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Want to know what it's like driving at 250 miles per hour during a downpour?
Racer Joe Tanto (Sylvester Stallone, Cliffhanger) retired after a near-fatal accident.
His old friend race-car owner Carl Henry (Burt Reynolds), now confined to a wheel chair, asks him to assist newcomer Jimmy Blye (Kip Pardue, Remember the Titans)
in his bid for the world championship against seasoned racer Beau Brandenburg (Til Schweiger). The competition becomes complicated when Beau drops his girl Sophia (Estella
Warren) who becomes friendly with Jimmy. Will Joe succeed in teaching Jimmy the secrets of racing, loving and living?
Stallone's screenplay uses a formulaic plot like other sports movies (e.g. Rocky).
Although characterization is weak, some characters rise above the formula. Example is the villain Beau who has a heart and sympathetic flaw. Dialogue is clicheic, the music
too many and loud. The actors' performance is wooden and not at all engaging. What makes Driven worth your trip to the theater is the thrill of sitting behind the wheel
of a race car at full speed. Director Harlin uses unusual camera angles and lots of computer generated visuals to let the viewer experience what it's like to be in the
driver's seat.
So, if "what drives you" is the desire to simply "feel the rush," Driven
is for you. The film shows that focus, discipline and mastery of one's feelings are necessary for one to excel in sports. But that team spirit, nobility in helping one's rival, honesty and humility in relationships are more important than winning the race. The deft handling of the car crashes present a spectacle, making the usually disturbing scenes less terrifying. The frequency and intensity of these and the bevy of scantily-clothed women, may require parental guidance for viewers 13 years old and below.
(Date reviewed: July 13, 2001)
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