Jason Stratham, Hollywood’s favorite go-to guy for action films,
stars in Death Race, a remake of the 1970s’ Death Race 2000. In the remake,
which takes place a few years from now, the U.S. economy collapses (sounds more
like a documentary!) and crime spirals out of control, causing the
corporate-owned and run prisons to be overcrowded beyond their capacity--until
somebody gets the bright idea to start showing cage matches to the death between
prisoners on pay per view. After the public becomes bored with this (didn’t FOX
already have a show like this, anyway--only with supermodels?), the ante is
raised with Death Race. Instead of fighting to the death, prisoners in armored
race cars loaded with weapons now race to the death.
Stratham appears as Ames, a former race car driver turned working class hero who
gets laid off--and then he gets sent to prison when he’s framed for the murder
of his wife. Once he gets in prison, it’s not long before the evil witch queen
of a warden--played with the proper icy reserve by the always good Joan
Allen--recruits Ames into the Death Race. There’s a driver named Frankenstein
who’s very popular with the viewers, and since he bought the farm after the last
Death Race, it’s now up to Ames to wear his mask and inherit the Frankenstein
mantle. Assuming he survives long enough. Gentlemen, start your engines.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, Death Race is a fun, mindless
concoction that actually recalls the best moments of the Mad Max films (without
the intelligent storytelling), with
its wild race scenes filled with death and mayhem, rather than the original
campy 1970s Rodger Corman film (which starred a young Sylvester Stallone). In
addition to Stratham and Allen, Ian McShane (Deadwood) also rounds out the
solid cast as Coach, Ames’ pit crew chief, and Jason Clarke (Brotherhood) plays the head
prison guard, as well as Allen’s main flunky.
If only the silly script was as good as the cast. But Anderson aims very low,
giving the film the same sort of low-grade moronic intelligence level as the
pay per view specials he's tries so hard to make fun of. While the movie tries hard to give us a good plot twist here
and there, it's so lamely handled that events wind up being telegraphed well
in advance. But the race scenes are very well done, director Anderson has assembled a marvelous
stunt team who can create action scenes that are exhilarating to watch. Also,
watching the refined Joan Allen cursing like a demented sailor on the unrated
version is always a thrill for me. If you like your NASCAR with a little more bite,
you may enjoy this one.
--SF
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