I would argue you can't judge car movies along the same lines as regular movies. Even the movie industry awards movies by genre, you'd never see Arnold Swartzenhammers Predator in a catagory with I dont know, say Gone with the wind. Unfortunatly car movies have largely been squished in with action movies, but I find even that unfair. Hollywood has never seemed comfortable telling an automotive based story, American Graphite comes to mind as a decent early attempt the movie Lowriders is another decent flick. But both movies are really relationship/coming of age based tales revolving around automotive culture. Which I would argue is probably the best format to follow if your trying to make an all around good movie that happens to include car culture. Sadly though, even with these two, sometimes it feels like the writer started with wanting to make a car movie first and then forced a story around the automotive culture. Since we are talking about the best car movie, in my less than humble opinion I'd say a car chase is all but required and this is were the relationship based movies generally fall short.
The elephant in the room. as much as I love the Fast and Furious franchise, lets be real. it stopped being about cars after tokyo drift. some might argue after the original and I cant help but understand why. To maintain a franchise they made the switch from a somewhat compelling small time heist and street racing format to full on team super spy insanity. Gotta keep that money train a rollin after all. No I am not complaining and yes I have watched and shamlessly enjoyed every single one in the theater as close to opening night if not on opening night. I also hope it continues until we are watching Vin Diesel racing to the buffet line in his custom built 8 second mobility scooter. But the FF franchise is an action franchise now that happens to have cars. So lets stay on task.
So James what movie do you think is the best Car movie? I have been thinking about this alot lately, for no obvious reason at all. While re watching my automotive movie library and considering my car chase requirement, I think pound for pound, Gone in 60 seconds, the Nick Cage version has gotta be the best car movie so far. Hear me out. Yes it includes a lot of cringeworthy car jargon. However, it rides the action, reason for happening and including automotive culture lines pretty well. Yes its ultimately a heist movie. It's also about a brother coming back to save his less talanted younger sibling from follwoing in his doomed footsteps. Its got tons of great cars, spanning several genres so a little bit for everyone. An interesting and plausible story, great car chase that yes includes a ludicrus jump but other than that its an entirely watchable movie.
If I was having a lady over and wanted to watch a car movie that a reasonable non car loving gal could stomach... This is the one I'd probably reach for. Nick Cage, Angelina Jolie, Delroy Lindo, Robert Duvall.. theres a ton of recognizable faces to help with buy in, I mean, sounds like an entirely workable date night at the house Car movie to me so its my pick for best all around car movie thus far.
Side note, if you haven't seen the movie Lowriders, check it out. Its a great movie that had a limited release and deserved way more love than it got. It's available on Apple TV and other places as well. check it out!
James
The Lowered HMFIC
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