Film: "Speed Racer"
Speed Racer
Opens in Theaters and IMAX: May 9, 2008
Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures
Directors: Larry and Andy Wachowski
Writers: Larry and Andy Wachowski
Producers: Joel Silver, Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Executive Producer: David Lane Seltzer, Michael Lambert, Bruce Berman
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Richard Roundtree, Ji Hoon Jung (popularly known as “Rain”), Benno Fürmann, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam
Action film
"Speed Racer" the movie
(Photo: below) The thunderous Mach 5, Speed Racer’s supercharged race car featured in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ action adventure film “Speed Racer,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Born to race cars, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.
Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5.
When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits.
If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game.
With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)— to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.
Movie Synopsis
From the Wachowski brothers and producer Joel Silver, creators of the groundbreaking "The Matrix" trilogy, comes the high-octane family adventure "Speed Racer."
Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized--the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.
Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret--some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless tycoons who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that Speed never crosses another finish line.
The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival--the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)--to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.
Yet, the ultimate test of Speed Racer's true racing grit will be at the pinnacle event of the World Racing League: the Grand Prix. But standing between Speed and the checkered flag are the world's best--and most cutthroat--competitors, fueled by a million-dollar bounty from Royalton to the driver who takes Speed out once and for all.
"Speed Racer" marks the Wachowski brothers' first writing/directing collaboration since "The Matrix" movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on "The Matrix" movies and "V for Vendetta," produced the film under his Silver Pictures banner. Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski are also producers, with David Lane Seltzer, Michael Lambert and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers.
The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography David Tattersall, production designer Owen Paterson, editors Zach Staenberg and Roger Barton, and costume designer Kym Barrett. The music is by Michael Giacchino. John Gaeta and Dan Glass are the visual effects supervisors.
"Speed Racer" stars Emile Hirsch ("Into the Wild") in the title role; Christina Ricci ("The Opposite of Sex") as Speed's girlfriend Trixie; John Goodman ("The Big Lebowski") and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking") as Pops Racer and Mom Racer; Matthew Fox (TV's "Lost") as Racer X; Roger Allam ("The Queen," "V for Vendetta") as Royalton; Paulie Litt (TV's "Hope & Faith") as Spritle; Benno Fürmann ("The Mutant Chronicles") as Inspector Detector; Hiroyuki Sanada ("The Last Samurai") as Mr. Musha; Asian pop superstar Rain, making his American feature film debut, as a rival driver named Taejo Togokahn; Richard Roundtree (TV's "Heroes," "Shaft") as Ben Burns; and Kick Gurry ("Daltry Calhoun") as Sparky.
Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action "Speed Racer" showcases the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers' films.
"Speed Racer" is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Anarchos Productions.
Digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (digital re-mastering) technology, "Speed Racer: The IMAX Experience" will debut concurrently with the nationwide 35mm release in conventional theatres.
"Speed Racer" has been rated PG by the MPAA for sequences of action, some violence and language.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES' AND VILLAGE ROADSHOW PICTURES' "SPEED RACER" WILL GET THE GREEN FLAG ON MAY 9, 2008
The live-action feature "Speed Racer" will start its engines to open on May 9, 2008, two weeks earlier than previously slated.
In addition to opening wide domestically, the actioner will be released day-and-date in a majority of the international markets. The announcement was made by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
In making the announcement, Fellman stated, "We have been excited about 'Speed Racer' since we first announced the project. We see it as a movie with broad-based, worldwide appeal--from adults to teens to families--making it the perfect film to lead off our exciting 2008 Summer slate. We want to give 'Speed Racer' the maximum playability throughout the season, so moving it up to the earliest possible date made the most sense."
Kwan-Rubinek added, "Opening 'Speed Racer' day-and-date with the U.S. in most international markets will not only allow audiences to see the film early but will maximize business before the start of the European Soccer Championships."
"Speed Racer" is being written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, marking the brothers' first writing/directing collaboration since their groundbreaking "Matrix" movies. The film is being produced by Joel Silver under his Silver Pictures banner.
Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the big-screen "Speed Racer" will follow the adventures of the young race car driver Speed in his quest for glory in his thundering Mach 5.
"Speed Racer" is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production.
BURBANK, CA, March 9, 2007
2007-08 Film Entertainment Magazine / EMOL.org. All rights reserved.
(1967)
