I'm not
altogether sure what it is in Nicolas Cage's relationship with
producer Jerry Bruckheimer that keeps him coming back for more, but I
wish it would stop. After having to endure the slick looking noise
that was THE ROCK and CON AIR, GONE IN 60 SECONDS was bound to be yet
another overblown clunker made strictly for the big cash-in of the
summer. It's not surprising considering the Bruckheimer ouvre that
this is yet another dumb, over-directed piece of vapid eye-candy
written at such a moronic level so that an infant can understand it,
which equates to mass audience appeal.
Here's the idiotic plot: a former car thief is called out of retirement to save his brother's life, because it seems the knucklehead has gotten into debt with the criminal element. Now the head baddie wants big bro to steal a scavenger hunt of 50 cars in 4 days or become an only child. Getting the old crew back together, it''s a race against the clock, rival thieves, and the cops.
For a while
I had almost thought I was watching a really bad version of THE BLUES
BROTHERS. You know, getting the crew back together, breaking laws
withing a limited time for a wothy cause, lots of enemies and cop car
chases, etc. The only thing missing was inspiration, as GONE IN 60
SECONDS is wholly derivative, and frustratingly wastes the time of
some quality actors, not to mention wasting time of people
unfortunate enough to view it. Cage tries to give his lines energy
with hammy mannerisms, while Jolie has barely a dozen lines and is
cast solely for her looks rather than acting ability (and she doesn't
look particularly good in this film). Who knows why Duvall was
attracted to this film, but I hope he was paid well. As with other
Bruckheimer endeavors, a bunch of lame-ass 20-something male actors
fill up the supporting cast in an effort for the female audience
members to argue over who's the cutest to keep their minds occupied
from the ridiculous plot and poor character development. What's most
astonishing is this paint-by-numbers B-movie is little more than a
$90 million episode of THE DUKES OF HAZARD.
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