Speed

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dennis Hopper, Jeff Daniels and Joe Morton.

Director: Jan De Bont

Release Date: 1994

Running Time: 1hr 56 minutes

Genre: Action

Rating: 15

Format: Blu-Ray

Synopsis:

A young police officer must prevent a bomb from exploding aboard a city bus by keeping it's speed above 50mph.

Bomber Howard Payne (Hopper) has hijacked a lift in an office building set to detonate at any minute. Jack Traven (Reeves) an employee of the LAPD bomb squad, must find a way to save the hostages trapped before the lift plummets to the ground. writer Graham Yost was very clever when he wrote the screenplay for this film, because it begins with one story and ends with another, although both are linked. Reeves performance is very convincing, his acting is brilliant and he really looks the part, the friendship between Harry and Jack is fantastic, although it soon sets out be an emotional ride for the both of them. Daniels is probably an actor you'll recognize most from "Dumb and Dumber" where he stars alongside Jim Carrey, coincidentally playing the role of Harry. Jeff's performance in this film is equally as good as Reeve's, although he is seen more behind the desk in the film due to a broken leg. We're introduced to Sandra Bullock when Howard Payne plants a bomb on a bus heading for Los Angeles. The chemistry on screen between Bullock and Reeves is fantastic, although you can clearly see the sparks flying right from the start. Screenwriter Graham Yost has done a very nice job with the script, the dialogue is brilliant, it's easy to understand and gets straight to the point very quick. Director Jon De Bont, grips his audiences right from the start and from that moment continues to keep them thrilled. If you want a movie packed full of action, this movie is definitely gonna do it for you! The pace and speed of the film is excellent, there isn't a dull moment.

Jon De Bont has chosen to use plenty of unique shots for this film with low angles zooming up to show Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock behind the wheel of the bus, aerial shots to show the bus from above, plenty of shots zooming in on the wheels, medium shots, close up shots of the actors, particularly Reeves and Hopper. There is a very cool shot of Keanu Reeves being lowered beneath the bus to try and disarm the bomb. Speed is a beautifully shot film, with gorgeous cinematography. The special effects are brilliant, there's plenty of awesome looking explosions, definitely look out for the plane in the second chapter of the film, some serious work went into making that go up. The production department have done a nice job, the sets feel very lived in and believable, I love that Howard Payne is shown living the back of a warehouse, with lots of TV screens, he has no home, no life, no care for anyone or anything in the world, which is obviously portrayed beautifully through Dennis Hoppers performance. His character is sinister and psychopathic. There are plenty of beautiful shots of Los Angeles too.

Speed has a fantastic soundtrack that works wonderfully alongside the film, really emphasizing the suspense and thrills! It works brilliantly alongside the action, and brings plenty of emotion with it too. The Blu-Ray is pretty standard, but it looks really good none the less, the special features are pretty cool including mini documentary's, Inside Speed looks at the the various aspects of the production, from set locations to stunts, there are also individual interviews with the director and the principal stars. Definitely one of the better blu-rays to look out for if you love learning about how a movie is made, and watching the special features. This really is a fantastic film, if you love action and explosions this is definitely one you need to add to your list!

5/5 stars