Masterly precision of action storytelling

Rating: 7/10 (27 March 2019)

An American action thriller about an LAPD cop who tries to rescue civilians on a city bus rigged with a bomb programmed to explode if the bus slows down below 50 mph. There are breathtaking aerial shots, mind-boggling stunts, and camera positioning which puts the audience right at the centre of the action. The film won two Academy Awards for Sound production. Sandra Bullock gives very good support with a twinkle in her eye and Dennis Hopper is very well cast as the diabolical villain. Keanu Reeves gives a corny but commanding performance.
While on the one hand it's a film which centres on action, foregoing character development or personality, it's a terrific adventure and embodies the perils and thrills of speed. One of the strongest action films of the 1990s.