Driven Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Welcome to The Human Race
What drives you?
Where do you go when you are already on the edge?
Talented rookie race-car driver Jimmy Bly has started losing his focus and begins to slip in the race rankings. It's no wonder, with the immense pressure being shoveled on him by his overly ambitious promoter brother as well as Bly's romance with his arch rival's girlfriend Sophia. With much riding on Bly, car owner Carl Henry brings former racing star Joe Tanto on board to help Bly. To drive Bly back to the top of the rankings, Tanto must first deal with the emotional scars left over from a tragic racing accident which nearly took his life.
| Sylvester Stallone | Joe Tanto |
| Burt Reynolds | Carl Henry |
| Kip Pardue | Jimmy Bly |
| Stacy Edwards | Lucretia Clan |
| Til Schweiger | Beau Brandenburg |
| Gina Gershon | Cathy Heguy |
| Estella Warren | Sophia Simone |
| Cristián de la Fuente | Memo Moreno |
| Brent Briscoe | Crusher |
| Robert Sean Leonard | Demille Bly |
| Verona Pooth | Nina |
| Jasmin Wagner | Ingrid |
| Chip Ganassi | Team Owner |
| John Della Penna | Team Manager |
| Dan Duran | Commentator #1 |
| Renny Harlin |
4.20 out of 10 (14689 votes)
Visitor Reviews
I only have good comments.
posted on 26 Aug 2009Again, I only have good comments. I do not like many movies, but this movie is one of those that I like. I actually stopped what I was doing and watched this movie when it was on Fox yesterday. I read many negative comments on this website, and I disagree with it. Come on, this is a movie, of course the way it is is like a movie. And it is a great movie. After all, no movies is perfectly real. If those negative people know perfectly what is wrong with the movie, why don't they direct the movie? It's not an easy job buddy! For the director and the actors and actresses and everybody helps to make this movie a great one, good job!!! For those who give comments about this movie, I'm sure people who participate to make this movie thank you a lot for spending time to give comments, but at least be nice and do not sound that negative. It is nice to point out something not that great to help the people who make this movie see the not-so-great parts, but when you give comments, you really want to sound like you want to help out to make a better movie next time, not those who only like to yell out the bad parts and step on those people who work so hard to make this movie happen.
Driven? Drivel.
posted on 18 Aug 2009Oh...my...god, what a bad film this is. The story is recycled and the action effects are horrible. Let's face it, I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw Renny Harlin's name during the opening credits. Stallone complains that he gets no good roles from Hollywood, anymore. Well, if this is an indication of the product he brings, no wonder. What a terrible film. Stay away! Play with your kids! Take you dog to the park! Do anything but watch this junk! You've been warned.
Was that Driven... or Drivel?
posted on 10 Aug 2009The plot stunk, the love triangle fizzled and I think Til Schweiger (as Beau Brandenburg) could use some acting lessons. There was way too much filler, and the story wasn't very believable. Driving CART cars on Chicago streets? Please.On the other hand, the action and effects were very good. I'm glad I went on the cheap night, though.I wouldn't recommend it.
OK but ...
posted on 02 Aug 2009I saw Driven last night and ... not bad. It wasn't a great movie but was OK. Decent story line but Sylvester Stallone at his size fitting into a CART car? I would have liked to see more racing since that's what the story revolves around but oh well. The soundtrack was great.I would give it a C+
You must see this film!!!
posted on 31 Jul 2009*Warning--No potential spoilers, but there might be one or two things that may be given away* Hey guys,
Dan here. Well, I just got back from Driven, and I have to say I was very pleased with the film... Sylvester Stallone, think what you want of him, but I respect him a little more as a writer now. The story he got down for Driven was fantastic. Character driven of course. I very much liked the interaction between all of the main and secondary characters. There is a lot of tension between all the characters, and it shows... The movie starts out really quickly, moving from race location to race location, introducing Jimmy Bly as the new rookie driver who's doing very well on the circuit. After a nice up in the ranks, he starts to get nervous by the prior champion, Beau Brandenburg. Things start to heat up between them, and Carl Henry (Burt Reynolds) brings in retired Driver Joe "The Hummer" Tanto (Sly Stallone) Tanto is happy to be back, but he would rather be driving for the team instead of helping out Bly. Meanwhile, relationships are on the rocks with all three drivers, and their personal lives are getting in the way with their professional lives... The movie sets itself up really nicely. Quick cuts in the racing scenes add tension and drama. I would've used a different soundtrack for the film, but then again, this is a new day in movies, and a new audience. Either way, the Era song near the last half of the movie did fit in nicely...The movie runs itself up around a few minutes below the 2 hour mark.The crashes are spectacular. This is basically one of the high points that people are going to see this film. Well, don't get too excited. In the first hour and 10 minutes, there is only two crashes. The first was filmed spectactularly, and sent a chill up my spine. There was some very well thought out stunts in this film. Most of the CGI shots were used in the second to last and last race of the film, as well as the street racing scene. I must say I did enjoy the street racing scene. I won't give away why they are racing in the street, because it takes away from the story, but let me tell you I was very impressed with the shots that they had on this. Not too many CGI shots, but one imparticular stands out in this part of the film.This film is no Rocky though. Even at almost 2 hours, I was expecting a little more. One character, Memo wasn't as fully developed as I hoped he'd be. He was a great character, and very nicely acted by Cristián de la Fuente, but he just wasn't in the movie as much as I thought he'd be.Either way, I can go on talking about this for hours, because racing is one of my favorites things in life, and this movie certainly delivered a great film for the genre. So go out and watch this movie!!!! We need more films like this, and less of the "Gone in 60 Seconds" kind of entertainment! --Dan
Entertaining and easy to watch, took itself a little too seriously though
posted on 25 Jul 2009All i've got to say is that i enjoyed this movie and found it entertaining and an interesting insight into the competition between race drivers and what they go through in a demanding profession. I do wish Estella Warren had more to do in this film, because she is just LUSH! and one of my favourite models. But it seems as though she has just been put in the film for the eye-candy, which is great but she needs to do more because she deserves a better chance to really make it as an actress. But overall it is quite entertaining with the racing scenes and the variety of locations they go to. Maybe it would've been better if it took itself less seriously. A masterpiece it aint, but better than i expected and easy to watch. I say to all the people who are trashing this film, you are entitled to your opinion and so am i. My opinion is that you are a bunch of SNOBS!! Admit it, you are!Rating- 8 out of 10
It was worth the three year wait
posted on 13 Jul 2009I enjoyed this film so much that I actually stopped work to watch it properly. Forget that Formula One was mixed up with god know's what and that SS was the only name I had heard of before. That the hero was a short sighted nerd unlikely to have ever been let loose and couldn't get or hold onto any of the thousands of women seemingly dying for him. It helped that I had seen a film on how they made the crash scene from the German Grand Prix as that was almost worth watching on its own. They announced that SS wrote the script but this did not appear on the IMDb and his character really wasn't that critical to the enjoyment. I remember seeing him filming at the Monaco GP but the only relevant footage seemed to be going through its tunnel whilst supposedly racing through downtown Chicago to get off with a $25,000 fine ? So MR fans just enjoy it for what it was 90 minutes of va va voom.
I wish I could have those two hours of my life back
posted on 07 Jul 2009I may not have enough words available to me to truly articulate how terrible this movie was, but I have to try for the sake of anyone that may be contemplating a viewing. To put it most succinctly, this movie was a two hour beer commercial, with scene after scene of loud noises and attractive people smiling. It assaults your senses in a way that only appeals to preadolescent boys, or men that ceased growing intellectually after the 7th grade. After the movie I headed straight for the mountains of Busch; and not because of the subliminal association to coors or budweiser, but in an attempt to kill the brain cells that were harboring the wasteful and trite images that Sly produced. I would rip the plot, but I was not able to identify one concretely. I would rip the writing, but this review is likely longer than the script. I am sorry Sly, but this movie is an insult to the sensibilities of the American people and it makes me curious as to where Rocky actually came from. P.S. - I saw this movie at a $1 theater, and in retrospect I would rather have a double cheeseburger...gross.
Extended MTV Video
posted on 29 Jun 2009I didn't expect much when I entered the theater showing this movie. And I got even less. The plot and dialog for this movie seemed to have been written by the same computer that generated the special effects. And the
characters are made from the same cardboard that the computer was shipped in. Only Burt Reynolds as the race team owner shows any depth of emotion or interest. Basically, this movie is an extended MTV video, interrupted by periods of bad acting. 4/10
Wait, what's that sound? It's Sly Stallone's career going down the drain!(Minor Spoilers)
posted on 27 Jun 2009Driven may be worth watching once for race car sequences (even if most are CGI), but other than that-thbbbpthh! It's an outrageous film, that has the most ridiculous sequences ever (In a race track, a fellow racer, or 'sworn enemy' car flips off the track into a pond or something, and the other guy (who of course hates the others guts)stops his car, gets out, and saves him before-guess what? KABOOM!) And of course then the sworn enemies become best friends. Wow, I wasn't expecting that! I mean the movie's just ridiculous, and this is just one more step for Stallone for his career to dissipate into oblivion. 2/5 stars-I RECOMMEND IT ONLY FOR SOME GOOD CAR SEQUENCES! TOO BAD MOST ARE FAKE THOUGH!JOHN ULMER
I honestly liked it!
posted on 23 Jun 2009This movie deserves better than what it got. Theres only a few minor things in this movie that doesnt make it real. I've read reviews that really putting down this movie, but I honestly liked it. It had good racing in it. I didnt see a problem with the script. Some of the crashes were overly done but the music and everything else was good. My dad is a racing fan and he loved this movie! I'm not much of a racing fan and I loved ti from beginning to the end. The acting was good too. Sly was pretty cool in this movie! The other actors were great too. I recommend this movie to anyone who loves a good racing movie or just a good movie period. I would honestly give this movie 2.5 stars. It was worth it!
It's my turn to drive!
posted on 15 Jun 2009This is an okay movie about racers but an absolutely horrible movie about racing! Absolutely horrible! Look, I'll buy all of the stuff in the movie that illustrates that racers' minds are wired differently but every technical aspect of the movie was WRONG!!! Methanol burns with clear flames and dissipates in water! Champ Cars do not have on-board starters. No track on the Champ Car Circuit has a lake that close to the track. Any track with a lake that close would have a diving team on hand for a rescue and a high enough catch-fence to prevent cars from going in the lake in the first place. No safety crew would take THAT long to respond to an incident. A car with a broken suspension CAN NOT complete almost half a lap and finish third.What a shame that driving talent such as Mark Blundell, Jacques Villeneuve, Mauricio Gugelmin, Jean Alesi, Juan Pablo Montoya and Memo Gidley lent their abilities to make such an absolute piece of garbage! Do yourself a favor and watch one of the following movies instead...Winning, Grand Prix, Le Mans, or The Racers.
Action packed but...
posted on 01 Jun 2009I went to go see this film last night and having been influenced by my boyfriend who was with me (who doesn't like Renny Harlin movies), I have to say I was slightly biased going into it. Also, I'm not really a big fan of Sylvester Stallone's. So why did I go see it? Because I felt like seeing something action packed and those spectacular crash scenes I admit drew me in. I mean, you see a commercial with Kip Pardue driving through the city in a race car (my favorite scene in the whole movie) and you think, "Hmm, yeah..." Anyway, I have to say overall I liked this movie. The effects were pretty spectacular even if the acting wasn't mindblowing. The storyline I felt could have used some work and the relationships I also felt were very underdeveloped. Standing out among the cast I have to say was Gina Gershon because she played such a great bitch. She makes you love to hate her. I wouldn't say my opinion of Stallone has changed much, though.
If you want to see something entertaining, I'd say go to see the visual effects. Try to see it for what it's worth and not what it had the potential to be and you're ok.
Without a Doubt,The Worst film of 2001
posted on 22 May 2009A truly atrocious film, in that it never puts one foot right from the first reel to the last.Renny Harlin should really consider hanging up the directors hat after this (although the fact that he kept his job after Cutthroat island means he will probably be here for a long time)For starters, Stallone slurs his words so badly that you virtually need subtitles to understand what he is saying.NEXT,the racing scenes which are supposed to be the highlight of this film are excruciatingly dull despite the fact that harlin has done everything humanly possible to liven them up,including some utterly terrible computer generated Car crash scenes that almost look like a cartoon and play like one(What's with the scene of the tire flying into the crowd???)NEXT,with stallone really only playing a supporting character,the main characters of this film are people we simply dont connect with or care about.It doesnt help they we havent seen any of them before. Gina gershon is completely wasted as stallone former love who spends the first half of the film attacking him, and the second rooting for her new love(Get a new agent Gina puhlease).Ohh I think stallone has a new girlfriend in this film although she has virtually an invisible role.I wont even ask about the stupid Humming stallone does while driving his car for inspiration(although I guess its better than listening to him sing).And the scene where jimmy and lucretia save whathisname from the burning lake,I was kinda amused how at the last second, we get a quick(and completely meaningless)shot of stallone running through the bushes to the crash site, almost as if during the post production of the film, the film makers decided to quickly throw in that shot cause they didnt want stallone looking as if he did absolutely nothing during that whole segment.If the film at least had a sense of humour or some great one liners it may have worked. But this piece of trite is completely humourless which only makes it worse. Harlin does everything wrong in the direction of the film in pretty much every scene. The final race scene, again which is supposed to be the films highlight is drudgingly dull and nobody really cares who wins or loses except maybe for the people onscreenProbably the only watchable scene is the chase through the streets of chicago which isnt great but may keep the viewer around a little while longerRenny harlin did commentary on the dvd release of this film, which means he must be proud of this picture. All I can say is,Renny you made a mess of this flick so try and get your act together and have the dignity to leave this shameful piece of crap behind.Although Freddy got fingered will probably beat this out as the worst film of 2001 by the razzie awards, FGF at least never tried to be a good film...This film did..and it failed...so full honours should go to this..and to everyone involved...and the film itself should be driven into a bleeding wallI give it............0 out of 10
GREAT computer generated graphics, but plot holes so big, you could drive through them
posted on 18 May 2009This movie is truly for those who are able to turn off their minds. The script is utterly lame (sorry Sylvester, just like you tried with Clifffhanger, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE LAWS OF PHYSICS). The is acting horrendous (except for a few background characters who are pretty interesting). The direction is not up to what I'd expect from Renny Harlin. There are more plot holes than a sieve, and they are so large you could "drive though them". You would think that this film would cater to race fans. Race fans will NOT like this because the COMPLETE lack of believability. The crowd I saw this with was mixed, teenaged BOYS liked it quite a bit. People wearing race clothing said "It SUCKED!" It is fun though, the computer generated action is very well done, and the sound was very good too.If you are the type of movie fan who believes that someone coming out of ice cold water doesn't get wet, if you believe that a carabiner with a 5000 kilo break rating won't hold a 110 lb woman, then you will believe that someone traveling 16,000 feet per second can stop in a few car lengths.
Wasted ideas and an F1 abortion <WARNING: SPOILERS!>
posted on 04 May 2009The concept of a movie about the thrills of the F1 racing circuit sure sounds good, but the subsequent screenplay is the pits. Not the F1 pits, but pits as in yuck. The screenplay tries to combine action and drama, and in the process woefully falls short on both fronts. Its a pity really, because the logline's good, the racing circuit badly needed a film made about it, and some shots in the movie are intrepid enough to suggest the promise of something better, that eventually never quite materialised.The scene showing the F1 cars on the streets of Chicago was brilliant, but all too brief. Hey guys, you've got the concept of F1 cars in a regular street correct; and this is an action movie about racing cars, so what you need to show is a real prolonged [prooolllooonnnggeed, get it] chase scene, complete with cops and outsiders joining the melee, hyperstressed street sequences, and something great emerging at the end. What we get instead is a few seconds of street circuitry, and then the cars stop, the two guys step out, have an emotional interaction, and period, full-stop. "Last Action Hero" may not have fared all that well, but its car chase scene was brilliant, and miles ahead of this F1 abortion compiled by Stallone.The special effects of cars flying through the air, breaking up in mid-air, the tyre falling on the spectators' gallery; all of these stand out, that is, stand out as inserted special effects. All of these pictures show a computer gleam that's lacking in the background. That's the special effects goof up.Not that the direction is in any way special. I always had the desire to watch the innards of a racing car and its dashboard, and hoped this movie would do so at least for a minute or so. Unfortunately, they missed out on such a simple task. Then, there's the background commentary. It sounds just like any other character on screen, whereas they ought to have displayed its distinctiveness from the rest of the dialogue by getting a rapid-fire commentator, of whom there are quite a few.The most disgusting fact about this whole business is that, as in real life when abortion often causes subsequent sterility; this F1 abortion may well have drawn the curtains on any future F1-based screenplay that could've incorporated the ingredients I have outlined above.
Not every racetrack is oval like every driver is not the same.
posted on 24 Apr 2009The trailer lures you in and bam it hits you....did I pay to watch this? Loud music, fast cars and even faster women in between some very good racing scenes does not equal a good movie this time around. Great F/X crash visuals is the best thing you'll see here. A young hot shot racer(Kip Pardue)is nearing the end of his rookie race season and one racer(Til Schweiger)stands in the way of a championship trophy. But the rookie's season is falling apart as quick as his personal life. Race team owner(Burt Reynolds) calls a former skilled driver(Sylvester Stallone)out of retirement to help get the young turk back with the program. Gina Gershon is excellent as the unabashed sex pot; a roll she knows so well. Also in support are:Estella Warren, Stacy Edwards and Cristian de la Fuente. The tangled relationships equals the mess on the track...scorecard anyone?
Fun movie to see with the guys...
posted on 08 Apr 2009I saw the movie as a special advance screening on my college campus. I must admit that it was much better than I expected. The dialogue was corny, the ending a bit too predictable, and just really a "guy" movie (you all know EXACTLY what I mean by that). It certainly isn't "Rocky"!!! However, if you're just in the mood to watch a fun movie with fast cars, exciting car crashes, and cute chicks (or--if you're a fellow female--cute guys like newcomer Kip Pardue), this is a good pick for such moods.
Title should be "Drivel" or "MTV goes to the Races"
posted on 28 Aug 2009Take 2 race lovers (Harlin and Stallone), give them a chance to go around the world getting shots of race tracks and races, mix in loud pulsing music tracks, and then spend a lot of money on CG. Forget plot, character, or real world, that doesn't matter. Just create some hackney superficial plot devices (young punk vs experienced driver, old loves vs new loves, uncaring management vs the human element) and presto, you get the green light from WB to make the ultimate ad for a playstation 2 video game! If you want to see a movie about car racers/racing, this ain't it! Performances are wooden, even by Stallone standards, and the racing photography relies much too much on computer graphic generated images, which are often rather obvious."Grand Prix" John Frankenheimer's film from 1966 has real drivers, and the actors are also really driving their cars in the movie. Even though "Grand Prix" suffers from a poor plot, excessive use of split screen, and weak characters, it is a far more engaging film to watch, and has some greatest racing sequences on film. In addition, all that movie's special effects were done without the benefit of computers.Sly, please, if you must write your own films, try to create people with interesting things to say to each other, invent a plot that hasn't been done 100 times before, and then hire a director who can get his actors to act.