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Need for Speed (film)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2604:3d08:1380:750:b12c:6706:cff9:54b9 (talk) at 08:07, 20 November 2022 (Added detail to characters and plot, and added 2015 Mustang story to production section.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the 2014 film. For the 2003 film also known as Need for Speed, see Michel Vaillant (film).

Need for Speed
Theatrical release poster
Directed byScott Waugh
Screenplay byGeorge Gatins
Story by
Based onNeed for Speed
by Electronic Arts
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyShane Hurlbut
Edited by
Music byNathan Furst
Production
companies
Distributed byWalt Disney Studios Motion Pictures[a] (Worldwide)
Mister Smith Entertainment[3] (EMEA)
Reliance Entertainment[4] (India)
Release dates
Running time
130 minutes[5]
CountriesUnited States
India[6]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$66 million[7]
Box office$203.3 million[7]

Need for Speed is a 2014 action thriller film directed and co-edited by Scott Waugh and written by George and John Gatins. It is the film adaptation of the racing video game franchise of the same name by Electronic Arts. The film stars Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Scott Mescudi in his feature film debut, Imogen Poots, Ramón Rodríguez, and Michael Keaton. It tells the story of street racer Tobey Marshall, who sets off to race cross-country as a way of avenging his friend's death at the hands of a rival racer, Dino Brewster.

Need for Speed was released by Touchstone Pictures on March 14, 2014, in 3D, IMAX 3D, and conventional theaters. After its release, the film received generally negative reviews, criticized for its direction, nonsensical story, and acting of the supporting cast, though some praise for Paul's acting. The movie grossed $203 million worldwide.

Plot

Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) is a former race car driver who owns his late father's garage, Marshall Performance Motors, in Mount Kisco, New York, where he and his friends tune performance cars. Struggling to make ends meet, he and his crew participate in street races after hours, using classic muscle cars restored at their shop. After one such race, Tobey's former rival Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) convinces them to complete the build of a rare Ford Shelby Mustang worked on by the late Carroll Shelby, in exchange for 25% of the car's sales revenue. Dino estimates the car will sell for at least $2 million. The completed Mustang is displayed for auction at a party in New York City. Tobey and Dino meet Julia (Imogen Poots), an English car broker whose client, Bill Ingram, wants to purchase the car if they can prove it will reach 230 mph, as Tobey claims. Despite Dino's objections, Tobey takes the Mustang to a racetrack and reaches 234 mph on a straightaway, convincing Ingram to purchase it for $2.7 million.

Jealous of Tobey's driving skills, Dino challenges Tobey and his young friend Pete (Harrison Gilbertson) to a race. Dino offers to relinquish his entire share of the Mustang sale if Tobey wins, otherwise Tobey will have to forfeit his share. He challenges them to race with his uncle's three Koenigsegg Agera R cars illegally imported from Europe. On the home stretch, realizing he is going to lose, Dino intentionally rams into Pete's car, sending it flying off of a bridge and killing Pete as it bursts into flames. Dino disappears from the scene, while Tobey is arrested by the police. The red Koenigsegg that Dino was driving cannot be found, and the police, faced with evidence of only two Koenigseggs at the scene, wrongly conclude that Tobey killed Pete, sentencing him to two years in prison.

Upon his release on parole, Tobey sets out to avenge Pete's death. He borrows Ingram's Mustang to enter the De Leon, a winner-takes-all exotic car race organized by the mysterious Monarch (Michael Keaton), who also hosts a live online talk show. Tobey hopes to get revenge for Pete by beating Dino in the race. As a condition, Ingram requires Julia to accompany Tobey, as he does not want to leave the car in the hands of an ex-con. The pair have 45 hours to reach San Francisco before the race starts.

Tobey does not want Julia with him, and concocts a scheme to scare Julia out of the car by driving "like a complete maniac" through traffic at high speed. This plan fails, and Julia reprimands him. In Detroit, they cause an interstate chase with the Michigan State Police and send the footage to Monarch. This also serves to get the attention of Finn (Rami Malek), who quits his office job by stripping off his clothes and walking out of the building naked "to make sure I'd never come back" and rejoins the crew. Benny (Scott Mescudi), an ex-military pilot and member of Tobey's crew, guides them through the city while flying a stolen TV news helicopter. On their way out of Detroit, they are nearly caught by police, but escape by jumping the Mustang over several lanes of traffic.

Live on Monarch's show, Dino offers his rare Lamborghini Sesto Elemento as a bounty to anyone who can stop Tobey from entering the race. Julia retaliates by convincing Monarch of Tobey's innocence, securing his invitation to the De Leon. The crew later refuel the Mustang without stopping by driving Joe's truck alongside it and connecting a hose with help from Finn and Julia. That night, Tobey and Julia stop for gas again and are spotted by a state trooper. He almost catches Julia, but she escapes through an upstairs window, and is unable to pursue them after Tobey sabotages his cruiser. Tobey sleeps in the passenger seat while Julia drives on through the night.

The next morning, in Utah, Tobey and Julia are ambushed by bounty hunters, forcing them off the road. After a chase through a dangerous canyon, Benny appears in a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter stolen from the National Guard, and carries the Mustang mid-air to Tobey's crew at the Bonneville Salt Flats, getting himself arrested in the process.

Tobey and Julia reach San Francisco's Mark Hopkins Hotel just in time to register for the race, but Tobey is shaken up after running into Dino. Dino taunts Tobey, and Tobey tells him "when you're hanging upside down tomorrow, I'm not coming back for you". After they leave the hotel, a truck driven by one of Dino's bounty hunters smashes into the Mustang on Nob Hill, destroying the car and injuring Julia. Joe, Finn, and Tobey take Julia to a hospital. Desperate to get another car for the race, Tobey meets up with Pete's sister and Dino's ex-fiancée, Anita (Dakota Johnson). Anita gives Tobey the location of the lost third Koenigsegg, which Tobey and crew member Joe (Ramon Rodriguez) extract. Tobey meets Julia at a San Francisco hospital, confessing his feelings for her with a kiss and letting her know that he has found a car for the race.

The next morning, Tobey surprises Dino by showing up in the lost Koenigsegg and giving Dino back Anita's engagement ring. Besides the Koenigsegg and Dino's Lamborghini (the same one he offered as a bounty), the other participating cars and drivers include:

In the ensuing race along the Pacific Coast Highway, the racers are pursued by California Highway Patrol officers in cars and helicopters. Over the course of the race, the police stop the Saleen, the Veyron, and the Spano, and Dino takes out the McLaren, leaving Tobey and Dino as the only two drivers remaining. Dino attempts to ram Tobey off the road, the same way he killed Pete, but Tobey dodges, causing Dino to crash and flip the Elemento over. In his rearview mirror, Tobey sees the Elemento catch on fire, and reluctantly goes back to save Dino. Tobey pulls Dino from the wreckage, but punches him in the face, telling him "this is for Pete". After crossing the finish line, which is located at Monarch's lighthouse, Tobey surrenders to the police. Monarch hears over scanners that the Koenigsegg has been traced to Dino, and proves that Dino murdered Pete, not Tobey. Dino is sent to prison for "a long, long time", and Tobey is cleared of Pete's murder (but still given a six-month sentence for illegal street racing).

178 days later, Tobey is released, and Julia meets him at the prison gates in a red 2015 Ford Mustang. The couple sets off towards a prison in Utah, where Benny is getting released early for good behavior.

Cast

  • Aaron Paul as Tobey Marshall: a blue-collar mechanic and skilled former race car driver from Mount Kisco, New York who is framed for a federal crime he didn't commit.
  • Dominic Cooper as Dino Brewster: a former Indy racer and Tobey's fierce rival. He kills Pete during a street race and later sends bounty hunters after Tobey.
  • Imogen Poots as Julia Maddon: a savvy exotic car broker. She and Tobey initially dislike one another but develop romantic feelings for each other eventually.
  • Scott Mescudi as Sergeant Benny "Maverick" Jackson: a member of Tobey's crew, and a former National Guard soldier. He is a pilot, able to fly small aeroplanes and helicopters, and is often called "Liar One" because fellow crew members don't believe he can fly an Apache helicopter (which he claims he took for a "joyride"). He owns a green Cessna 182 named Susan. He is arrested after using a stolen US Army Sikorsky S-61 helicopter to rescue Tobey and Julia from bounty hunters.
  • Ramon Rodriguez as Joe "Beasty" Peck: a member of Tobey's crew. He is the crew's professional mechanic. He drives a modified 2011 Ford F-450 called "The Beast".
  • Rami Malek as Finn: a member of Tobey's crew. He has a variety of jobs on the crew, and often serves as the film's comic relief character.
  • Michael Keaton as "Monarch": a reclusive internet celebrity and eccentric host of an "underground" supercar race, the De Leon. He broadcasts his show from the top of a lighthouse.
  • Dakota Johnson as Anita Coleman: Pete's older sister, Tobey's former girlfriend and Dino's fiancée and office assistant. She gives Tobey access to the Dino's red Koenigsegg before the De Leon.
  • Harrison Gilbertson as Pete Coleman: Anita's younger brother and Tobey's protégé and friend, who is killed by Dino during a street race.

Production

In July 2012, DreamWorks Studios was committed to a film based on the Need for Speed series of video games by Electronic Arts, initially with a release date of February 7, 2014, and later March 14, 2014.[8] Brothers George and John Gatins had written a script that was being shipped to studios by April of that year.[9] Taylor Kitsch was offered the lead role in July 2012,[10] though the role eventually went to Aaron Paul that October.[11] Paul had originally auditioned for the role of Dino Brewster, although director Scott Waugh and DreamWorks head Steven Spielberg decided against that and cast him as the lead.[12] The same month, Imogen Poots was cast as the female lead.[13] In January 2013, Dominic Cooper, Scott Mescudi, Ramón Rodríguez, Rami Malek and Harrison Gilbertson were cast in the film.[14] Michael Keaton was cast in February 2013.[15]

Principal photography began in Macon, Georgia, in mid-April 2013.[16] Other filming locations include Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, on May 12, 2013,[17] the 13th Street Bridge in Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama, and Campus Martius in Detroit, Michigan, beginning on June 1, 2013.[18][19] Other production locations include sections of California's Highway 1 north of Point Arena, California, the Point Arena Lighthouse, and Highway 253 between Boonville, California and Ukiah, California; and also Highway 128, between the town of Navarro and the Navarro Bridge linking Highway 128 North to Highway 1 South to Point Arena, California.[citation needed]

For the film's chase sequences, the filmmakers decided against the use of computer-generated imagery, instead employing practical effects, which required the cast to receive extensive driving lessons.[12][20] All of the exotic cars seen in the film (with the exception of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Roadster) were kit car replicas.

The final scene was filmed before the official reveal of the all-new 2015 Mustang. A pre-production prototype car was shipped across the country under heavy security, and the scene was shot on a closed set with as few people as possible. After filming, the car was shipped back to Ford, and most likely destroyed.[21] An apparently identical prototype car also appeared on the TV series Jay Leno's Garage, but whether this was the same prototype or another similar one cannot be confirmed.[22]

Marketing and release

On September 25, 2013, a trailer for the film was released on iTunes.[23] Disney and DreamWorks announced the film's post-production conversion to 3D on February 5, 2014.[24] Need for Speed held its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on March 7, 2014.[25] The film was released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the Touchstone Pictures banner on March 14, 2014, in selected 3D, IMAX, and conventional 2D theaters.[26] It was also released worldwide by Disney, except for territories in Europe, Africa and Middle East, where the rights are sold by Mister Smith Entertainment to other industries. Reliance Entertainment had released the film in India, while Entertainment One Films released it in the United Kingdom.

Need for Speed was released by Touchstone Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Disc, DVD and 3D Blu-ray on August 5, 2014.[27]

Reception

Box office

Need for Speed grossed $43.6 million in North America and $159.7 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $203.3 million.[7]

In North America, it topped the box office with $6.7 million on its opening Friday, March 14, 2014.[28] However, the film finished in third place over the three-day weekend with $17.8 million.[29][30] Outside North America, the film debuted in first place with $45.6 million on the same weekend as its North America release.[31] It remained in first place for a second weekend.[32] Overall, the film's largest territory is China, where both the film's opening weekend ($21.1 million)[33] and its total earnings ($66.2 million)[34] are higher than in North America. Following these two territories in total earnings is Russia and the CIS with $13.8 million.[35]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 23% based on 184 reviews and an average rating of 4.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "With stock characters and a preposterous plot, this noisily diverting video game adaptation fulfills a Need for Speed and little else."[36] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 39 out of 100 based on 38 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[37] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[38]

Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, remarking that "Paul has talent, though the actor's idea of simmering intensity in the context of Need for Speed comes off more like a serial killer in the making. Cooper, by contrast, seems to be having some fun playing a dashing, dastardly, sexy beast." Phillips added, "At its occasional best, the thrills in the film recall the delirious fun of the Fast & Furious franchise."[39] Betsy Sharkey of Los Angeles Times felt similarly, writing "In trying for the vicarious varoom of the street-racing video game that inspired it, and no doubt dreaming of Fast success, Speed clocks in at a long two-plus hours and falls painfully short."[40] Jason Torchinsky of the automotive blog Jalopnik decried the movie for insulting gearheads with its far-reaching suspension of disbelief on many plot points and tropes and stated the film was nothing more than a glorified car commercial for the 2015 Ford Mustang.[41]

Danny Korecki of automotive outlet The Drive discussed the thought that the Need for Speed film may have been better had it been a TV series.[42]

A.O. Scott of The New York Times gave a more positive review, praising the film's car chase sequences, while declaring the overall film "an energetic, unpretentious B movie".[43]

Soundtrack

Need for Speed
Film score by
Nathan Furst
ReleasedMarch 14, 2014
GenreFilm score
Length1:10:34
LabelVarèse Sarabande
Nathan Furst chronology
Need for Speed
(2014) 		Bionicle: Mask of Light
(2017)

The film's soundtrack, composed by Nathan Furst, was released by Varèse Sarabande on March 14, 2014. Interscope Records released a separate EP on April 8, 2014, which featured four songs; "Fortunate Son" and "Back in the Saddle" by Aloe Blacc, "All Along the Watchtower" by Jamie N Commons, and "Hero" by Kid Cudi featuring Skylar Grey. Linkin Park's song "Roads Untraveled" from their 2012 album Living Things was also featured in the film. Score performed by a 77-piece The Angel City Studio Orchestra: 60-piece string orchestra conducted by Tim Davis and 17 musicians on brass section consists 8 French horns, three trumpets, five trombones and one tuba conducted by Suise Benchasil Seiter.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Marshall Motors"2:30
2."Lighthouse"1:26
3."Mt. Kisco"4:48
4."Mustang Offer"1:45
5."Identical Ageras"2:03
6."Koenigsegg Race"2:06
7."Pete's Death"4:01
8."Right Seater"2:10
9."You Always Go Back"3:43
10."Motor City Mayhem"2:10
11."Grasshopper"1:43
12."Hot Fuel"5:15
13."Crazy Little Tart"5:18
14."Switching Seats"1:55
15."Utah Escape"3:56
16."California Crossing"3:41
17."Broken"6:27
18."De Leon Begins"7:03
19."Lethal Force"4:26
20."In the Lead"4:33
Total length:01:10:34

Cancelled Sequel

China Movie Channel, Jiaflix Enterprises were teaming up with EA Games to develop a sequel with the film to be set and shot in China.[44] However, as of 2022, no progress has come of the sequel, indicating its likely cancellation. No other plans for a sequel have been announced.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the Touchstone Pictures banner.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Need for Speed (2014)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Eller, Claudia (February 10, 2009). "DreamWorks gets Disney cash in distribution deal". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ "DreamWorks Studios Teams With Mister Smith Entertainment For International Distribution". Deadline.com. August 29, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "DREAMWORKS STUDIOS AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP FOR FILM ADAPTATION OF ELECTRONIC ARTS' NEED FOR SPEED VIDEO GAME". June 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Need for Speed (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "Need for Speed (2014)". British Film Institute. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Need for Speed (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Disney Sets 'Need For Speed' Release For Feb. 7, 2014". Deadline Hollywood. July 10, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  9. ^ Graser, Marc; Jeff Snider (April 12, 2012). "EA feeling the 'Need for Speed' movie". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  10. ^ MacKenzie, Carina Adly (July 19, 2012). "Taylor Kitsch offered 'Need For Speed' lead role: Can he launch the racing film franchise?". Zap2it.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "'Breaking Bad' Star Aaron Paul Lands DreamWorks' 'Need for Speed'". The Hollywood Reporter. October 15, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Ito, Robert (March 5, 2014). "Hitting High Velocity Without the Meth". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  13. ^ Siegel, Tatiana; Kit, Borys (October 31, 2012). "Imogen Poots to Star in DreamWorks' 'Need for Speed'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 14, 2013). "DreamWorks Revs 'Need For Speed'; Rap Producer Scott 'Kid Cudi' Mescudi Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  15. ^ Kit, Borys (February 5, 2013). "Michael Keaton Joins DreamWorks' 'Need for Speed' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  16. ^ McAllister, Cameron (March 20, 2013). "Scott Waugh's "Need for Speed" to film in Macon". Reel Georgia. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  17. ^ "Filming Locations in NYC, L.A., Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit & more including How To Catch A Monster, Divergent, The Walking Dead, Paranoia, & Girls". OnLocationVacations.com. May 12, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  18. ^ Sorich, Sonya (May 29, 2013). "'Need for Speed' filming: Temporary closure of 13th Street Bridge likely to impact thousands". Ledger-Enquirer. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  19. ^ "Filming Locations in NYC, L.A., Atlanta, Detroit & more including The Newsroom, Spider-Man 2, Castle, & Anchorman 2". OnLocationVacations.com. April 24, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  20. ^ Verrier, Richard (March 15, 2014). "'Need for Speed' director Scott Waugh's need for reality". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  21. ^ "How Ford Snuck the 2015 Mustang into the Need for Speed Movie". Car and Driver. March 12, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  22. ^ 50 Years of Mustang with Lee Iacocca - Jay Leno's Garage, retrieved November 20, 2022
  23. ^ Ford, Rebecca (September 25, 2013). "First 'Need for Speed' Trailer: Aaron Paul Is Out for Revenge". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  24. ^ "'Need For Speed' Getting 3D Release". Deadline Hollywood. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  25. ^ Bacardi, Francesca (March 7, 2014). "Aaron Paul's Car Overheats at 'Need for Speed' Premiere (VIDEO)". Variety. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  26. ^ "'Need For Speed' Release Date Moved To March 14, 2014". Deadline Hollywood. March 29, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  27. ^ "Need for Speed (Blu-ray + Digital HD)". Amazon. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  28. ^ "Need for Speed (2014) – Daily Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  29. ^ Khatchatourian, Maane (March 16, 2014). "Box Office: 'Mr. Peabody and Sherman' Bites Into Top Spot, 'Need for Speed' in Third". Variety. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  30. ^ Mendelson, Scott (March 16, 2014). "Weekend Box Office: 'Veronica Mars' Earns $2M, 'Mr. Peabody And Sherman' Tops". Forbes. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  31. ^ Subers, Ray (March 16, 2014). "Weekend Report: 'Mr. Peabody' Races Past 'Need for Speed'". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  32. ^ Subers, Ray (March 23, 2014). "Weekend Report: 'Divergent' Dominates, 'Muppets' Misses, 'God' Lives". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  33. ^ "China Box Office, March 10–16, 2014". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  34. ^ Coonan, Clifford (April 1, 2014). "China Box Office: 'Need for Speed' Races to $60 Million". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  35. ^ "Need for Speed (2014) – International Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  36. ^ "Need for Speed (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 27, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  37. ^ "Need For Speed Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  38. ^ "Cinemascore". cinemascore.com.
  39. ^ Phillips, Michael (March 13, 2014). "REVIEW: 'Need for Speed'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  40. ^ Sharkey, Betsy (March 13, 2014). "Review: Next to 'Fast & Furious,' 'Need for Speed' stalls out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  41. ^ Torchinsky, Jason (March 12, 2014). "The Need For Speed Movie Proves Hollywood Thinks Gearheads Are Idiots". Jalopnik. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  42. ^ Korecki, Danny (September 24, 2017). "Need For Speed Would Be Better As a TV Series Than a Movie". The Drive. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  43. ^ Scott, A.O. (March 13, 2014). "Fast Cars, and Racing for Revenge". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  44. ^ Rainey, James (April 8, 2015). "'Need for Speed' Sequel in the Works With EA, Chinese Partners". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
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