The Wachowskis' critically panned fifth film is unlike anything you've ever seen before.
93/100
Original Release: 2008
Director: The Wachowskis
Cast: Emilie Hirsch, Roger Allam, John Goodman, Christina Ricci
Favourite Quote:
It is important. You gotta win if you want to keep driving, and that's what I want to do. It's the only thing I really know how to do.”
When I was in school I was always the kid that would zone out in class. Staring out at something only I could see. A daydream, a scenario that I’m simulating inside my head or some idea that I was fixated on. In an early scene of the Wachowskis fifth film Speed Racer a younger version of our main character (perfectly named Speed Racer), is similarly distracted by his own brain during class as he fantasises about driving. The Wachowskis illustrate this wonderfully through the use of moving animation that looks as if it were drawn by a six year old. And right from the beginning they establish this balance between digital and real. Or imaginary and real. And this sense of childlike imagination is packed into every frame. From the visuals that merge animation and real to the races with cars that move as if a child was manipulating a hot wheels car to the futuristic world which is seemingly as obsessed with racing as Speed is. The whole film feels as if it could almost be a daydream out of six year old Speed’s mind. And what a fun daydream it is to watch play out.
Speed Racer, an adaptation of the Japanese anime series of the same name, begins with a phenomenal opening 30 minutes. A first 30 minutes unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The Wachowskis manage to provide backstories for every major character whilst also being in the middle of a thrilling car race in which Speed is literally racing his dead brother’s ghost. These 30 minutes are visually chaotic. There are flashbacks, colourful editing, CGI cars, commentators that slide across the scene. And a whole film’s worth of information.
Griffin Newman from the popular podcast Blank Check with Griffin and David accurately comments that this first 30 minutes would have been the whole film in another director’s hands. With the film ending on Speed’s race against his dead brother’s track record. But in the capable hands of the Wachowskis, this first act is so visually interesting and stimulating that, despite the large amount of information, they don’t lose you for a second. At the end of the race, Speed seemingly pulls up just before the finish line, letting his brother’s record stand and keeping his legacy intact. Nevertheless he wins the race and it is clear he is a sensational racer.
To which he replies, “You gotta win if you want to keep driving, and that’s what I want to do. It’s the only thing I really know how to do.” It’s a line that truly illustrates the film’s key ideas. How do we continue doing what we love? By winning. By making money.
The film barely lets us take a breath before we are introduced to our main ‘villain’ Royalton (Roger Allam) standing out the front of the Racer household as a helicopter whirls in the background. Royalton is there in an attempt to lure Speed over to the dark side and race not for his family’s company, but for Royalton’s giant corporation. Allam does a great job appearing to be innocent and loving, wooing us with a story of his own innocent beginnings, whilst also being suspicious enough that we feel like something is wrong. Next thing we know Speed and the family, which consists of Pops Racer (John Goodman), Mom Racer (Susan Sarandon), Spritle (Paul Litowsky), Chim Chim (Played by two chimpanzees named Kenzie and Willy), Speed’s girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) and Sparky (Kick Gurry), are at Royalton’s workplace being exposed to all the things that money can buy you.
Speed eventually asks for some time to make a decision and we get a nice scene in which he and his girlfriend go for a date in his car. At some point she asks him when winning became such a big deal for him. To which he replies, “You gotta win if you want to keep driving, and that’s what I want to do. It’s the only thing I really know how to do.” It’s a line that truly illustrates the film’s key ideas. How do we continue doing what we love? By winning. By making money.
Speed returns to Royalton and rejects the offer giving a speech reciting one of his favourite memories of his father and him. They are watching the Grand Prix after the death of Speed’s brother Rex. Both looking dejected. Suddenly the race goes down to the wire and both father and son begin jumping up and down on the couch cheering at the screen. It is a simple memory that the Wachowskis have put in there. But it seems like one we can all relate with. Who doesn’t have a memory like that? Where you’re enjoying your passion with someone you love who is as passionate about it as you.
We are given this sweet moment only for Royalton to crush our dreams, just as capitalism seems to do, as he tells Speed that the race they so loved was actually rigged. The winner won because corporations dictated it to be that way. And Royalton’s innocent mask is completely torn away and we see him for who he truly is. Another greedy man obsessed with money. From here Speed faces a setback when he loses the next race, as Royalton predicted he would, and fails to qualify for the Grand Prix. He becomes hopeless and weighed down by the realisation that this may be a race he can’t win. He is then given a chance to fight back with the help of the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) and fellow racer Togokon (Rain).
The three work together to win the next race, but once more Speed is deceived by others in the racing world when Togokon uses the win to propel his own company higher. Speed begins to contemplate walking away from the thing he loves. And then has a couple of brief moments of emotion. The first with Racer X. Speed says: “Racing hasn’t changed, and it never will,” to which Racer X replies: “It doesn’t matter if racing never changes. What matters is if we let racing change us.”
And it feels so much more personal when you consider the careers of the Wachowskis. Two people so passionate about film, trying to change the industry and use their talents for good. Like Speed they had early success with ‘The Matrix’, but then were not able to replicate their success. And with the sequels flopping, industry problems and the want to continue doing what they love. You can really feel how dejected they are from the realities of the film industry and the reactions to their other films.
The second emotional moment is between Speed and his father. And it seems that it is through these relationships he is able to overcome anything. It is a credit to the performances and the writing that the Racer family seems so close to each other. There are interviews in which the actors have talked about their fondness for the cast and stories of how they were so close they felt like a real family. And it really hammers home this point that the only way you can do what you love in a world that prioritises money and capital is through relationships and support from others. It sounds cheesy but if you have that support system you can really make it through anything.
Through an act of kindness from Togokon’s sister, Speed manages to qualify for the Grand Prix. And in an absolute spectacle for the eyes we are treated to a finale that the whole film was building up to. With bursts of colours, insane car movements, and an ending in which the finish line literally wraps around Speed and then spits him out. We are so caught up in the experience that we can’t breathe (at least I was) and then we are given a second to rest and reflect before we realise that Speed has won. Fireworks go off. Milk is drunk. Speed goes in to kiss Trixie and then … the screen stops, Spridle and Chim Chim appear superimposed over the screen in doctors uniforms and warn everyone to stop watching if they don’t want cooties. It is a genius stroke from the Wachowskis and just goes to show how much fun they had making this movie.
Speed Racer is a film about doing what you love in an industry that will only let you do it if you make them money. The Wachowskis created a film so visually different and impactful, while also telling a heartfelt and personal story. It was a film panned on its release, but so ahead of its time that people are only realising its worth and impact on the industry now. It is a truly original and unique vision from the Wachowskis' mind and not often can a film be so original visually as well as have a story that strikes a chord with its viewers. Speed Racer is truly one of a kind.
Read the Speed Racer interview with film critic Kieran Griffiths here.
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