Saturday 17 December 2011

The car chase movie scenes you must see before you die

I love movies, but I hate cars. I hate them because they're rolling, polluting coffins to me. I love them only when they are used in action films. Like in these ones. Classic old movies that use cars with respect, in beautifully filmed chases, with great actors and no lazy CG shit. Enjoy!


BULLITT - dir. Peter Yates (1967)
It's difficult to resume this movie but it's very easy to watch Steve McQueen in this exciting sequence that started it all.


THE FRENCH CONNECTION - dir. William Friedkin (1971)
Popeye Doyle (Hackman) chases a madman (Marcel Bozzuffi) and the subway he took over. Friedkin shot this gasping scene with no authorization from the authorities. Five Oscars!


GONE IN 60 SECONDS - dir. H.B. Haliki (1974)
This fun chase is very long, split in 4 parts so follow up! And forget the remake with Nicolas Cage.


THE DRIVER - dir. Walter Hill (1978)
Ryan O'Neal plays an expert driver regularly hired by robbers so he gets them away from the police. A great concept from writer/director Walter Hill.


MAD MAX - dir. George Miller (1979)
Ouch! One of the most violent films ever. Not for everybody! Only problems: this is not the original Australian version, and the quality is quite poor. But what the hell?


TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. - dir. William Friedkin (1985)
For me, one of the best police films in history. And one of my favorite films. With starting William Petersen, way before he became the CSI star, as a cop chased by other cops after a robbery he planned, in this incredible scene. Friedkin is THE car chase expert! We haven't finished with him yet!


THE HITCHER - dir. Robert Harmon (1986)
Two young innocent people are chased by the police - and are rescued by the killer! A terrific scene from another of my favorite movies. With an extraordinary actor, Rutger Hauer, as the playing maniac.


THE HIDDEN - dir. Jack Sholder (1987)
The bad guy here is in fact a hidden, aggressive alien, turning the most honest citizens into the worst criminals! An excellent, very underrated police horror film with this great opening scene.


AMSTERDAMNED - dir. Dick Maas (1987)
The Dutch too, can film great chase scenes! Here it's not a car one but a boat one, filmed through Amsterdam. My favorite chase scene, enjoy! You won't believe it!


COLORS - dir. Dennis Hopper (1988)
Sean Penn and Robert Duvall chase gangmen through the Watts area, in this awesome, violent flick from late actor/director Dennis Hopper. With a great soundtrack from Herbie Hancock.


POINT BREAK - dir. Kathryn Bigelow (1992)
Oscar winning director Bigelow and executive producer James Cameron - they were married at the time - deliver a full adrenaline packed flick that reaches its top during that car chase turning into a running pursuit.


JADE - dir. William Friedkin (1995)
Third flick in this list from Friedkin, with David Caruso, way before he became the CSI Miami star.


RONIN - dir. John Frankenheimer (1998)
An American film showing this chase scene shot in Southern France, through very narrow streets.

3 comments:

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  2. I like the French Connection's car chase scene. I remember seeing it last week on a blog too! The video doesn't load here though… It says "removed by the user". You should update this. I think there are a lot of videos of that scene on YouTube.

    Erwin Calverley

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  3. Hi Erwin, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately there aren't other videos showing the French Connection car chase. My research has been totally fruitless. I'm trying to upload it myself but... not really easy.
    Personally my favorite car chase scene is from To Live and Die in L.A., another Friedkin classic flick. The one in Bullitt is great too.

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