bound and The Matrix just how sophisticated their dialogue can be.

[Watashi]

This is your yearly reminder that Speed Racer is still a masterpiece.

Can't believe it's been almost 10 years since this film.

[number8]

I just watched it again a couple of weeks ago, actually. Wanted to see if it's still as phenomenal a movie as I remember it to be.

It is.

[Skitch]

Yearly watch. See some new amazing thing every time.

[transmogrifier]

Counterpoint: I haven't seen this since it first came out, and that's not gonna change.

[Spinal]

I wonder where that monkey is today.

[origami_mustache]

still makes me happy just thinking about this movie.

i need to watch this again

[Watashi]

10 years ago this day.

It's still the fucking best.

[Henry Gale]

10 years ago this day.

It's still the fucking best.

Damn, it really is, isn't it...

Been far too long since a re-watch.

[Skitch]

I started it with the kids the other day. They were mesmerized. Lucky for them, now they get to stay.

[[ETM]]

Hmm, it's been a while indeed... Perhaps 4K this time? Hmmm...

Sent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk

[Morris Schæffer]

A 4K edition would be pretty rad, also seemed like it could have been an insane ride in great 3D.

[Neclord]

There's no lossless sound mix on the Blu-ray which is a darn shame.

[Henry Gale]

Damn, it really is, isn't it...

Been far too long since a re-watch.

Finally got around to it the other day and yeah.. it's still the most excellent and sincerely wild thing (until maybe WB's own Fury Road came along seven years late).

As more time goes by, the more I can't believe something this uniquely audacious exists. What a profound delight.

And a little Wachowski bonus for these times:

[Dukefrukem]

What is the context for that tweet?

[Wryan]

The consensus seems to be that Emusk is talking about how corona is overblown and we should reopen the economy yesterday. Ivanka is cosigning.