While there are plenty of action-adventure motion pictures where the hero relies solely on his or her martial arts prowess, there are others where the lead character’s skills behind the wheel are paramount to the film. Here are some notable examples:
Getaway (2013): Recently released, this gritty action thriller pits former race car driver Brent Magna (Ethan Hawke) against the clock in a custom Shelby Super Snake Mustang he commandeers, taking it and its owner on a high-speed adrenaline rush. Following the instructions of a villain whose voice becomes all too familiar, it’s a race against time to save his kidnapped wife.
Fast & Furious 6 (2013): While Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) started this series on opposite sides of the law, Brian’s cop days are long gone. He’s married to Dom’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster), and they’ve just welcomed a son. Dom, Brian, and the other members of their crew have scattered, living off the grid in cushy retirement, and it seems nothing could lure them back.
In the epilogue of “Fast Five”, Dominic’s girlfriend, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), who is thought to be dead, is in fact alive. CIA operative Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who knows of her whereabouts, enlists Dom and Brian to take down a criminal mastermind in exchange for her safe return. In addition to an incredible array of ultra high performance vehicles, Dom demands full pardons for their entire crew, who leave an astounding trail of death and destruction all across Europe.
Drive (2011): The Driver (Ryan Gosling) drives for hire. He has no name and no life. In the opening, he’s the wheelman for a getaway car, while his day job is as a stunt driver for the movies. The two represent no conflict for him, as he has no family, no history, and few emotions. His neighbor, Irene, has a husband, Standard, who is released from prison. Surprisingly, Standard isn’t jealous about the Driver, but instead sees a pro and pitches a $1 million heist. When Irene and her son, Benecio, are endangered, the Driver reveals deep feelings and loyalties, and undergoes enormous risk at little benefit to himself.
Faster (2010): Driver (Dwayne Johnson, also known as ‘The Rock’), has just been released from 10 years in prison for a botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment and the murder of his brother. Bent on revenge, Driver takes to the streets in a ‘70s Chevelle SS to systematically track down the rest of his crew, with a cop and a bounty hunter both out to stop him.
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