Gone in 60 Seconds is a 1974 movie directed by H.B. Halicki.
WHAT HAPPENS?
A conman and his crew of car thieves have to steal 48 cars in one weekend.
ONE LINE REVIEW
Gone in 60 Seconds is a beautiful, low-budget mess that features spectacular stunts.
THE ACTORS
H.B. Halicki plays Pace, an insurance adjuster who doubles as a car thief. It would be easy to suggest the novice Halicki adds a natural, gritty touch to the movie – but it’s obvious he’s either not acting or completely struggling when he has to. There’s a an odd passive-aggressive streak to his character – he’s either brilliantly smooth and understated or raging. Either way, Halicki’s performance is understandably overshadowed by the amazing collection of cars and dynamic chase scenes that dominate the movie.
THE DIRECTOR
This is clearly Halicki’s show and he presents some of the best car chases ever filmed. The movie’s final 40 minutes features a manic, crunching pursuit that explodes on the freeway and dives into parks and car dealerships. Along the way, Halicki’s Ford Mustang is shredded into mangled scrap. As the chase progresses, we see the human and mechanical carnage manifest – yet the tone never truly darkens.
THE BEST – The Chase
Halicki’s chase masterpiece feels like its own mini-movie. The chase features a few false endings and miraculous recoveries. Supporting actors and cars fold in and out of subsequent scenes, while Halicki’s Mustang rambles on.
THE BEST Part 2 – The Dispatcher
Bunny Walsh is low-key hilarious as the Long Beach police dispatcher who has to constantly contradict herself. “Pursuit is terminated.” “Pursuit is NOT terminated.”
THE BEST Part 3 – The Parking Garage
Halicki strolls through a seemingly endless lineup of stolen cars – a group that includes some of the coolest vehicles ever captured on film. It’s a virtual Hall of Fame and tribute to Halicki’s vision.
THE WORST – Background Music
Exclusive of the car chases, the movie suffers from some low-tech flaws. The office scenes are poorly lit and feature muffled audio. However, the most distracting aspects include an entire scene that is drowned out by background music. But again, dialogue doesn’t really matter in a movie defined by epic car chases.
FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4.5/5
In the eyes of a more refined movie reviewer, Gone in 60 Seconds is a mess – the acting and technical struggles are amateurish. However, the movie features some of the most dynamic car chases that can never be replicated. It’s an extraordinarily impressive movie experience.
