GUEST COLUMN: Top Car Movies of All Time

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/FsL6ba8LYQo

Top Car Movies of All Time

by Lewis Robinson

For most people, cars are primarily a way to get around, but they can be so much more. We ascribe aspects of our personalities to them. A car that is featured in a movie can become a character in itself. Sometimes this is the intention of the filmmakers, but other times, it is a consequence of the vehicle's strong, unavoidable presence. Here are some of the top movies that are either about cars or feature some really cool models.

Ford v Ferrari

The first movie on the list is also one of the most recent, having been released in 2019. "Ford v Ferrari" sounds like a commercial but it is actually inspired by a true story of an auto racing underdog. The film features major stars, such as Christian Bale and Matt Damon, but the cars themselves take center stage during the racing sequences. Of course, if you wanted to purchase a mighty machine like those featured in the film you would have to take out a hefty auto loan. Though made in the CGI age, filmmakers swear that all the driving scenes are authentic.

Duel

Released in 1971, "Duel" was the directorial debut of legendary director Steven Spielberg. Though not quite as flashy as some of his later blockbusters, it is a taut psychological thriller featuring an extremely high-concept plot centered around cars. "Duel" isn't about road rage as we understand it today; rather, it is about the cold, calculated fury of the driver of a tractor-trailer against a mild-mannered salesman who committed some minor infraction against the truck driver. In an act of disproportionate retribution, the truck driver (or perhaps the truck itself) attempts to hunt the salesman in his Plymouth Valiant down and run him off the road to his doom. The salesman, played by Dennis Weaver, finds himself in a fight for his life, David to the truck driver's Goliath. Spielberg famously created suspense in "Jaws" by not showing the shark until the second half of the movie. He employs a similar technique in "Duel," never showing the truck driver's face.

Highwaymen

The tractor-trailer in "Duel" features multiple license plates on the bumper, implying that the driver is a serial killer who likes to collect trophies. "Highwaymen," released in 2004 also features a serial killer who uses a vehicle, in this case a 1972 Cadillac El Dorado, as a deadly weapon. This automotive murderer specifically targets women. Jim Caviezel plays the husband of one of the murdered women who jumps into his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda to seek revenge. Though criticized for a lack of realism, "Highwaymen" certainly delivers thrills as a game of cat and mouse culminates in a climactic chase scene.

Road House

Released in 1989 and starring the multifaceted, and much lamented, Patrick Swayze, "Road House" may be more famous for its fight scenes. Nevertheless, cars are very important to the plot as well. Impressive automotive feats in "Road House" include a Big Foot Ford F-250 driving through a car dealership and a Mercedes-Benz 560SEC making a jump. Protected headlights convince the hero to make a surprisingly practical purchase of a 1965 Buick Riviera. Ultimately, there is something for everyone, including car enthusiasts, in "Road House."

The Triplets of Belleville

"The Triplets of Belleville" is a French movie nominated for an Academy Award in 2003. It is a full-length animated feature, but not for kids. The bad guys in the movie drive a series of Citroen 2CVs which, because it is a cartoon, are comically stretched out. The heroes of the movie are on bicycles, which allows them to elude the bad guys and escape, while the cars get amusingly smashed up.

Gone in 60 Seconds

Many people do not realize that 2000's "Gone in 60 Seconds" was based on a previous film from the 1970s. It may be confused with, and overshadowed by, the juggernaut that is the "Fast and Furious" series that started around the same time, but "Gone in 60 Seconds" features arguably better actors and a more interesting plot as a car thief attempts a heist of epic proportions in trying to steal 50 vehicles.

All these films demonstrate how cars can enhance plot, characterization, and scenery.