Harlin crashes and burns

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2003)

I believe it was Cyril Connolly who wrote: "Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first call promising." That could serve as a biographical note for that atypically famous Finn, Renny Harlin. Who can forget our excitement at his early mainstream work- "Die Hard 2", "Cliffhanger"- the former used its airport setting as an effective backdrop for the film's themes of desperation and commuter anomie; the latter shot the Dolomites as if they were the craggy faces of old-style film stars. Each boulder was Gary Cooper. The trees ceased to be wooden. Sylvester Stallone could not compete.
So, it is with sadness that I confirm that 'Driven' is a monstrous, stinkingly bad film in which the values of the race-car world (so movingly explored in the illustrious 'Days of Thunder') are ignored completely in favour of some limp car chases. It is telling that the romantic subplot from Tony Scott's film stays fresh over the years, its dialogue indelible on the mind, while in comparison we cringe at the related efforts in 'driven'. All Estella Warren manages to do throughout the film's entire running time is pout, like a paralysed goldfish.
Avoid.