THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220063
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TAMAR ANITAI TEENOLOGY MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
YOU HAVE THIS plan to blow up a fancy building using a really intricate, advanced bomb which you've handcrafted to perfection. The big day finally comes. All is perfect. You have hooked up the red wire to positive, black to negative. You've killed off pesky obstructors, synchronized your watch and various timers, pressed the start button - everything is set!
But then, who knew? Keanu Reeves comes along to save the day, destroying your whole plan. Dennis Hopper is the insane psycho bomber who is defeated by the stealth and sheer wonderfulness of Jack Traven (Reeves) of the Los Angeles bomb squad.
All this transpires in ``Speed,'' a way-cool, twisting, exploding rush of a movie.
Traven, being the suave, pumped cat that he is, ruins some pretty serious workage by the bombman, Payne. The bomber, with his overwhelming knowledge of ``all things detonatable,'' plans a major blowout to destroy Traven and cash in on a few million, compliments of the city.
Planting a megabomb on a city bus, he rigs its timer to trigger at speeds above 50 miles per hour then blow at speeds below 50. They just don't teach you to handle these situations in driver's ed!
The bus tears down a major L.A. highway, darting in and out of traffic, between lanes, surrounded on all sides by police. Every major news station spews the play-by-play. (Sounds like something we all witnessed recently, no?) Anyway, speed is of the essence.
Traven, being a good Samaritan and an excellent cop, heads the team in the Herculean task of guiding the bus ride from hell to safety. He's quick on his feet and accomplishes all kinds of strong, manly things. He risks his neck, duking it out with the insane psycho bombman in a fantastic battle, complete with many booms, bangs, pows and other onomatopoeia.
The story line is full of cool tricks and clever surprises but Keanu left my heart racing. OK, so the words ``acting'' and ``talent'' aren't normally used together in reference to him. His performance did not warrant an Oscar. But, what he lacks in theatrical aptitude, he makes up for in overall smooth action and coolness. He's come a long way from his Bill and Ted days.
Dennis Hopper, with his always obvious talent, personified evil in another typical, fun, clearly antagonistic role.
Sandra Bullock plays Annie, on the wrong bus at the wrong time. Her perkiness, independence and grace under pressure were thoroughly entertaining.
Ferris Bueller cult fans will rejoice upon discovering Alan Ruck on the speeding bus playing a cheesy, random tourist.
``Speed'' most definitely delivers all that it promises. Bombs, blasts, action, machismo, suspense, adrenaline - an overall good time at the movies. Worth your $5.75. Be sure to rush out and catch it. MEMO: Tamar Anitai is a rising junior at First Colonial High School. ``Speed''
is rated R, those under 17 not admitted without parent or guardian.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Keanu Reeves stars as Jack Traven, a cop with the Herculean task of
guiding the bus ride from hell to safety, in ``Speed.''
Tamar Anitai is a rising junior at First Colonial High.
by CNB