|
DVD: 'Speed' moves even faster in DVD
By STEVE PERSALL, Times Film Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 25, 2002
Speed (Five Star Edition)
Jan DeBont's 1994 thriller had a foolproof scheme: Stick a bomb on a bus that can't drop below 50 mph or else it'll explode. What a concept, a surefire way to maintain dramatic velocity with a speedometer instead of a cliched countdown clock. Especially with a dependable wacko like Dennis Hopper holding the detonator.
Speed is the essence of an expanded Five Star Edition from Fox Home Entertainment, a fitting tribute to one of the greatest action flicks ever. The story revolves around a mad bomber (Hopper) antagonizing a SWAT cop (Keanu Reeves) with a series of explosive surprises including that rigged bus, driven by a spunky woman (Sandra Bullock). But plot doesn't matter as much as the mayhem, a procession of close calls and violent escapes crafted like mini-movies.
Several of those action sequences are detailed in an appealing, interactive bonus feature. A fight scene between Reeves and Hopper in a metrorail tunnel is shown from three camera angles, up close, mid-range and overhead, with users able to change views with a remote control click. Eight cameras rolled for a daring downtown L.A. train crash and a bus leap over a dead end, at varying speeds to enhance the velocity when projected. Composites of all these angles are available at once.
The same split-screen technology enables the disc to compare storyboard sketches with the live footage they inspired, plus sketches of an unfilmed scene of a SWAT officer hanging from a helicopter in an attempt to land on the bus roof, narrowly missing an overpass only to crash through a truckload of plate glass windows. In his recorded comments, DeBont still sounds disappointed that the studio wouldn't let him do it.
Five extended scenes are presented although the film's rushed schedule and tight budget resulted in little extra footage but some makes a difference, fleshing out Bullock's character and Hopper's rage.
The disc also includes the usual previews, interviews (although only from the film's original release), production notes and photo gallery, plus an HBO behind-the-scenes special that Speed freaks should know by heart. They may not recall that Billy Idol recorded a music video of the title song, included here, promoting the movie but apparently not his career.
DeBont's audio commentary track is informative, but the other narration provided by producer Mark Gordon and screenwriter Graham Yost is constantly fascinating, if only to hear what kind of tales they tell out of school. The two artists are obviously good friends and their light-hearted banter is more candid about casting decisions and studio politics than usual in these situations.
We learn, for example, that Halle Berry was the first choice to play Bullock's role. That's better than their serious discussion of making the character a comedy driving school instructor played by Ellen DeGeneres. Hopper's bad guy was originally intended to be the triggerman for the real villain, who was to be Reeves' SWAT partner. That role ended up with Jeff Daniels but Ed Harris would have gotten it if those plans weren't scrapped.
Gordon and Yost riff on why John Woo didn't want to join the project, on Daniels being convinced that he was making a piece of junk and on how some of the film's concrete debris looks exactly like the Styrofoam it is. That bus can't go below 50, but these guys talk a mile a minute.
Back to Weekend
© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111
|
