The 411 Top 5 05.09.08: Week 112

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 05.09.2008

The Top 5 Racing Movies

It's Speed Racer weekend!! And whether you think the flick looks great (as I do), or like a moronic piece of eye-candy (as many others do), we can all agree on one thing…

It comes out this weekend.

OK, granted, that isn't much, but it's enough! After all, that's all I need to indulge yet another summer movie themed Top 5, as this week we look at:

THE TOP 5 RACING MOVIES


Trevor Snyder

5. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

Some might consider it a stretch to label this a "racing movie," but what are all the characters doing if not racing to the buried fortune? In fact, the somewhat-remake Rat Race made it a little more obvious, by putting the word right there in the title. As much fun as Rat Race was, though, you just can't top the original, which made the absolute most out of its incredible star power (for that time). Every character gets a moment to shine, which is pretty impressive considering how many damn characters there are. You just don't get movies like this anymore – with nearly every major comedic star of the time appearing together. True, I suppose the "race" sequences – if you can call them that – aren't that impressive. Still, the movie deserves this spot just for how much fun it is.

4. The Cannonball Run (1981)

If you're my age, chances are good that you used to watch this movie all the time on cable television. Did it ever stop being funny?? Well…yeah, actually. But still, I have fond memories of what a blast this movie was when I was younger. And, as cheesy as it is, it still holds up well enough as a decent distraction whenever I happen upon it today. Like Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Cannonball Run gets great mileage (get it?!) out of its all-star cast. It also gets bonus points for at least trying to introduce North America to the awesomeness of Jackie Chan – we can forgive the fact that it didn't quite work. Cannonball Run 2 is pretty fun, as well (the less said about Speed Zone - the somewhat unofficial Cannonball Run 3 starring John Candy – the better), but you can't beat the pure madness of the first film. The fact that movie was pretty dumb was more than made up for by how much fun everyone was clearly having making it – just check out those infamous end credit bloopers for proof of that.

3. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Fast and the Furious is one of those movies that's way better than it really has any right to be. I saw this film in the theater basically on a lark, not really expecting anything from what looked like just another brain-dead flick that would appeal to nobody but perhaps the most die-hard gear-heads (as is the case with the numerous crappy imitations that followed in its wake). Surprise, surprise - Fast and the Furious was actually a pleasant throwback to the B-movie classics of the ‘60s and '70s, infused with the same spirit that made those films so enjoyable. Topping it all off was Vin Diesel, who turned in a very good performance and made his character much more memorable than you usually get in these kind of movies. We'll ignore the fact that the series promptly went straight to hell (perhaps the upcoming fourth will finally re-capture the magic), but I won't ignore the fact that Fast and the Furious is actually much better than most people probably want to give it credit for.

2. The Great Race (1965)

Well, it's right there in the title, isn't it? Essentially playing like a live-action version of the old Wacky Races cartoon, The Great Race concerns an automobile race from New York to Paris (yep, that's right). The race itself is just a backdrop for a series of hilarious sequences, including a ridiculously over-the-top pie fight that everyone should see at least once. Tony Curtis is in top-form as the film's hero, the entirely-white-clad Great Leslie. But the real star is Jack Lemmon as the villainous Professor Fate, who – in his all-black outfit and handle-bar mustache – seems to have stepped right out of the bad-guy cliché handbook. Lemmon is having the time of his life playing Fate, and it's infectious…if he's not one of your favorite characters ever after watching this movie, then I just don't know about you.

1. Death Race 2000 (1975)

If anyone ever asked me why I bothered wasting my time watching so many cheesy B-movies and exploitation flicks from the ‘70s, I'd simply point to Death Race 2000 - easily one of the most enjoyable action flicks you will ever encounter…B-movie or not. Granted, most B-movies of the time didn't come close to this level of excellence, but then, how could they even hope to? Death Race caught lightning in a bottle, delivering a wickedly insane premise that had never been seen before – a government sponsored race where the goal is to mow down pedestrians for points. That's right, kids, Grand Theft Auto isn't really as original as you might think. Jason Statham is starring in the upcoming remake, but c'mon…do we really think it has a chance of matching the pure insanity of the original.



Owain J. Brimfield

THE TOP 5

5. The Cannonball Run (1981)

Well, not an especially good movie, but The Cannonball Run deserves to make it onto this list simply for the quality of the cast. Let's face it, any film that manages to shoehorn Burt Reynolds and Jackie Chan onto the same screen has to be doing something right. It's been a good few years since I last watched this, but it's one of those Saturday afternoon TV perennials, never quite successful enough to be thought of fondly, and also never managing to hit the heights of cult-dom you might anticipate for a move of this ilk. It's relatively well-known at least, so since I couldn't think of many other decent racing movies it's crept in at number five.

4. Cars (2006)

Again, not exactly an entry on this list that screams "great movie", but there's no denying that Cars is a delight to look at, if not watch. Well, I assume it is, as I do have to admit that I haven't seen it yet, so I'm going off reported evidence here. For shame, I know.

3. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

If you ignore the horrendous damage that the two sequels have done to the franchise, the original Fast and the Furious is still a decently entertaining movie, and Vin Diesel will always be cool when he plays this sort of role. Although it's to some degree responsible for contributing to the street-racing culture I tend to find quite laughable, it has its tongue wedged just about far enough into its cheek to be enjoyable. Also, the cars themselves are exquisitely shiny and well-polished, which surely has to count for something. It's a measure of this film's success that the only bearable part of either of the sequels was when they brought Diesel back for a cameo.

2. Days of Thunder (1990)

Has the Cruiser ever played a character quite as cool as Cole Trickle? I submit that he has not. Thunder is pretty much the archetypal racing movie, and although it hasn't aged especially gracefully (well, arguably more so than Top Gun, but relatively speaking) it's still far ahead of stuff like Talladega Nights, despite the presence of John C. Reilly in both films. Mind you, that may be my apathy towards Will Ferrell speaking. Cruise is in fine fettle as the NASCAR rookie who falls under the same spell of millions of Americans in believing that driving stock cars around in a circle for hours on end is cutting edge entertainment, and although it's certainly a bit of a cheese-fest, it's still one of Tony Scott's more satisfying movies.

1. Death Race 2000 (1975)

My favorite movie on this list by a clear mile, and surely one of the best B-movies Roger Corman was ever involved with. Whether or not the movie is strictly about racing is debatable, although I'm going to side with the positives, given that the tournament in the movie is named the Trans-Continental Road Race. Of course, it's not just racing that Carradine, Stallone and co. indulge in, it's running down innocent pedestrians in the pursuit of points. The movie is a fantastic bit of satire, and Joe Viterbo still ranks as one of Stallone's best performances, easily up there with Rambo and Rocky in terms of the characterization, if not the iconicism. Mind you, I'm not holding out too many hopes for the Paul Anderson remake, even if it does feature action B-movie actor du jour Jason Statham.



Jeremy Thomas

HONORABLE MENTION:

Death Race 2000 (1975)

5. American Graffiti (1973)

Calling this a "racing movie" is stretching the boundaries a bit, but I'll be damned if I was gonna put Torque, the Fast and the Furious sequels, or Redline on ANY Top 5 list outside of "Top 5 Most Sadistic Ways to Torture Someone." The fact is, a major part of this great movie does involve a race, and both Wikipedia and IMDB consider this an auto racing film, so that's good enough for me. It's a great, classic movie, and the race scene, where all the plot threads come together, is a great one for the style.

4. Days of Thunder (1990)

Twenty-three year-old Nicole Kidman does brain surgery! Okay, with that laughable part out of the way, I have to admit that Days of Thunder, at the time of it's release, seriously rocked. Cruise was in early top form here, and Robert Duvall is his usual greatness as Cruise's mentor. I hate NASCAR with a passion, and even I enjoy the racing in this movie...even now.

3. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

It may not be the "cool" thing to do, but I have an unabashed love for this movie. I hate racing, I hate Paul Walker, and yet, I still love this movie. That says a LOT about how good this movie really is. Vin Diesel is the absolute epitome of cool in this film as Dom, and both Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster are smoking hot. The cars are great, the race scenes are incredible, and even Walker doesn't totally suck. We'll have to see if Diesel's return to the series in the upcoming Fast and Furious will redeem the utter crap that the two sequels were, but even if they don't, the first entry in the series stands the test of time as a fun, exciting film.

2. Cars (2006)

Cars, while not the best Pixar film to date by any stretch, is still a fun little movie, and thoroughly enjoyable. It gets dragged down by Larry the Cable Guy's voice, and the plot could have used a little polish, but everything else is thoroughly enjoyable. You have to try really, really hard not to find yourself getting into the film, especially during the racing scenes. Proof positive that Pixar films are like sex: even when they're the worst, they're still pretty good.

1. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Will Farrell is an actor I tend to be very hit-or-miss on. I laughed at Anchorman and Blades of Glory, but I hated Semi-Pro, Old School, Bewitched and Elf. He's okay when he's serious, and usually decent when he's funny. With Talladega Nights, I was incredibly surprised, in a good way. Maybe it's because I dislike NASCAR and this film just poked fun at it in all the right ways, but Farrell and John C. Reilly were absolutely hilarious, along with a vast majority of the cast. It manages to laugh at racing without being insulting, and really when it comes down to it, the race scenes are pretty good. It was a movie that came along at the right time, and hit the perfect nerve of humor...for me, at least.



Shawn S. Lealos

HONORABLE MENTION

Stroker Ace (1983), Days of Thunder (1990), and The Love Bug (1968)

THE TOP 5

5. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Many people point to Talladega Nights as the movie that ended Will Ferrell's reign as King of Comedy. I disagree. First, he stopped being must-see around the time of Bewitched and Kicking and Screaming. Second, Talladega Nights might not be the comedy masterpiece of, say, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, but I still think it is better than Elf (sorry, Jon Favreau. I still love you and Iron Man was Money, baby!). But most importantly, Talladega Nights is chock full of juicy goodness. Lumbergh is fantastic as Ricky Bobby's ne'er-do-well daddy. John C. Reilly is still one of the best secondary characters you could want to cast in a movie. Borat is great as the nemesis and then there are those two kids. The dinner prayer is still one of the most quoted scenes in any Will Ferrell movie. The arrival of Judd Apatow is what ended Will Ferrell's reign as King of Comedy. This movie had nothing to do with it and is alright in my book. Shake and Bake!

4. The Cannonball Run (1981)

Burt Reynolds was coming off his Trans Am franchise Smokey and the Bandit when he moved into another fast car flick with The Cannonball Run. Where he was the center of attention in the Smokey movies, The Cannonball Run would be an ensemble affair in much the same form as the classic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (which would be remade later as the highly underrated Rat Race). The participants in this race are Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise (CAPTAIN CHAOS!!!!!!), driving a souped-up ambulance with Farah Fawcett aboard. Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. (The Rat Pack in ‘da house) dress as Catholic Priests and drive a red Ferrari. Tara Buckman and Adrienne Barbeau (Swamp Thing) star as two buxomous women driving a Lamborghini. Jackie Chan (!!!) and Michael Hui drive a Subaru GL 4WD with a rocket engine. Terry Bradshaw and Mel Tillis (Hillbilly Love) drive a street legal Pro-Am stock car. 007 himself (Roger Moore) drives his Aston Martin. Finally, Jamie Farr (Klinger from MASH) drives a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. You also get a cameo from Peter Fonda, as a version of the character he played in Easy Rider. There is way too much goodness in this movie to ignore. It may not have held up well over time but it still belongs on this list.

3. The Fast and The Furious (2001)

The movie that made Vin Diesel a star. Fast and the Furious paved the way for many pale imitations of this exciting high speed movie. Whether it was the lesser sequels that would follow, the very weak attempts by filmmakers such as Renny Harlin (Driven) or even B-Movie level dumb-fun (Torque), Fast and the Furious presented balls-to-the-wall excitement that made it one of the most fun movies of 2001. Rob Cohen has made his name on high octane action movies, following this up with XXX and Stealth, yet neither of those can touch the excitement he gave us with this one. Vin Diesel was at the top of his game as the bad boy street racer who found himself knee deep in criminal activity and Paul Walker found his niche as the cop sent undercover to bust him. Sure, it is the retelling of an old story (Point Break, anyone?) but remains a great movie and hold its own against any and all comers.

2. Grand Prix (1966)

JAMES GARNER! Norman, Oklahoma Represent! Ok, nerd fandom out of the way, Grand Prix is one of the greatest race car movies of all time, and probably the least known to kids today. It is directed by John Frankenheimer, a man who would one day direct one of the greatest car chase scenes in cinema history (Ronin). It involved actual real-life racing footage with such stars of the time as:

Phil Hill - 1961 Formula One World Champion
Graham Hill - 2-time Formula One World Champion (1962, 1968)
Juan Manuel Fangio - 5-time Formula One World Champion (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957)
Jim Clark - at the time of his death, had won more Grand Prix races (25) and pole positions (33) than any driver up to that time
Jochen Rindt – The only man to ever win the Formula One World Championship posthumously (he would die in practice that year)
Jack Brabham – 3-time Formula One Champion (1959, 1960, 1966)

With that many champions featured in the movie, I would argue it is the most realistic look at Formula One driving in a feature film before or since. The film follows the lives of four Formula One drivers through the 1966 season. James Garner portrays a man trying to make a career comeback and Yves Montand (Le Cercle Rouge) plays a French driver nearing the end of his career. The other two drivers focused on are a rookie and a driver attempting to comeback from an almost fatal crash. While the melodrama of the off-track scenes do not hold up as well today, the actual racing scenes are the best you could see at the time and are still the standard bearer for all movies since, whether it be Days of Thunder or Pixar's Cars. It is easily the best race car movie, Nascar or Formula One, ever made.

1. Death Race 2000 (1975)

One of the most beloved cult classics of all time, Death Race 2000 takes place in the very near future (Cue Conan O'Brien's In the Year 2000) where the United States is in fascist control and deadly gladiator games are put on to appease the citizens. One of these gladiator styled games is The Death Race. In this Roger Corman produced film, The Death Race stretches across the United States and the winner is decided by both the traditional method of check point times as well as the number of people the driver's kill on their way to the finish line. David Carradine stars as Frankenstein, the Government's champion and the most celebrated racer in the game's history. A pre-Rocky Sylvester Stallone also co-stars as another racer named Machine Gun. There is the subplot involving a resistance force wanting to overthrow the fascist government, but this movie is all about the fast cars and the body count. Watch for the random murder of clergymen, doctors and nurses. Forget boring movies about cars making numerous left turns. Watch this movie about cars driving fast – and turning anyone who gets in the way into pudding.



Bryan Kristopowitz

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006): Ricky Bobby, as played by Will Ferrell, is a great doofus send up of the type of driver most non-NASCAR fans think of when they think of NASCAR, and the type of driver that NASCAR, whether it's willing to admit to it or not, still tries to sell to the fans (Darrell Waltrip wouldn't be up in the broadcast booth yelling "Boogity boogity-boogity" if it didn't want that image projected). Sponsor logos are everywhere, there's the anti-French sentiment, and there's Ricky Bobby hisself, a brash, unapologetic hick (which is funny because while there are plenty of "hick" sounding drivers and crew members in NASCAR, most of them are engineers). Lots of NASCAR fans liked the movie, and plenty of them hated it. I'm a fan, and I loved it, thought it was (and still is after repeated viewings) hilarious. It's biting satire, but it's all in good fun. And the on the track action looked pretty decent, too.

Fireball 500 (1966): Frankie Avalon as a stock car driver running moonshine with the help of Annette Funicello and Fabian in a mid-1960's movie that isn't about going to the beach and beach parties? I was surprised that this was an almost serious movie starring Avalon, something he isn't really noted for doing. And he's just fabulous. The racing stuff, for the 1960's, is decent enough, but Avalon's performance is just so overwhelming it's the one thing you're likely to remember about the flick more than anything.

To Please a Lady (1950): One of the best flicks ever to feature the Indianapolis 500. This is, of course, the flick that stars Clark Gable as a devil-may-care race car driver who ends up killing someone on the track and Barbara Stanwyck as a newspaper reporter trying to get Gable banned from racing. Their relationship is okay and fun and whatnot, but the racing footage itself is just great stuff throughout. Indy has only looked better one other time, but, really, you can't go wrong with To Please a Lady. I'll have to watch out for it again on Turner Classics.

THE TOP 5

5. Stroker Ace (1983)

Back in the late 1970's, early 1980's, star Burt Reynolds and director Hal Needham could do no wrong. Their 1983 collaboration, Stroker Ace, pits Reynolds' Ace against his new lunatic car owner, a fried chicken fast food restaurant company owner played by the great Ned Beatty. Much like Talladega Nights in 2006, Stroker Ace is a great send up of the NASCAR Cup circuit back in the early 1980's. There's Burt being the elegant redneck race driver, Burt and chief mechanic Jim Nabors riffing off one another, Lonnie Anderson as Burt's love interest and eye candy, Ned Beatty being Ned Beatty, Bubba Smith playing a huge black guy, and plenty of hilarious racing action. Notice how in the on track accident scenes the car numbers change (because the crashes are all stock footage). Not to mention cameos by Ken Squier, Chris Economaki, and the David Hobbs (and Elvira and freaking Jerry "Snowman" Reed), and this flick is the total early 80's hick racing package. The world needs Hal Needham making another one of these.

4. Greased Lightning (1977)

This is a great biography movie loosely based on the life and racing career of still the only black guy to have won a major NASCAR stock car race, Wendell Scott, as played by Richard Pryor. It's an interesting dramatic performance by Pryor, with great supporting work by Pam Grier as Scott's wife Mary, Beau Bridges as Scott's friend and mechanic, and Vincent Gardenia as a cop. The racing action is fairly decent (the stuff where Scott starts out racing on dirt is fascinating stuff because that's when we first see him win a race and then get denied the victory and the trophy. White race fans couldn't accept a black driver winning. This is where Pryor really shines, especially when he tells the race promoter that he wants his trophy. Just amazing stuff). Makes you wonder why there still are very, very few black drivers in NASCAR.

3. Days of Thunder (1990)

As soon as Tom Cruise's Cole Trickle rides into the pit area for his first NASCAR Winston Cup test on a Harley, you just know that this movie is going to kick butt. And that's exactly what it does. Cruise is phenomenal as Trickle, Michael Rooker is iconic as Rowdy Burns, Carey Elwes is hilarious as prick driver Russ Wheeler, and both Robert Duvall and Randy Quaid are outstanding as crew chief Harry Hogge and car owner Tim Daland. The racing action, directed by Tony Scott, is fast paced, exciting, not to mention absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). The flick makes no sense in terms of the Cup schedule, when it starts and when it stops, what's really at stake for the drivers and the owners, and why exactly does the season seemingly go on forever. But that's just a minor quibble considering just how overwhelmingly outstanding the actors are. And, hey, this flick helped the world know that "Rubbing is racing." Not really, but it sounds good. Still does.

2. Grand Prix (1966)

On a technical level, this John Frankenheimer directed film still hasn't been matched in terms of on track action. The fact that everything was done practically, with real, full size drivers and cars, is simply amazing. James Garner does a pretty decent job as Pete Aron, the American driver making his way back to the F-1 circuit. He manages to hold the flick together on a dramatic level, but, truthfully, the on track action is the reason to see this. It hasn't been bested yet. Probably never will.

1. The Big Wheel (1949)

This is the great racing flick starring Mickey Rooney (top box office draw from 1939-1940, spanning two decades) as a young race car driver wannabe trying to follow in his famous father's racing footsteps. The story in and of itself is somewhat cliche, and the racing scenes today are somewhat cheesy looking, but Rooney gets us through the flick. And it's an important movie for American Indycar fans, at least the ones who think this flick is the template that should still be followed by drivers to get to Indy. A driver starts out in midgets or some other open wheel car (sprint car, supermodified, mini sprint, whatever), slowly gains wins and success and recognition, and then eventually that driver gets a ride at Indy. That's how one is supposed to earn a chance at a spot in the 500. I don't really agree with that (although I do wish more car owners would take a chance on some USAC and WOO and ISMA guys), but if that's the way it used to be, this is a great fictional account of that process.

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Quick, random plug: I don't know how many of my readers live in my neck of the woods, but those who do should try to check out the upcoming Motor City Comic Con, next weekend in Novi, Michigan. Hey, where else are you gonna be able to see Lou Ferrigno, Tom Savini, Avery Brooks, Christy Hemme, Walter Koenig, Erik Estrada, Robert Z-Dar (the Chin!!), Joe Pantoliano and Mick Foley under one roof?? Plus, if you look hard enough, you might just find me there. And let's face it...meeting 411's own Trevor Snyder would have to be the highlight of your weekend, right? Right?