SSC 27: Speed (de Bont, 1994)

CORRECTION: Contrary to what we discuss in this episode, the thirtieth episode (planned as a potluck for Arrival) will release in August, not July. We will save the alien theme and listener vote for that month. July's theme will be announced on Instagram soon.

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Tim & Tay close out (early career) Keanu month with the film that cemented him as an action star willing to do his own stunts: Speed.

Synopsis
A terrorist plants a bomb on bus, armed to explode the second it drops below 50/mph. Can hotshot LAPD officer Jack Traven keep the bus at speed, defuse the bomb, and save the innocent passengers along for the ride?

Starring Keanu Reeves Sandra Bullock and Dennis Hopper, Speed was directed by Jan de Bont, and premiered June 10, 1994.

Speed is available to stream on Disney+.

Scene  [34:16-40:15]
After receiving word about a bomb on a public transport bus, Jack steals a car in order to track the bus down.

• 7:00 - Die Hard (McTiernan, 1988)
• 8 :00- Yost's script
• 20:00 - Terminator 2 (Cameron, 1991)
• 24:00 - Development of Annie's character
• 25:30 - Miss Congeniality (Petrie, 2000)
• 28:00 - PG-13 rules concerning the "f word"
• 33:00 - Camera destroyed during bus jump (via DVD commentary)
• 40:00 - Speed 2 (de Bont, 1997)
• 54:30 - Shang Chi bus fight
• 58:00 - Snyder and the "dream" lens
• 1:02:00 - Patrick Fischler
• 1:05:00 - Kurosawa's runaway train concept
• 1:06:00 - Tarantino's top movies

Recommendations

• Tim: Unstoppable (Scott, 2010) — stream on Disney+
• Tay: The Running Man (Glaser, 1987) — stream on Tubi

All links are verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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• Tim on Letterboxd