Death Race

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Starring: Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Joan Allen, and Natalie Martinez

Release Date: August 22, 2008

Rated: “R” -

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Runtime: 89 min

Get ready for a killer ride

Death Race is a entertaining, adrenaline pumping action flick that will surprise most people. A remake of Death Race 2000, this film stands on its own blending extreme action sequences involving superior muscle cars with mounted machine guns and intense fight scenes that will leave you feeling every blow and every bit of high-intense emotion on-screen. Generally, movies like this aren’t well received and I must say that my expectation going into the film wasn’t much. That being said this movie actually delivered. It brought with it a certain appeal that you want in a summer movie. Action, awesome stunts, and witty humor.

Jason Statham is always great in these roles where he gets to show off his toughness and kick some ass! Tyrese Gibson is also great in these types of roles where he his angry and running his mouth. The film I think is a testament to its director, Paul W.S. Anderson, who’s ability to direct post-apocalyptic thrillers is always successful and to deliver cheap thrills. Like his delivery of Resident Evil this film has a great scale and cinematography that makes the movie visually good. The script also wasn’t bad either though it did carry a lot of flaws it wasn’t bad. Certainly this film could have had better acting throughout and some of the casting didn’t make sense but the surprise with this movie is just how much fun you can have with it. This is Universal’s redemption with the Mummy 3.

The failures I saw in the movie were in the performances of Joan Allen, who really was just annoying from the get go. She also apparently had some work done to pinch her face up giving her a more tight look. This didn’t help her come across as a ratings hungry corporate monger though. She was dull and boring. Ian McShane was a joy to watch in the film bringing his sultry voice and style to the screen as Jenson Ames inmate crew chief, Coach. The other flaws in this movie was the whole backstory was just presented well and almost was given to us in a much too simple way to where it made no sense at all.

The film is set in a semi - “post-apocalyptic” depression style setting, in the year 2012, the United States economy collapses and life for everyone is not the same. Once a NASCAR champion, Jensen Ames, (Jason Statham), who hits rock bottom and spent several years in prison. His life was improving and changing for the better after meeting and marrying Suzy (Janaya Stephens) and having a baby girl. Then the steel mill closes, and he loses his job. But that was not the worst thing to happen to Jenson that day. Suzy is brutally murdered, and he is framed for her murder. Jenson is sent to Terminal Island, the worst and toughest for-profit corporately owned prison in the country run by Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen).

She has created the country’s most popular pay-per-view sport, a kill-or-be-killed car race where the inmates race to win their freedom from prison after 5 wins. Every inmate driver is driving a monster car that they built which is loaded with machine guns, missiles, flamethrowers, napalm, and no rules. Warden Hennessey convinces Jensen to secretly take the place of the late 4-time superstar winner, Frankenstein (voice-cameoed by David Carradine), and wear his metallic mask in the race. If Jensen wins just one race, he can go home to his baby daughter. To get to the finish line, Jensen must kill his competition before they kill him.

Ultimately, I thought the film was just a fun watch. Anderson crafted a story that blends Mad-Max into the The Fast and Furious and Running Man giving the procreated result of Death Race. If you are wanting an exciting action packed film then this is the movie for you. Fans of the original will be left with a different take on the classic but nonetheless a film that is just surprisingly fun.

I give the film 2 fuses for being a wild and crazy fun action flick and for Statham busting some ass!