“Death Race,” starring Jason Statham and based on Roger Corman’s 1975 cult classic “Death Race 2000”, is slick, simple and satisfying (although very violent). In 2012, shady corporations have taken over the prison system and reap huge profits by conducting pay-per-view gladiator-type contests among the prisoners. On Terminal Island, where the worst of the worst prisoners participate in the popular Death Race, Warden Hennessey (Joan Allen) has a problem. Her driver, a mask-wearing psychopath named Frankenstein, has been killed. In an effort to keep the ratings high, Hennessey wants to replace Frankenstein with Jensen Ames (Statham), a professional racecar driver. Framed for the murder of his wife, Ames is sent to Terminal Island where he is offered Frankenstein’s place. The prize? Win the race and go free. However, Ames discovers that Hennessey is responsible for his wife’s death and revenge becomes more important than freedom. Of course, Ames has a few allies to help him in his quest.
“Death Race” is total action, vehicular mayhem at its best, so plot and character development are not high priorities for director Paul W. S. Anderson. The plot consists mainly of the three races that comprise the Death Race and gives Anderson an opportunity to ‘do away’ with the other drivers in creatively violent ways before focusing on the prime conflict between Ames and Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson). This movie is pure Jason Statham and Joan Allen’s ice queen warden adds a touch of class. "Death Race" offers a tough guy you can root for and a villain whose demise you can cheer. 8/21/08
1 comment:
Jason Statham has become very comforable in the "tough guy" roles and heis easy to like. I really did not think that "Death Race" was deserving of his rise to stardom, however. He needs more memorable roles to to get him to the level I think he belongs. This moveie was not memorable, infact, it was very forgetable!
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