Speed (1994)
You didn’t think we’d stop at just one Keanu Reeves recommendation, right? The actor has more than a few fast-paced films under his belt, including this deliciously absurd thriller. Reeves stars as a cop chasing after a bus that will explode if it slows down because this is about the magic of movies. As one might expect from such a premise, everything here is heightened and electrifying. Things are turned up to ten and a little hammy, but Speed has a healthy sense of humor and a deservedly iconic status in the action movie hall of fame.
Available on HBO Max.
Face/Off (1997)
Are the Fast and Furious films a little bit too restrained for you? Well, good news, John Woo is here to save the day. In one of the most delightfully unhinged masterpieces of modern cinema, Nicolas Cage and John Travolta play enemies on either side of the law who swap faces in an attempt to take the other down.
Aside from the obvious over-the-top action parallels, one thing Face/Off has in common with the Fast and Furious films is the pitch-perfect villainy. Fast and Furious foes are often as exciting as heroes, and overall there’s a lot of malleable morality in the series. In Face/Off, the line between good and bad is initially stark, but what with the identity-swapping shenanigans, it can become harder to tell the difference. Plus, what we wouldn’t give to watch the 1997 film remade with Vin Diesel and The Rock.
Available on Paramount+.
Breakdown (1997)
There’s a hefty handful of Kurt Russell-led action films worth watching any time, but Breakdown is a rarity as a truly underrated gem. Before he became Stuntman Mike or joined the Fast and Furious franchise as Mr. Nobody, Russell got behind the wheel in the sprawling Southwestern desert searching for his missing wife. After their car broke down, she hitched a ride back into town only to vanish without a trace. If that wasn’t tense enough, the locals insist they never saw her. A lot of gaslighting and gas-igniting later, Russell’s Jeff realizes there’s more to this town than initially met the eye.
Available on Paramount+.
Crank (2006) and Crank: High Voltage (2009)
Remember when we recommended Speed? Well, the Crank movies are kinda like Speed, except Jason Statham is the bus. Written and directed by filmmaking duo Neveldine & Taylor, both Crank movies follow Statham’s Chev Chelios, a hitman who must keep his body packed to the gills with adrenaline and electricity to stay alive. If he slows down, he will die. Things, obviously, get out of hand. Aside from being outlandish, these films are remarkably scrappy. Images are highly saturated, and the camera moves at a whip-fast pace. Keeping up with these movies can be a challenge, but they’re well worth it.
Available on Peacock.
Rush (2013)
While Rush might not share Fast and Furious‘ gritty approach to racing, don’t mistake its sheen of prestige for anything lacking excitement. The Formula One drama chronicles the rivalry between showboater James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and the more practical Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). Chief among the film’s electric qualities are the performances from Hemsworth and Bruhl. Both are outstanding, and they play off each other with a fiery balance of bitterness and camaraderie. Bruhl drummed up some well-deserved awards nominations in the more physically and emotionally demanding role. But Hemsworth’s command of the screen and his obliquely astute performance put this among some of his best career outputs. If the appeal of these two wasn’t enough, Rush also packs some outstanding racing sequences and just enough emotional resonance to be highly memorable.
Available on Netflix.
Related Topics: Beat The Algorithm, Fast and Furious, The Fast and the Furious
