Driven - 2001

Franchise Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures, Trackform Film Productions

Directed by Renny Harlin

Cast:

• Joe Tanto - Sylvester Stallone
• Carl Henry – Burt Reynolds
• Jimmy Bly – Kip Pardue
• Lucretia Clan – Stacy Edwards
• Beau Brandenburg – Til Schweiger
• Cathy Heguy – Gina Gershon
• Sophia Simone – Estelle Warren
• Memo Moreno – Cristian de la Fuente
• Demille Bly – Robert Sean Leonard

Story: A hot, young race driver, Jimmy Bly, is losing his focus, and his teammate isn't listening to instructions. Carl Henry, the team owner, decides to bring back a former champion, Joe Tanto, he can control to help Jimmy back to his winning focus. This proves to be a daunting task. Jimmy has an overbearing older brother and manager, Demille, who constantly presses him to do publicity and other things. Jimmy has also befriended the estranged fiance, Sophia, of Beau Brandenburg, the current world champion. Add the insular attitude of Demille, and toss in an embedded reporter, Luc, a former girlfriend, Cathy, and the replaced driver, Memo, and you have a plethora of problems besetting the young Jimmy and everyone involved. Tempers flare, feelings are involved, and everyone is tossing in their two cents. In the end, it is life representing art, and there is little to do but live on.

Review: Not one of Stallone's best films, but certainly not his worst (anyone remember Oscar?). The problem with this film is focus. Too many chiefs and not enough indians, too little focus on the characters, questionable racing scenes that focus little on actual racing (which would seem to be a little important when making a film about racing). Take your pick. Stallone comes off too “Rocky” in many scenes, although his brief scenes with the lovely Stacy Edwards are well done. Burt Reynolds plays the role of the hardcore team owner without once cracking his signature smile, which is not only disappointing, but disheartening. Til Schweiger discussing emotions with Stallone? In real life, perhaps, but as two tough guys and champions having a tea and sympathy moment? It just doesn't work. Estelle Warren as a love interest works, with her lithe and lovely manners and obvious beauty, but her emotional level doesn't rise to the part. Perhaps the most unbelievable scene in the film is the emotional moment when Kip Pardue and Sly are racing about the city of Chicago in two experimental cars, violating every traffic law on the books, and endangering hundreds of lives, and yet receive no more than a $25,000.00 fine and no suspensions. In all, the characters are two dimensional at best, superficial at worst, and the film is a waste of just under two hours of your precious time. Rated PG, not collectible, and certainly not one to rent unless you enjoy being bored.

P.S. I Love You - 2007

Alcon Entertainment, Grosvenor Park Productions, Wendy Finerman Productions

Directed by Richard LaGravenese

Cast:

• Holly Kennedy – Hillary Swank
• Gerry Kennedy – Gerard Butler
• Denise – Lisa Kudrow
• Sharon – Gina Gershon
• John – James Marsters
• Daniel – Harry Connick Jr.
• Patricia - Kathy Bates
• Ciara – Nellie McKay
• William – Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Story: A young couple are madly in love with one another, but a sudden problem comes up. He dies from an inoperable tumor. With no children and no purpose and without her husband, she begins to withdraw, barely leaves her apartment, and is heading toward a serious breakdown when a letter arrives in the mail. A letter from her dead husband. He has arranged to have the letters delivered and in each letter he gives her a task to complete. Against her will, he is leading her to get on with her life, He enlisted the help of her mother, her friends and even his parents to make this all happen, and his plans lead his love through a path of new adventures and cherished memories.

Review: So here is my Valentine's Present to my readers. A chick flick. But not just any chick flick. An incredibly good one. I don't care if you are male or female, you have to love this idea, people fall so much in love the only thing that matters is the happiness of the other person. Gerard Butler and Hillary Swank are perfect together, which is no surprise to anyone who knows their work. The supporting cast members could all be swapped out for the leads in this case, since you have a cast of seasoned professionals with their own followings. Of particular note are Gina Gershon and James Marsters, two underused and powerfully good character actors with enough talent to carry off a film by themselves. Toss into that mix the incredble Kathy Bates and Lisa Kudrow, and for icing on the cake add Nellie McKay and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and you have the perfect cast for any romantic comedy you would want to watch. Next you take some incredible scenery and photography, mix in a wonderfully romantic plot, and a director who understands the limits of his necessity, and you have the perfect Valentine's film to watch with your lover tonight. A PG-13 rating means the little ones ought to be in bed before you start, but that was probably your intention anyway, right? After all, it is Valentine's Day.