You might have seen the sneaky teaser for new Brad Pitt-starring action thriller ‘Bullet Train’, which purported to be a commercial for Japanese train service Nippon Speed Line. The full trailer has now arrived, which is much more a traditional promo for the movie.
Yes, while the teaser gave itself away earlier thanks to Pitt’s voice-over and his bruised appearance late on, the new trailer offers no such trickery. We’re introduced to his character, an assassin who seems to be tired of the killer life.
In contact with Sandra Bullock’s Maria Beetle, who appears to be his handler, Pitt’s Ladybug is complaining that every time he goes to work, someone dies. Dispatched on what would seem to be a routine, relatively harmless mission to pick up an important briefcase on a Bullet Train in Japan, he hopes for a quieter time of things.
(L to R) Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brad Pitt in Sony Pictures’ ‘Bullet Train.’
Unbeknownst to him, the deadly duo Tangerine and Lemon are also after the very same suitcase, and they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard.
Satoshi, “the Prince,” with the looks of an innocent school child and the mind of a viciously cunning psychopath, is also in the mix and has history with some of the others. Risk fuels him as does a good philosophical debate… like, is killing really wrong? Chasing the Prince is another assassin with a score to settle for the time the Prince casually pushed a young boy off of a roof, leaving him comatose.
When the five assassins discover they are all on the same train, they realize their missions are not as unrelated as they first appear.
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Cue fists flying, swords swinging and Pitt nailing Aaron Tylor-Johnson with a bottle of fizzy water.
With David Leitch, the stuntman-turned-filmmaker who kickstarted his directing career with ‘John Wick’ and has since made movies including ‘Atomic Blonde’ and ‘Deadpool 2’ in charge here, the movie looks stylish and slyly funny, especially that moment in the quiet car. Plus, the trailer is scored to a Japanese cover of “Staying Alive,” which offers a big nod to the tone that the director’s setting here.
(L to R) Brian Tyree Henry and Brad Pitt in Sony Pictures’ ‘Bullet Train.’
And, because this is Leitch we’re talking about, you can naturally expect a lot of inventive action within the cramped confines of the train, as his 87 Eleven stunt team goes to work finding new ways to create chaos.
Pitt’s never one to shy away from throwing himself into action (he’ll be in even spoofier form – and once again working with Sandra Bullock – in ‘The Lost City’, due on March 25), but this looks like another level for him.
‘Bullet Train’ will pull into theaters on July 15. The big question is, who will survive and what will be left of them? Which is not something you usually hear on an Amtrak train.
Brad Pitt in Sony Pictures’ ‘Bullet Train.’
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Brad Pitt in Sony’s ‘Bullet Train.’ Photo Courtesy of YouTube.
When is a commercial for a relaxed-looking transportation service not a commercial for a relaxed-looking transportation service? When it’s very clearly also a viral marketing video for new action thriller ‘Bullet Train.’
And how do we know this? Why don’t we think this is simply Brad Pitt in one of those famous commercials featuring a Hollywood star pitching a product to Asian audiences they hope Western eyes never see? Because A) Pitt is the star of ‘Bullet Train’ and B) it’s about a Bullet Train, which is about a big a clue as you could possibly ask for.
Yes, while this purports to promise a smooth ride and a comfortable journey, the quick glimpse at Pitt’s battered face near the end is a real giveaway. Plus, you can imagine that fake train company Nippon Speed Line is the carrier on whose train major mayhem will break out.
‘Bullet Train’, which is on track to arrive this summer via Sony, has a script from ‘Fear Street Part 2’ writer Zak Olkewicz, who adapts Kôtarô Isaka’s novel ‘Maria Beetle’. While the movie has yet to post an official synopsis, we can intuit some of what may make it to screen based on the book’s plot description.
Nanao, nicknamed Lady Bird — the self-proclaimed “unluckiest assassin in the world” — boards a bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka with one simple task: grab a suitcase and get off at the next stop. Unbeknownst to him, the deadly duo Tangerine and Lemon are also after the very same suitcase, and they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard.
Satoshi, “the Prince,” with the looks of an innocent schoolboy and the mind of a viciously cunning psychopath, is also in the mix and has history with some of the others. Risk fuels him as does a good philosophical debate… like, is killing really wrong? Chasing the Prince is another assassin with a score to settle for the time the Prince casually pushed a young boy off of a roof, leaving him comatose.
When the five assassins discover they are all on the same train, they realize their missions are not as unrelated as they first appear.
David Leitch, the stuntman-turned-filmmaker, has a reputation for inventive action, and we can’t wait to see how he pulled off the set-pieces in the tight confines of a train carriage while also observing pandemic protocols. And was the craft service in the restaurant car? Enquiring minds and all that.
The March 2nd date suggests the trailer is due next Wednesday. Assuming there are no problems with the route, ‘Bullet Train’ should chug into theaters on July 15. Best get your tickets in order.
In the mood for a romance movie? We listed the best romantic comedies to watch to for you.
‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961)
Holly Golightly is an eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire. But when young writer Paul Varjak moves into her apartment building, her past threatens to get in their way.
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‘Annie Hall’ (1977)
A Woody Allen classic. New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.
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‘Manhattan’ (1979)
Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend’s mistress.
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‘Moonstruck’ (1987)
No sooner does Italian-American widow Loretta accept a marriage proposal from her doltish boyfriend, Johnny, than she finds herself falling for his younger brother, Ronny. She tries to resist, but Ronny lost his hand in an accident he blames on his brother, and has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls deeper in love, she comes to learn that she’s not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
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‘Bull Durham’ (1988)
Veteran catcher Crash Davis is brought to the minor league Durham Bulls to help their up and coming pitching prospect, “Nuke” Laloosh. Their relationship gets off to a rocky start and is further complicated when baseball groupie Annie Savoy sets her sights on the two men.
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‘Say Anything…’ (1989)
A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college.
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‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ (1994)
Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.
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’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999)
Buena Vista Pictures
Still one of the funniest, sweetest, and most quotable teen romcoms. We wish Heath Ledger were still here, singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.”
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‘The Best Man’ (1999)
Universal
Writer Harper (Taye Diggs) has to decide who he really loves: girlfriend Robin (Sanaa Lathan) or old flame Jordan (Nia Long). And survive the fallout from writing about all his friend’s complicated love lives.
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‘Never Been Kissed’ (1999)
20th Century Fox
Drew Barrymore is Josie, who was a geeky unpopular teen, and is now a reporter who’s assigned to go undercover at a high school. She gets a crush on her English teacher (Michael Vartan) and, yes, by the end of the film, she does get her first kiss from him — in full view of the cheering students.
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‘Notting Hill’ (1999)
Universal
A chance encounter between an ordinary bloke (Hugh Grant) and a movie star (Julia Roberts) leads to an unexpected romance. The supporting cast is what really makes this film, especially Grant’s gross roommate (Rhys Ifans). And the scene where Grant bluffs his way (terribly) through a press junket when he drops in to see Julia on the wrong day at her hotel is pure movie magic.
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‘Bring It On’ (2000)
Universal Pictures
New cheer captain Torrance (Kirsten Dunst) has her hands full: Recruiting a new cheerleader, coming up with new (not stolen) routines, and making peace with a rival school. Is there time for the cute, mix-tape-making brother (Jesse Bradford) of new BFF Missy (Eliza Dushku)? Yes, yes there is.
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‘High Fidelity’ (2000)
Touchstone Pictures
John Cusack is a record store owner (yeah, OK, this movie is 19 years old) who is obsessed with making the perfect music mix. And winning back his ex-girlfriend, who trots out a series of rebound boyfriends in front of him. Eventually (after lots of great tunes and voiceover), he gets over his fear of commitment. They reunite to a surprisingly great cover version of “Let’s Get It On” by Jack Black.
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‘Meet the Parents’ (2000)
Universal
It’s an uphill battle when Teri Polo brings home fiancé Ben Stiller, who can’t go 60 seconds without embarrassing himself in front of her parents. And her perfect ex, Owen Wilson. This is still silly, sublime perfection.
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‘Miss Congeniality’ (2000)
Warner Brothers
“You think I’m sexy. You want to kiss me.” Another magical Hollywood makeover turns uncouth FBI agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) into a total hottie so she can go undercover at a pageant. Fellow agent Eric (Benjamin Bratt) can’t resist and we can’t blame him.
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‘Return to Me’ (2000)
MGM
In this vastly underrated romcom, grieving widower Bob (David Duchovny) meets Grace (Minnie Driver) and romance ensues. And then they both realize she, a heart transplant recipient, has his dead wife’s heart. The supporting cast is terrific, including Grace’s BFF, Bonnie Hunt (who also directed). The ending couldn’t be more romantic. Swoon.
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‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001)
Miramax
In the first Bridget Jones movie, our favorite Brit romcom heroine is torn between upper-class snob Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and her cad of a boss (Hugh Grant). And then there’s the unfortunate incident with the Playboy bunny outfit.
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‘Kissing Jessica Stein’ (2001)
Fox Searchlight
Single Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) finds the perfect-sounding mate in the personals: Except it’s a woman, not a man. She decides to roll the dice and begins a start-stop-go relationship with Helen (Heather Juergensen) in this funny, heartfelt indie.
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‘Legally Blonde’ (2001)
MGM
Elle Woods, the most unlikely feminist icon, gets into Harvard Law to follow her douche-y ex. She ends up fighting justice on all fronts, teaching women the almighty “bend and snap,” and lines up a far better bf in Luke Wilson.
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‘The Princess Diaries’ (2001)
Buena Vista Pictures
Mia (Anne Hathaway) finds out she’s a princess and gets a fab makeover — and ends up with the cute, guitar-playing guy (real musician Robert Schwartzman, lead singer of Rooney). Of course, by the second film there’s another guy in the picture. We also love the relationship between Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews) and her bodyguard (Hector Elizondo).
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‘Amélie’ (2001)
UGC Fox Distribution
In this dreamily, gorgeous French film, imaginative Amélie (Audrey Tatou) sees the world in the most fanciful way. She finds her soulmate in Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz), who likes to collect abandoned photo booth pictures. It only gets more whimsical from there.
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‘About a Boy’ (2002)
Universal Pictures
In this very funny film based on the Nick Hornby novel, single guy Hugh Grant pretends to be a single dad to attract single moms… all goes well until new gf Rachel Weisz learns his “son” (Nicholas Hoult) isn’t his son at all. Fortunately, all is put right when he makes a complete fool of himself to save Hoult from the same fate.
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‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (2002)
Twentieth Century Fox
Still one of our go-to romcoms. Jess (Parminder Nagra) just wants to play football like her hero David Beckham, but her traditional family disapproves. One incentive to keep playing, the handsome coach (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers in a rare good-guy role).
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‘Brown Sugar’ (2002)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan are childhood friends who share a love of hip-hop — and, they eventually admit — each other. The soundtrack (and the music cameos) are on fire.
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‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ (2002)
IFC Films
It’s the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time for a reason. The timeless story of how once-mousy Toula (Nia Vardalos) meets and marries Ian (John Corbett) is all the funnier thanks to her hilarious family.
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‘Something’s Gotta Give’ (2003)
Columbia Pictures
In one of the most complicated of romcom relationships, Diane Keaton starts dating Jack Nicholson, who was first dating her daughter! Why she ends up choosing the unfaithful old fart over hot young doctor Keanu Reeves, we’ll never know. Keaton received her fourth Best Actress Oscar nomination for the film.
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‘Love Actually’ (2003)
Universal Pictures
What’s your favorite storyline in Richard Curtis’s Christmas-set smorgasbord? We’re fond of author Jamie (Colin Firth) proposing to housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz) in terrible Portuguese. And, of course, Prime Minister Hugh Grant falling for the tea girl (Martine McCutcheon). Not so much into the stalking of Keira Knightley. (Sorry, Andrew Lincoln.)
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’13 Going on 30′ (2004)
Columbia Pictures
Jennifer Garner does “Big” in this charming romcom in which she avoids becoming a Mean Girl and ends up with the right guy after all (Mark Ruffalo). Oh and nobody cuts a rug to “Thriller” quite like her.
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‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ (2005)
Universal
Geeky 40-year-old virgin Andy (Steve Carell) manages to woo Trish (Catherine Keener)… until she starts thinking his oddness means he’s a serial killer! Features one of the most epic grand gesture third-act scenes set to ’80s rockers Asia’s “Heat of the Moment.” And of course, the “Kelly Clarkson!” waxing scene.
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‘The Holiday’ (2006)
Columbia Pictures
Two unlucky-in-love women, an American (Cameron Diaz) and a Brit (Kate Winslet), swap houses for the holidays and (of course) find romance. Romcom queen Nancy Meyers wrote and directed.
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‘Enchanted’ (2007)
Disney
Amy Adams is perfection as Giselle, an animated princess who finds herself in gritty, real-life NYC. Luckily, there’s a flesh-and-blood Prince Charming Patrick Dempsey), who can’t help falling for her. Favorite bit: Giselle summoning the birds — and rats and roaches — of the city to help her clean his apartment.
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‘Knocked Up’ (2007)
For fun loving party animal Ben Stone, the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she’s pregnant.
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‘Juno’ (2007)
Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.
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‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (2008)
Universal Pictures
Running into your ex and her new rock star boyfriend on vacation? Awkward! Conveniently for Peter (Jason Segel), hotel concierge Rachel (Mila Kunis) is into guys on the rebound.
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‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ (2008)
Focus Features
While we do care about aspiring actress Amy Adam’s many loves in this period comedy, we are far more invested in down-on-her-luck governess Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) finally hooking up with well-heeled Joe (Ciarán Hinds) after several missed opportunities.
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‘The Proposal’ (2009)
Touchstone Pictures
It’s a bumpy ride to love for obnoxious boss Margaret (Sandra Bullock) and her beleaguered assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). He agrees to act as her fiancé so she won’t be deported (she’s Canadian). Has that not ever led to true love in the movies?
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‘500 Days of Summer’ (2009)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Hopeless romantic Joseph Gordon-Levitt reflects on what went wrong with ex Zooey Deschanel in this wonderfully offbeat indie.
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‘Just Wright’ (2010)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
A reminder that Rebel Wilson is not the first plus-size star to do a romcom. And that in this story that has physical therapist Queen Latifah working with injured b-ball star Common, we are so rooting for him to get wise to gold-digger Paula Patton and get with the Queen instead.
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‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ (2011)
Warner Bros.
Emma Stone falls for Ryan Gosling and his not-Photoshopped abs in this very funny film with almost as many romantic storylines as “Love, Actually.”
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‘Bridesmaids’ (2011)
Annie’s life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.
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‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012)
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
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‘Pitch Perfect’ (2012)
Universal
When Beca (Anna Kendrick) sings Jesse (Skylar Astin)’s favorite song, “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” that’s the key to cementing their romance. And winning the singing competition, of course.
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‘About Time’ (2013)
Universal Pictures
Richard Curtis directs this tale of time-traveling Tim (Domhnall Gleeson), who gets endless retakes to woo the girl of his dreams (Rachel McAdams). Have your tissues ready for this one: It’s as heartbreaking as it is funny.
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‘Enough Said’ (2013)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Sadly, this change-of-pace role for “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini was one of his last: He romances Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who inconveniently is good friends with his ex (Catherine Keener). Both leads and writer/director Nicole Holofcener racked up a number of awards nominations (deservedly so).
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‘The Spectacular Now’ (2013)
A24
Yay, a coming-of-age Shailene Woodley romance where no one dies! Reminiscent of ’80s classics like “Say Anything…,” this comedy-drama feels refreshingly real. She and Miles Teller won a Special Jury Award for Acting at the Sundance Film Fest.
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‘Sing Street’ (2016)
Lionsgate
Before she was Freddie Mercury’s muse in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Lucy Boynton was inspiring Cosmo (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) to form a band, just so she can be their videos. Set in ’80s Dublin, this mostly feel-good comedy from the director of “Once” is gold. Unhappily, the great original songs were overlooked at Oscar time.
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‘The Big Sick’ (2017)
Lionsgate
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani and real-life wife Emily Gordon wrote this Oscar-nominated film about how they met, broke up (he never even told his family about her!) and ultimately reunited. Kumail plays himself and Zoe Kazan plays Emily.
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‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (2018)
Warner Bros.
Rachel (Constance Wu) is shocked to discover that her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) belongs to an incredibly wealthy family. And his mother (Michelle Yeoh) is not a fan of hers. Challenge accepted!
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‘Juliet, Naked’ (2018)
Lionsgate
Annie (Rose Byrne) has been in a dead-end relationship with Duncan (Chris O’Dowd) for years. He’s obsessed with musician Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke), which, in a hilarious twist, leads to Annie hooking up with Duncan’s idol. Another Nick Hornby gem.
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‘Palm Springs’ (2020)
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.
With ‘Ad Astra’ hitting theaters this weekend, all it took was staring into Brad Pitt’s lost little boy eyes as he dodges space debris to get us thinking about how we had it all wrong. When adults asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, chances are we exclaimed “Astronaut!” more than once, but movies have actually spent a long time telling us why that’s a terrible idea. Alongside the bravery, intelligence, and pioneering spirit of everyone involved in a space program comes enormous risk.
With Earth in serious trouble, humans are looking to the stars in this Christopher Nolan film starring Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, and Anne Hathaway. But with all the talk of relativity and “where did these marks on my floor come from?” there’s no time for lounging around and laughing like you’re in a soda commercial. McConaughey ends up spending what ends up being his family’s whole life trying to save the planet, so he ends up just having to go back to space to hang out with the closest thing he has to a lady love.
If you ever took gravity for granted, watching this Academy Award-winning Sandra Bullock film will quickly shift you into an attitude of gratitude. As her mission to upgrade the Hubble telescope goes horribly wrong thanks to a Russian missile strike, Bullock spends the entire movie figuring out how to drift away from certain things and towards others to get home. Heaven help you if you saw this movie in 3D. Audience members left the theaters and reportedly kissed the ground. Or…was that just us?
It’s bad enough taking a job to go to space and hang out by yourself mining fuel, but it’s even worse when your communication signals get jammed except for video voicemails from your boo on Earth. It becomes incomprehensibly bad when you learn that the signals were blocked on purpose by your boss AND you’re a clone. Things swing back to being good when you realize that having clones means you have company, but then they get bad again when you realize those clones are jerks and you’re the dumbest one.
Humankind has always been fascinated by visiting that big rock in the sky. Humankind’s second thought should be how petrifying any trouble up there would be. Apollo 13, the mission led by Jim Lovell, and the movie led by Tom Hanks, exemplifies both the resourcefulness of our space program and why it’s best for most of us to stay grounded. Mechanical failures abound—explosions, leaks, transmission blackouts. And as if that weren’t enough, human mechanical failures make things even worse, with urinary infections and freezing temperatures. By the time these guys land you’ve stress eaten three days’ worth of calories.
Damien Chazelle and his team conveyed a body-shaking version of what it was like to be a meat sack propelled into space in a tin can at the start of the space race. While movies about space have always had the deep bass of rocket boosters, First Man exponentially upped the ante by conveying just how precarious the structures were on top of that enormous power. Between launches, training scenes, and occasional crashes in fields, the movie never seems to stop shaking. Poor Baby Goose.
Though she’s best known for her scene-stealing work in front of the camera, Sandra Bullock has had plenty of success behind it, too, producing a string of hit films including her star vehicles “Miss Congeniality,” “The Proposal,” and Netflix’s buzzy “Bird Box.” Now, Bullock is set to produce once again, this time on a new project that’s inspired by her own life.
According to Deadline, the actress is developing a TV series for Amazon that’s loosely based on her experiences in college in North Carolina in the 1980s. The dramedy, set in the world of music and dance, will be co-executive produced by Bullock, alongside fellow A-list Oscar winners John Legend and Akiva Goldsman.
Here’s a breakdown of the as-yet-untitled series, per Deadline:
” … the show is described as a hilarious, boundary-crossing, and often soul-wrenching trek through the oppressive cultural norms of the deep south in the 1980s, where one darkly off-beat young woman defies expectations and sets out in search of love, community, and most importantly, an identity of her own. It’s a fantastical, dance-filled journey, traversing the worlds of drag-culture, mental health, and the AIDS epidemic, all while following a group of young outcasts who band together and dare to be themselves, despite the very real danger they face in doing so. It’s a vivid, fun, gut-punch of a story about letting go of shame and living out loud… and some of it’s even true.”
Longtime friends Bullock and Goldsman, who previously collaborated on the films “A Time To Kill” and “Practical Magic,” conceived of the idea for the show together. It was created and written by K.C. Perry (“Constance,” “The Originals”).
Deadline reports that Goldsman specifically sought out Legend to both help develop the series, and shape its unique soundtrack, which will feature an “ambitious fusion of multiple genres of music from the period, including 80’s pop, timeless Southern gospel, and opera.” Based on that unlikely combination, we’re already intrigued.
No word yet on how many episodes are expected, or a production or release timeframe. Stay tuned.
In celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary, here’s all the times Officer Jack Traven made us weak in the knees.
1. When we first meet him. With that one purposeful glance, we know that Jack is going to be the one to MacGyver the elevator situation and save every single hostage.
2. When he gets the last hostage out alive, dammit.
The last woman left in the damaged elevator is too scared to move, but Jack isn’t about to let her die. “Just take one step, reach out, and take my hand,” he says. When she still won’t budge, he yells, “Come on!” and she finally lets herself be rescued. Yes, it was good for us too, Jack.
20th Century Fox
3. When he shoots Harry
This is why it’s good to role play scenarios before they happen: When Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) takes partner Harry (Jeff Daniels) hostage, Jack already has a plan: Shoot the hostage. Take them out of the equation. Go for the good wound. And then focus on the bad guy and demand: “Freeze, a-hole.”
4. When he boards that bus. As Howard later says of Jack, “He’s so persistent! He always gets his man.” And when the job is to board a moving bus on a busy freeway, Jack is going to make it happen. (Sorry about your car and your phone, Tune Man.)
5. When he calmly defuses the situation.
One passenger mistakenly thinks this gung-ho cop is there for him and draws a gun on him. Jack is in the middle of talking him down, telling him, “I’m not here for you. Let’s not do this. I don’t care about your crime. Whatever you did, I’m sure that you’re sorry, so it’s cool now. It’s over. I’m not a cop right now. See? We’re just two cool guys, just hanging out…” And then the Baldwin on the bus decides to play hero, tackling the guy, which leads to Sam the bus driver being shot…
20th Century Fox
6. When he assures Annie she didn’t just kill a baby
Horrified that she’s just hit a baby carriage, Annie is understandably freaking out behind the wheel. Jack takes charge for a moment, repeating, “Cans! There was no baby. It was full of cans,” until she can calmly take the wheel again. His relieved laugh is why they invented gifs.
7. When he tells her she’s “incredible” After Annie makes a nearly impossible turn (after correctly saying the bus will tip over if everyone doesn’t get over to one side), Jack is hella impressed. “Ma’am, you did very well. Actually, you were incredible. I’ve never seen driving like that.” And that’s when she asks him to call her Annie, “as opposed to ma’am.”
8. When he tends to Annie’s head wound After that amazing freeway-gap jump, Annie is a little banged-up. We’re not too sure how sanitary his shirt is at this point, but it’s the thought that counts. Also, before the jump: He threw himself over her to protect her from the impact. Hero.
9. When he goes under the bus. Which isn’t sexual or anything.
10. When he admits he “might” be getting mushy on Annie.
Jack cradles Annie as they’re they last two to make their escape from the soon-to-explode bus. As he asks if she’s OK, she says no. Then asks if he’s getting “mushy” on her. “Maybe,” he says with a smile. “Maybe.”
11. When he refuses to leave Annie on the subway
After having killed Howard, Jack returns to free Annie — and realizes he doesn’t have the key to her handcuffs. So he just holds her as the train hurtles to its possible doom. (After deciding to speed it up first. Which, OK, that was a choice.)
20th Century Fox
12. “Whatever you say, ma’am.”
After having survived the subway crash, Annie can’t believe Jack didn’t leave here. “Didn’t have anywhere to be just then,” he says, repeating her earlier advice back to her: “I have to warn you. I’ve heard relationships… …based on intense experiences never work.” Her sensible reply, “OK, we’ll have to base it on sex, then.”
“Speed” is now 25 years old. And just like stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, this classic action movie doesn’t show its age one bit. That’s the power of a strong, simple premise. Celebrate this movie milestone by learnign more about the making of “Speed.”
1. “Speed” can thanks its existence (at least in part) to legendary director Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa wrote the screenplay for 1985’s “Runaway Train,” the plot of which inspired Graham Yost to write “Speed.”
2. Yost originally titled his screenplay “Minimum Speed,” but decided to cut the adjective.
Miramax
3.Quentin Tarantino was among the directors approached. Though he turned it down, Tarantino later included “Speed” in a list of the best films released since the 1992 debut of “Reservoir Dogs.”
4. The film’s snappy dialogue can be credited to Joss Whedon, who performed an uncredited, last-minute rewrite and focused specifically on making Jack Traven’s lines better fit actor Keanu Reeves. Early (and now highly sought-after) posters feature a writing credit for Whedon.
20th Century Fox
5.Stephen Baldwin was originally offered the Jack Traven role, but turned it down after complaining the character (pre-Whedon rewrite) was too similar to “Die Hard” protagonist John McClane.
6. Both Halle Berry and Ellen DeGeneres were considered to play Annie Porter before Sandra Bullock was cast.
20th Century Fox
7. There’s a reason Annie is so adept at driving the runaway bus. Originally the screenplay revealed her backstory as an ambulance driver.
8. Studio executives were aghast at Reeves’ decision to cut his hair in a close-cropped, blue collar fashion, fearing it would hurt the movie’s marketability.
20th Century Fox
9. The film went over-budget, to the point where a test screening had to rely on storyboard animatics for the subway sequence. Fortunately, the audience’s response convinced Fox to hand over more money to finish the film.
10. The climax of the film was originally supposed to take place in Dodgers Stadium, but the setting shifted to LAX when the production couldn’t secure the rights to film at the stadium.
20th Century Fox
11. A total of 14 buses were used for production, with different buses designated for interior shots, undercarriage shots and high-speed scenes. Two buses were designated solely for explosion shots.
There’s a reason the chemistry between Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in “Speed” was so damn convincing: Turns out the two actors were crushing on each other in real life. Except neither one let on at the time.
She ran a clip from December 2018 of Bullock admitting that being around Reeves made her giggly: “I’m thinking of how sweet Keanu Reeves was, and how handsome he was. It was hard, it was hard for me to really be serious,” she said.
Reeves admitted he had no idea his costar she had a crush on him, adding, “She obviously didn’t know I had a crush on her either. It was nice to go to work, she’s such a wonderful person and a wonderful actress.”
So why didn’t they get together? “We were working,” a slightly flustered Reeves answered.
When DeGeneres asked Bullock, the actress replied, “Never dated him,” adding that’s probably why they’ve been friends for so long.
The two reunited for the 2006 drama “The Lake House,” and Reeves said he’d love to work with her again.
“John Wick 3” is now playing. And “Speed” is probably playing somewhere on cable TV right now.
The actress was briefly considered for the lead role in “The Matrix,” which eventually went to Keanu Reeves.
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told The Wrap that Warner Bros. insisted on a major star to headline the 1999 film, since director duo the Wachowskis were relatively unproven. He said Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, and Bullock (who’d had a big hit with “Speed” alongside Reeves in 1994) were considered.
“We went out to so many people, I don’t remember. We were getting desperate,” di Bonaventura said. “We went to Sandy Bullock and said ‘We’ll change Neo to a girl.’ [Producer] Joel Silver and I worked with Sandy on ‘Demolition Man’ and she was and continues to be a very good friend of mine. It was pretty simple. We sent her the script to see if she was interested in it. And if she was interested in it we would try to make the change.”
He added, “It just wasn’t something for her at the time. So really it didn’t go anywhere.”
Bullock told The Wrap (via a representative) that she didn’t recall the pitch for “The Matrix,” but said that the right person was cast in the end.
That wasn’t the only role in “The Matrix” she was in line for. In 2009, she told “Today” that she was offered the role of Trinity and regretted not taking it. Carrie-Anne Moss eventually filled it.
“It was sexy and great because of Carrie-Anne and Keanu,” Bullock said of the relationship between Trinity and Neo.
Of course, “The Matrix” went on to become a huge hit and spawn two sequels, as well as becoming a major influence in cinema for its use of “bullet time” and martial arts-inflected fight scenes.
Bullock also fared well, going on to star in hits like “Miss Congeniality,” “The Proposal,” and eventually “The Blind Side,” which netted her an Oscar.
