Driven

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Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> Fear is never gone</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Joe Tanto: Sylvester Stallone</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Carl Henry: Burt Reynolds</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Jimmy Bly: Kip Pardue</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Luc Clans: Stacy Edwards</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Beau Brandenburg: Til Schweiger</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Cathy Moreno: Gina Gershon</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Sophia Simone: Estella Warren</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Memo Moreno: Cristian de la Fuente</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Renny Harlin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="304" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A rookie driver on the race car circuit must overcome his lack of self-confidence, and excel for the thrill of racing that he gets, rather to make others happy.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> Jimmy Bly (Kip Pardue) is a rookie race car driver on a NASCAR type circuit. He is giving the veteran Beau Brandenburg (Til Schweiger) stiff competition like he's never seen before. While Jimmy has a lot of potential, his performance is too hit and miss. When the pressure is on, he tends to fold. His manager and sponsor, Carl Henry (Burt Reynolds) knows Jimmy has the potential, but he's not sure it will ever develop to the point where he can be a champion. </div> <bR> <div> Carl calls his old friend Joe Tanto (Sylvester Stallone), a retired race driver, to help him coach Jimmy. They make progress and when Jimmy starts to create pressure for Beau, Beau breaks up with his fiancé of three years, Sophia (Estella Warren). Although initially crushed, she is soon friends with Jimmy. When Carl decides that Joe can help Jimmy more in the booth, coaching him along, rather than on the track, Carl brings back a driver named Memo (Cristian de la Fuente) to be part of the on-track team. The plot thickens due to tension related to the fact that Memo's wife is Cathy (Gina Gershon), who was formerly married to Joe. </div> <bR> <div> When Joe is not working on the track, he's shooting pool with reporter Luc Clans (Stacy Edwards) who is doing a story on racing. This set of characters develops the story off the track, which makes <I>Driven</I> more than just an action movie.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Score this one an "A" for creative action, an  "A" for an outstanding soundtrack and a "D" on the plot and acting. Fortunately, like <A HREF="id686.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vertical Limit"><U><I><B>Vertical Limit,</B></I></U></A> the action scenes are worth the price of admission. The set up for the races is interesting because you take a trip around the world to various race tracks such as Long Beach, Miami, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Chicago, Japan, Toronto, and finally to Detroit where the Championship is held. </div> <bR> <div> Some events are on racetracks and others are on street tracks that weave through the city, as was the case in Chicago and Detroit. The scenes from the car as the drivers are on the track are riveting; you sit up in your seat and pay attention. The car crashes are spectacular beyond description, and you get a feeling of what it must have been like when Dale Earnhardt was killed a few months ago. </div> <bR> <div> We learn something about racing as we are in the booth with the managers who are in radio contact with the drivers. We are also in the pit as the crews work to fill the tank with gas, change tires and in general service the car in as little as 12 seconds. Too long in the pit can cause the driver to lose one or two positions in the race. </div> <bR> <div> The biggest fault I have with the movie is not the predictable plot, where the rookie driver who lacks self-confidence will get his act together, but the way the women are all treated as bimbos in the film. Sophia allows herself to be exchanged among the drivers like a trading card, while pretending to be intelligent and focused. Cathy doesn't seem to know if she wants her current husband Memo or the former one, Joe. And Luc, a hard nose reporter seems to be star struck by has been race drivers. That said, I'm told that there really are groupies who pass themselves around to the men (sports figures, celebrities). So, while I don't like what I saw, it may have a ring of truth to it, which sends a message about neediness and self esteem that I'll leave to a professional psychiatrist to try and explain. Still, I find it hard to believe that all the women could be airheads of one sort or another. </div> <bR> <div> Balancing the treatment of women, <I>Driven</I> shows a capable person in a wheelchair, Carl Henry, without ever making mention of the fact. It's a disability, which isn't. </div> <bR> <div> Race competitors engage in tough battles and in certain circumstances can become friends. Just when you think that Hollywood has shown every possible way to get to a happy ending, they pull one out of the bag for you. You'll be surprised with a few here…it would be grand it you could believe it.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> PG-13 (sex; violence; language)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2001</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Sylvester Stallone: <A HREF="id612.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Carter"><U><I><B>Get Carter</B></I></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Burt Reynolds:</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Kip Pardue: <A HREF="id608.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember The Titans"><U><I><B>Remember the Titans</B></I></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Stacy Edwards: <A HREF="id255.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Next Best Thing, The"><U><I><B>The Next Best Th</B></I></U></A><I><B>ing</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><div> Til Schweiger: Now or Never</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Gina Gershon: <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Insider"><U><I><B>The Insider</B></I></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="286"><div> Estella Warren: <I><B>Planet of the Apes 2001</B></I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Cristian de la Fuente: <I>Family Law-TV</I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Renny Harlin: <I><B>Deep Blue Sea</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>