by John Bizub, Contributing Writer
Welcome to the first issue in my latest series titled, Another Person’s Treasure. In this series, I will be discussing films that have not been well received by critics and have not been well liked by the general public. However, I think there are films that deserve to be given a second chance. Let us begin, shall we?
Let me take you back in time to 2008, the year that the term “blockbuster” was at its highest and craziest form of genre storytelling. Studios were cranking out stories with iconic characters that people would grow to love for years on end. Movies such as Iron Man, The Dark Knight, Quantum of Solace, and Cloverfield all smashed box office records and subverted people’s expectations about what is considered art. Many of these movies would continue to become bigger franchises and would allow possibilities for future films coming out of their property. However, there is one masterpiece I think trumps them all in terms of quality. It is a film by two visionary female filmmakers that bombed at the box office and which the studio turned a blind eye to when it comes to the idea of future installments. I’m talking about the Wachowski sisters’ masterpiece, Speed Racer.
You might be saying, “Now John, why do you consider this film to be a masterpiece? It’s just a kid’s movie. What gives?” Well the term “kid’s movie” is often thrown around at times for this film, but for good reason. The film is presented in a hyperactive, very colorful nature because according to the Wachowskis themselves, that is how children understand stories. The reason this film bombed at the box office was solely its marketing department. It is a film that feels like it is made for little children, but the Wachowskis wanted to market it to pre-teens so they could have something to latch onto. And of course, on a $120 million budget it only made $93.9 million back. It received poor reviews, scoring a 37 on Metacritic and 41% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Many of the film’s criticisms are its over-the-top presentation. Many call it “Reverse Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and of course it will look like this, because keep in mind, this is an adaptation of a ’60s anime. It has the style and nature of a cartoon, from its dialogue to its filmmaking techniques. It blends realism and formalism, two of the most monumental forms of visual storytelling, to blend what’s real and what’s fiction.
Speed Racer tells the story of the Racer family and their son, Speed, a man who craves the sheer thought of racing. It is a drug, his passion, or by his words, a religion. We find out that he wants to be the very best, just like his brother before him, who died in a tragic accident. After Speed wins a race, he is being looked at by multi-million dollar companies. The film gives the middle finger to corporate greed and envies the independent, while also being a story about fighting for what is in your best interest. While there are road bumps along the way, from ninjas to the mafia, to the CEO ruining Speed’s chances of winning, he still is determined to do whatever it takes because that is what his brother would do. Sure, Speed is faced with options that will tend to have him break away from his comfort zone, but he will do that in honor of his brother. This all culminates in the final race and, in my eyes, one of the greatest pieces of art displayed in the film. It shows the evolution of sound, images, and color — everything cinema has achieved in one 12 minute race, and what you get is a visual treat.
Speed Racer is more than a film to me. It is a film that inspires. It teaches me about the industry of the time and how many studios are afraid of taking that big leap due to box office failure. Films like the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, TRON: Legacy, and the Resident Evil franchise are some of my favorites due to their willingness to be bold and tell a unique story with underlying themes. Speed Racer will forever remain my all-time favorite film (tied with Eternal Sunshine, in fact). There is something about it that fuels my love of film just like Speed has a love of racing and will do whatever it takes in order for him to be satisfied.