Today’s quick review: Gone in 60 Seconds. Maindrian Pace (H.B. Halicki) runs a car theft operation from his junkyard, outfitting stolen cars with real serial numbers before selling them. When he takes a job to deliver over forty high-end cars in less than a week, he and his team must pull out all the stops. But one car on his list proves troublesome: Eleanor, a yellow Mustang that he can’t seem to steal.
Gone in 60 Seconds is an action movie that goes all in on its car chases. The passion project of car enthusiast H.B. Halicki, Gone in 60 Seconds is an amateur production that offers little in the way of plot, character, or acting ability. Instead the focus is cars: the movie showcases a remarkable collection of vehicles and wrecks a stunning number of them.
The centerpiece of Gone in 60 Seconds is a sprawling car chase that lasts over half an hour. The sheer scale and destruction of the chase are impressive, with a host of minor collisions and a handful of major ones. However, its excessive length and inexpert presentation keep it from being an unqualified hit. The chase scene has its moments, but contrived scenarios, a few lulls, and minimal story payoff all hold it back.
Beyond its cars, Gone in 60 Seconds does not have too much going for it. The plot is just a series of car thefts, many of them as simple as walking up to the car and taking it. The acting is consistently flat, and the movie has a bad habit of relying on voice-overs rather than showing its characters talking. It is an honest effort, and one that pays off in a watchable but insubstantial story with a few fun moments.
Watch Gone in 60 Seconds if you are in the mood for a down-to-earth sort of spectacle. Fans of car crashes should check it out, if only for the novelty. Those looking for expert storytelling or cinematography should look elsewhere. Movies in a similar vein include the original version of The Italian Job, the modern action remake of Gone in 60 Seconds, and the Fast & Furious franchise, although none are quite as authentic.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a credible but amateur effort and an ambitious chase scene.