Today’s quick review: Wheelman. To pay off his debt to the mob, an ex-con (Frank Grillo) works as a getaway driver, taking anonymous assignments through Clay (Garrett Dillahunt). On the night of a bank robbery, he receives a mysterious phone call from the man who hired him (Slaine), instructing him where to take the money. But the instructions seem like a setup, forcing the driver to take drastic action to survive long enough to figure out what’s going on.
Wheelman is a minimalistic crime thriller with an intriguing premise and tidy execution. The movie takes place almost entirely within the main character’s car. His only contact with the outside world is through his cell phone and the people he can drive to meet in person. Using only his handler’s instructions and Clay’s evasions, the driver must piece together who has been lying to him and how to escape with his life.
Wheelman spins this premise into a fairly engaging story. Each step of the plot follows logically from the last, and the film does a fine job of keeping its mystery alive. The answers are nothing too spectacular, but they are compelling enough to justify the mystery and provide a few good twists along the way. The plot is backed by a decent amount of action, which goes nicely with the tight camerawork and constant sense of danger.
Try Wheelman when you’re in the mood for a short, gripping crime thriller. The plot, characters, and action aren’t enough to rank it among the greats, but they are enough to make good on the movie’s premise. For a more violent movie in a similar vein, check out Drive. For the action variant, check out The Transporter. For an action thriller with a similar premise, check out Collateral. For a flimsier car-based mystery, try Vehicle 19.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a solid plot.