Today’s quick review: Gone in Sixty Seconds. Six years ago, Memphis Raines (Nicolas Cage) walked away from life as a car thief. But when his brother Kip (Giovani Ribisi) botches a job for Raymond Calitri (Christopher Eccleston), a violent criminal, Memphis has to come out of retirement to finish what his brother started. Now Memphis has just three days to steal fifty high-end cars while staying ahead of Detective Roland Castlebeck (Delroy Lindo).
Gone in Sixty Seconds is an action movie about a car thief tasked with a nearly impossible job. The movie follows Memphis Raines as he rounds up his crew, scouts his targets, and prepares to steal fifty cars in one night. Gone in Sixty Seconds has a distinctive premise, a light tone, and plenty of action scattered throughout. The film doesn’t stand out in its genre, but its execution quality and sense of fun makes it a strong popcorn watch.
Gone in Sixty Seconds offers a very slight twist on the action formula. The car theft angle lets the film dip into quick, frequent action scenes without becoming too violent. It also gives the story a hard deadline, which becomes the basis for the film’s crisp pacing and frequent setbacks. The plot doesn’t hold any real surprises, but it is nimble, juggling Raines’ plans, Calitri’s demands, and Castlebeck’s investigation with skill.
Still, the formula can only take the movie so far. Gone in Sixty Seconds checks the boxes it needs to when it comes to plot, humor, and character development, but it doesn’t take any of them far enough to stand out. The supporting cast does earn a few points for Angelina Jolie as Memphis’ ex-girlfriend Sway, Robert Duvall as his mentor Otto, and Vinnie Jones as his mute friend Sphinx, but none of the characters exceed expectations.
Watch Gone in Sixty Seconds when you’re in the mood for some popcorn action with a nice mixture of plot, action, and low-grade humor. Gone in Sixty Seconds doesn’t excel at anything in particular, but it does entertain. For another car-focused action movie, try The Fast and the Furious and its sequels. For another light heist with more comedy, try Ocean’s Eleven. For a laid-back take on a similar premise, try the original Gone in 60 Seconds.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a well-rounded action movie that delivers what it promises.