Speed (1994)

“Speed” is easily my favourite Keanu Reeves film after “The Matrix”; it’s the definition of the term “edge-of-your-seat” with an ingenious core concept, expert direction and solid performances. “Speed” may lack depth and thematic excellence, but it’s still one of the most intense, electrifying and nerve-wracking action movies ever made.

The premise of “Speed” is not a complex one: there’s a bomb on a bus and once the bus goes over 50mph the bomb is activated, but if the bus’s speed falls below 50mph, it’ll explode. Many modern action movies have tangled narratives filled with betrayals and deception, so re-watching “Speed” is extremely refreshing. The filmmakers did a phenomenal job of making a straightforward story more and more complicated as it goes along, just when the audience thinks that the heroes are safe, another obstacle is thrown into their path, causing the passengers on the bus to inch closer to death.

The script for “Speed” is superb, it’s stuffed fit to burst with witty and pithy lines that explode off the screen (thanks to an uncredited Joss Whedon.) The level of wit that can be found in “Speed” doesn’t necessarily make the film more nuanced, but it adds vibrancy to the characters which makes them more interesting and likeable. It’s also worth mentioning that “Speed” is very funny, which all comes down to the engaging dynamics between the various characters.

Director Jan De Bont did a marvellous job with “Speed”, De Bont was the cinematographer for “Die Hard” so he clearly knew how to craft a visually striking blockbuster. But “Speed” not only looks stunning it’s also filled with energy and tension; the film never stops and the action is constantly escalating until it reaches the explosive conclusion, but “Speed” is never overwhelming or exhausting.

It’s difficult to put my thoughts on the action in “Speed” into words because watching this movie is such a powerful and visceral experience, but I’ll give it a go.

The action sequences in “Speed” are mind-blowing, the movie effortlessly balances the high-speed vehicular stunts of the second act with the brutal yet surprisingly low-key fight scenes in the first and third acts, and adds white-knuckle moments of terrifying danger and crowd-pleasing victories to create an even more compelling film. The Elevator sequence effectively establishes the core of the narrative whilst the astonishing second act on the Bus is really what makes “Speed” the magnificent film that it is.

Every member of the cast in “Speed” gives a fantastic performance. I’m aware that many people criticise Keanu Reeves for his “bland” and “wooden” acting (which has happened less recently due to him becoming the internet’s favourite celebrity), however, I think his style of acting is very well suited for “Speed.” He is superb at delivering one-liners, he’s believable in the action set-pieces and he has terrific chemistry with everyone. We are truly lucky to be living in the Keanussance.

Dennis Hopper is clearly having the time of his life in the role of deranged bomber Howard Payne. Hopper chews up the scenery and spits it back out, acting as both a snappy and charismatic character one moment, before transforming to become a chilling Joker-esque madman the next. Payne is one of the most underrated action movie antagonists ever; even when he commits awful atrocities, the audience can still understand why he does what he does, as the film does a spectacular job of slowly pulling back the layers of Payne’s personality and revealing his backstory.

Sandra Bullock is also remarkable as Annie, an ordinary woman who is drawn into the chaos of the film alongside her fellow travellers on the bus. Bullock is great in both the humorous and more stressful beats in the story and has amazing onscreen chemistry with Keanu Reeves, which helps make their character’s basic relationship feel more natural.

I’d also like to mention how great Mark Mancina’s score is, it has a terrific rhythm and beat to it that enhances the thrills and chills of the plot.

Unfortunately, there is one aspect in “Speed” that holds it back from being a truly perfect movie, which is that the third act climax on the subway train isn’t as polished and well-constructed as the Lift or Bus sequences. Jack and Annie make unexpectedly stupid decisions and the action itself falls short after watching the Bus section of the film, which is a flawless piece of action filmmaking. This set-piece isn’t bad and I understand that the filmmakers wanted to include an epic face-off between Jack Traven and Howard Payne, but it hurts the film’s nail-biting pacing and overall it just feels a bit unnecessary.

But aside from that, there is no denying that “Speed” is absolutely astounding. It’s an exceptional and breath-taking roller-coaster ride that grabs the viewer by the scruff of the neck and doesn’t let go until the final frame. It may not have revolutionised the genre, but “Speed” is a simple yet clever action thriller that does (nearly) everything right and therefore deserves your undivided attention.