One thing you can say about Jerry Bruckheimer - any film of his will be loaded with mind-numbing action, lots of violence, lots of car chases, and a token gorgeous female.
Well GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS lives up to all the Bruckheimer traits and more - it also has Vinny Jones in it!
But - is it good?
Nicholas Cage, so good in Con Air and Leaving Las Vegas, stars as Memphis Raines, a master car thief gone straight. He gets into the stealing game when his younger brother, Kip fails to deliver the goods after taking a contract to deliver 50 stolen luxury cars to the ever-so-bad guy Calitri.
Christopher Eccleston, who plays the baddie has a large irregular face, bad teeth and looks every inch the part. It’s as if we’re supposed to get how evil he is just by looking at him. But he’s not the best actor in the business (even Vinny outshines him!)
Calitri kidnaps Kip and threatens to kill him if Memphis doesn’t deliver the 50 cars within four days. Reluctantly, Memphis agrees, and starts to round up his old ’partners in crime - the most unlikely group of thieves ever put on screen.
The unlikeliest has to be tasty Angelina Jolie (blonde dreadlocks and all!!) She steals a few cars too in the process of what is really a cameo appearance for her.
Well that’s the plot - take it as read car chases, violence de da de da Bruckheimer-style. We the viewer watch these inept crooks go about their business, watch the equally uninspiring police fail to catch them.
I’m not saying it’s a bad film - it’s not - but after a while you just feel like something is missing. Is their really a need for yet another clever, but largely pointless stunts, crashes etc.
If you are an adrenaline junkie, you will probably enjoy Gone in 60 Seconds.
Oh yeah...Vinny Jones - he was a useful footballer.