Speed

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Amberly, Leith

Gonna have a Jan de Bont double feature. Awesome.

Speed is one of the greatest high concept action thrillers of all time in my book. Although fatigue sets in during the subway train end segment the pacing and tension and character work of everything before it is gold.

The opening elevator sequences has more action and tension that the entirety of most action films. And only then do you get to the Bus, where they manage to keep things interesting and exciting. You can hear Joss Whedon's voice in some of the dialogue too.

Jan de Bont's jump from cinematographer to director is impressive. But looking at his filmography it's no wonder, he'd already worked on some of the best action films ever made before making one himself. Thankfully here he has a great (if not a little cheesy or unbelievable) script to work from and as usual casts all the roles, especially the side characters surrounding the leads, with interesting actors.

No one does sweeping melodic action scores like Mark Mancina. Freaking Awesome.

So great to see this again, it's been far too long. The bluray also has an interesting and revealing new commentary from the writer as well as the director's commentary that's on the dvd. well worth a listen.