Automobilizing
By Susan Gerhard
As Al Gore reminds us with his very sobering documentary about Global Warming, the inconvenient truth is that this particular summer may not be the best time to promote a movie about carbon dioxide-emitting modes of transportation. Then again, as gas prices themselves may force cars into extinction long before there are no people left to drive them, perhaps this is the last chance we’ll ever get to actually celebrate yet another aspect of American culture that just might, finally, destroy the world. What follows are a list of some summer films that aren’t the usual star vehicles. In fact, they are films in which the vehicles themselves — two- and four-wheeled, electric- or petrol-powered — are riding the marquee.
1. Cars
Pixar, with or without the mouse ears, has performed miracles before. You could say they reinvented animation as a form of entertainment. Is it a stretch to think they could deliver it to NASCAR Dads? The Bay Area, incidentally, is represented by more than just the faint resemblance of Owen Wilson’s coming-of-age Corvette to Chevron’s Techron talking cars; meet Fillmore, the VW peace bus that runs on a substance called “organic” fuel. (Opens today.)
2. Who Killed the Electric Car?
A film that won over Sundance as well as the San Francisco International this year, Chris Paine’s surprisingly moving documentary about the corrupt plan to kill — yes — a car is a bookend to “An Inconvenient Truth.” Why are we talking about hydrogen cars 15 years from now when electric cars could be on the streets tomorrow? Is it possible that Mel Gibson — EV-1 driver and fan — could be a force for good? (Opens New York/LA late June; SF early July)
3. The Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift
“Better luck tomorrow” is a phrase that, I suppose, could be applied to all movies of “The Fast and the Furious” model. Can Justin Lin do ennui at 120mph? Does he need to? (Opens June 16)
4. Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby
Speaking of NASCAR Dads: I’d like to introduce you to Will Ferrell. (You gotta wait ‘til August)
5. Full Throttle
The Rafael does its bit to reduce global warming by adding a whole load of cool to its independent theater with a series of motorcycle films already in progress. Yet to come: “On Any Sunday” from Bruce Brown (“Endless Summer”), “The Motorcycle Diaries,” in case you missed it, “Akira,” and, of course, “Easy Rider.” (Continues June 11-21)
06.09.2006