Speed
This is not a review. it’s a synopsis.
Now i don’t know if after writing or shooting the film, at the point where everyone is off the bus and the bus rams into the plane, if the writer or director realized they have another 20 minutes of film left and didn’t know what to do. So, is the added subway crash contrived?
Well, the bad guy hasn’t been caught yet. But, it was overkill to up the ante on what was already a harrowing bus ride from hell.
It’s true, that “upping the ante” is a favored plot device.
Another 1/2 hour and we could’ve had her go through an airplane ordeal.
(NOTE: as of 5/6/08, this review of Speed was written before seeing the sequel. I’m shocked at my own prophecy).
It’s not enough that Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock) defeats death on an out-of-control bus. After a tense conversation with Jack (Keanu Reeves), the bad guy (Dennis Hopper) kidnaps Annie and forces her through an underground passage way that lead into the subway. He then straps C4 on her, chains her to the poll (what subway riders use to hold on to), and kills the conductor. He controls the detonator device and is threatening to blow up the train and Annie. A conversation with Annie reveals how evil the bad guy really is.
The money is sprayed with purple die, making it traceable. Jack is hidden and riding on top of the train. When the money bag is opened and the purple die sprays all over the bad guys face, his sole mission now is to kill Jack. He climbs on top of the train to go after Jack. They fight.
“You’ve got a gun pointed at your head, what do you do, what do you do?” Repeated 4/5 times throughout the film, with variations.
Bad guy is killed by low ceiling object.
There is relief when Jack disarms the bomb. But Annie is still attached to the pole. Jack does not have a key. he tries to kick the pole loose, to no avail. Jack gets a radio call. The track is not finished. It’s a runaway train. Annie is still attached to the pole via handcuffs.
Jack sees there is a curve in the track ahead. he’s going to speed up the train and make it jump the track. They share a moment knowing this could be it. They don’t know what will happen. The audience doesn’t know what will happen.
Workers in the tunnel run for their lives as the train screeches off the track. Jack holds on to Annie. The filming is nothing less than phenomenal. We move outside the tunnel waiting for the train. It screetches down the streets of L.A. then finally comes to a halt.
Paraphrased: After the train has stopped, Jack says to Annie, “I have to warn you. I’ve learned that relationships that begin under intense circumstances never last.” This is a quote of what Annie said to Jack after the escaped off the bus and were lying on the airport runway.
End titles song, “speed.” Billy Idol.
