Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) / Action-Thriller

MPAA Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexuality and language
Running time: 118 min.

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall, Delroy Lindo, Will Patton
Director:  Dominic Sena
Screenplay: Scott Rosenberg
Review published June 8, 2000

I'm not altogether sure what it is in Nicolas Cage's (8MM, Snake Eyes) relationship with producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Enemy of the State, Armageddon) 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 Sixty 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 oeuvre 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 within a limited time for a worthy cause, lots of enemies and cop car chases, etc. The only thing missing was inspiration, as Gone in Sixty 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 (The Bone Collector) 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 (A Civil Action) 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 Hazzard".

Qwipster's rating:

©2000 Vince Leo