As Homer calls it the bus that couldn't slow down (Speed (DVD))

Member Name: mmintfresh

Product:	Speed (DVD)
Date:	25/08/02 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great film

Disadvantages: None

Howard Payne (Dennis Hooper) has a love for money. One day he comes up with an ingenious plan. Put a bomb on an elevator and hold the passengers on board for ransom, there easy money. He didn't count on the intervention of Jack (Keanu Reeves) and Harry (Jeff Daniels). They foil his plan and Howard is thought to be dead because the bomb he was wearing blew up. Harry was shoot and now needs a cane to work and both him and Jack receive awards. Everything is back to normal, or so they think. One day a bus blows up and Jack receives a phone call. It is from Howard. He tells Jack that he still wants his money and has thought of another way of getting it. He has put a bomb on a bus. The bomb is unarmed at present but as soon as it goes about 50mph the bomb is armed. Once the bomb is armed if it goes below 50 it explodes. Also if anyone gets off the bus it explodes

Jack manages to track down the bus but the driver, thinking he has just missed the bus and wants to get on drives on. The bus reaches the freeway and goes above 50. He manages to get on but a passenger thinks that Jack wants to arrest him and accidentally shoots the driver. One passenger called Annie (Sandra Bullock) grabs the wheel. Jack tells her the jist of things and they struggle to keep above 50 because of the traffic etc. They eventually manage to find a deserted free way but after they have got on it and driven a little way they find out that the free way isn't finished, there is a gap.

Speed was a box office hit and I saw it a couple of years ago, I thought it was a good film but nothing special. Then we studied it again in Film and I found out that it is not just your average action movie it is actually an edge of your seat action adventure movie and a lot more entertaining than some of Hollywood’s latest offerings in the same genre.

The story starts with the elevator. This itself, if padded out a bit could have been the basis for the plot, but it is merely the
opening act. The section itself is packed high with tension and special effects. It shapes it's core characters especially establishing Jack as the smart, willing action cop and Howard as the merciless bomber. The film establishes these roles nicely and clearly and the story itself is quickly resolved but doesn't rush anything, and leaves the audience satisfied.

Then the real story starts. Set on the bus. The concept of a bomb on the bus is actually quite clever because to creates many obstacles. Howard Payne is made all the more diabolical because he puts many people at risk and also created a clever and seemingly unfoilable plan. The potential tragedy is heightened because of the cross section of characters on the bus, a tourist, a nervous lady, Annie who was banned for speeding (how ironic). Jack becomes a super cop who can deal with almost anything but also is sensitive towards human life and wants to stop Howard before he hurts anyone.

The choice of a bus is quite crucial to added some tension to the film, firstly it can carry a lot of people, secondly it is constantly stopping and starting so the fact that it could go above 50 then go below is very real. The final thing, that is crucial to the plot later on is that a bus is not particularly very agile. It is a big, awkward vehicle that is not often the action hero's choice of vehicle so another problem is presented again.

The film itself is very edge of your seat, there is always some obstacle and things happen just in the nick of time. The film hardly stops for breath, first you have the elevator quickly followed by the bus and if that wasn't enough there is a subway train involved as well. This film drags the audience along and doesn't let go. Even though it clocks up a run time of nearly two hours there is never a dull moment. The good thing about the film is that even though the plot is contrived it doesn't matter because the film is so heart stopping. r>
The performances are god. Sandra Bullock is good as Annie she manages to keep her cool but has a more vulnerable side and Bullock plays up both side well making her more than your two dimensional action heroine. Keanu Reeves, who is often seen as a crap actor is good in this. He is perfect for Jack and is good as the action hero thing. Jeff Daniels is also good as the cop who helps from is desk and wishes he could be part of the action. The best performance has to be Dennis Hooper who is often creepy in his films (Apocalypse Now, Blue Velvet)and does it well here. Without a convincing villain this film wouldn't work but luckily Hopper is a great actor and manages to be terrifically nasty.

Jan De Bont, who went on to director the likes of Twister and The Haunting is excellent here and seems to know how to keep the tension high but also allows some comic relief. I love the way the film cuts between Jack on the bus and the calm and collect Howard at home. Making sure that the audience realise that the threat of Howard is always there. He keeps the camera constantly moving giving it a hyper kinetic feel it needs. He has all the ingredients to create a truly great and enjoyable action film that shouldn't be missed.