Driven (2018 film)

Last updated

Driven
Driven theatrical poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Nick Hamm
Written by Colin Bateman
Produced by
  • Rene Besson
  • Walter Josten
  • Brad Feinstein
  • Luillo Ruiz
  • Piers Tempest
Starring
Cinematography Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Edited byBrett M. Reed
Music byGeronimo Mercado
Production
companies
  • Romulus Entertainment
  • Tempo Productions
  • The Pimienta Film Company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 8, 2018 (2018-09-08)(Venice)
  • August 16, 2019 (2019-08-16)(United States)
  • November 8, 2019 (2019-11-08)(United Kingdom)
Running time
108 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Puerto Rico [2]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$147,172 [1]

Driven is a 2018 biographical comedy thriller [3] [4] film directed by Nick Hamm and written by Colin Bateman. The film stars Jason Sudeikis, Lee Pace, Judy Greer, Isabel Arraiza, Michael Cudlitz, Erin Moriarty, Iddo Goldberg, Tara Summers, Justin Bartha, and Corey Stoll. [5] [6] The film premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2018, and subsequently screened at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. [7] [8] It was released in the United States on August 16, 2019, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group and Variance Films and in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2019, by Vertigo Releasing. [9] [10]

Contents

Plot

Pilot James T. Hoffman is busted by the FBI when he arrives in the United States with a large amount of cocaine in his airplane. His wife and two sons are with him, having accompanied him on the flight to Bolivia. He agrees to become an informant and the FBI relocates him and his family to San Diego. Special Agent Benedict Tisa acts as his handler and continues to pressure him into setting up his boss, Morgan Hetrick, who has millions of dollars in overseas accounts from trafficking narcotics. Hoffman attempts to play both sides.

Hoffman meets John DeLorean while trying to start his car, discovering that he's his next door neighbor. DeLorean is designing the ultimate car of the future, after his continued dissatisfaction with the automobile industry and his role in it. Hoffman's and DeLorean's families become friends. Hoffman tells his wife Ellen that he's an informant, leading to tension between the two of them.

DeLorean throws many parties in order to raise funds for his new car. He receives $600,000 from Johnny Carson, who calls DeLorean during one of his parties and is put on speaker phone, where he complains about how the new car has continually broken down. Hoffman brings Hetrick to the same party in order to introduce him to DeLorean after having bragged to him about DeLorean's new car. The two of them, along with Hetrick's girlfriend, Katy snort cocaine laced with PCP, leading to some disruption.

Hoffman works for DeLorean who struggles to raise funds and is in a large amount of debt. DeLorean asks him to raise $30,000,000. Hoffman informs Tisa that DeLorean wants to move cocaine in order to raise the money in exchange that he and his family will be safe from any criminal prosecution and that he will no longer be required to work for the FBI. Hoffman introduces DeLorean to Hetrick and Tisa who poses as a drug dealer in order to bust them both. They all agree to the deal. Problems arise when DeLorean can't raise any money for the initial deal but Hoffman convinces Tisa to loan DeLorean federal money as his undercover persona in order for the deal to go through.

Hetrick and Katy are arrested by Tisa and other agents when they deliver the cocaine. Hoffman drives DeLorean to a hotel in order to receive his money from the deal, with DeLorean unaware that he's actually meeting undercover federal agents. DeLorean is arrested after going to a room and completing the deal. Hoffman is seen testifying against DeLorean in court in flash forward scenes throughout the film. At the end of the film, while on the stand, Hoffman is unable to conclusively say whether or not DeLorean was the one who suggested the deal. DeLorean is acquitted of all charges.

Tisa informs Hoffman that he'll make sure witness protection send him and his family to Boise, Idaho. DeLorean and Hoffman meet in a cafe where DeLorean hands him keys to one of the cars he had been designing sitting outside, as well as a briefcase for his inconclusive testimony. Hoffman gets in the car and opens the briefcase which contains a large amount of money. He puts the key in the ignition and turns it but the car does not start.

Cast

Production

The film is set in San Diego but was filmed in Puerto Rico. It was five days into production when Hurricane Maria hit. [7] Rather than abandon production entirely and film elsewhere they decided it was important to return and continue the production, as a business bringing money to the local economy. Sets needed to be rebuilt and repaired, and film locations changed. Resources were scarce, many families had no running water or power, so the few hotel rooms available were shared out. Electricity was scarce and the filmmakers had to lobby the Puerto Rican government for access to limited quantities of fuel for generators. The film employed more than 200 locals, and raised $330,000 towards relief efforts. [11]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 63% based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Compelling performances from an outstanding cast help Driven take audiences on an enjoyably stranger-than-fiction joyride." [12] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [13]

Boyd van Hoeij of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "If the pic is ultimately an entertaining ride, it is because Sudeikis takes the audience by the hand through this very unlikely story that was inspired by true events." [6] Guy Lodge of Variety magazine gave the film a mixed review, but praised Pace for his performance: "Against the film's own boisterous inclinations, Pace gives it something like a heart, albeit a closed, melancholic one: that's some acting, and it's maybe more than these agreeably derivative proceedings deserve." [2]

DeLorean historians and the family of John DeLorean have criticized the film and portrayal of John DeLorean for being wildly inaccurate.[ citation needed ] The film depicts a close friendship between DeLorean and FBI informant James Hoffman, which was never the case. The character of Katy Connors portrayed by Erin Moriarty is also a fictional character created for the film.

The automobile used in the film was provided by the Puerto Rico DeLorean club, which expressed regret after seeing the completed film, saying they would have not loaned the car had they known of its negative depiction of John DeLorean and the car.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Back to the Future</i> 1985 film by Robert Zemeckis

Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. It stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson. Set in 1985, it follows Marty McFly (Fox), a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean automobile built by his eccentric scientist friend Emmett "Doc" Brown (Lloyd), where he inadvertently prevents his future parents from falling in love – threatening his own existence – and is forced to reconcile them and somehow get back to the future.

The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) was an American automobile manufacturer formed by automobile industry executive John DeLorean in 1975. It produced just one model, from early 1981 to late 1982—the stainless steel DeLorean sports car featuring gull-wing doors. Its history was brief and turbulent, ending in receivership and bankruptcy in 1982. In October 1982, John DeLorean was videotaped in a sting operation agreeing to bankroll drug trafficking, but was acquitted at the subsequent trial on the basis of entrapment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John DeLorean</span> American automobile engineer and executive (1925–2005)

John Zachary DeLorean was an American engineer, inventor, and executive in the U.S. automobile industry. He is widely known as founder of the DeLorean Motor Company, as well as for his work at General Motors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Chapman</span> English design engineer (1928–1982)

Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman was an English design engineer, inventor, and builder in the automotive industry, and founder of the sports car company Lotus Cars.

<i>The Seven-Per-Cent Solution</i> 1974 mystery novel by Nicholas Meyer

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. is a 1974 novel by American writer Nicholas Meyer. It is written as a pastiche of a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and was made into a film of the same name in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cristina Ferrare</span> American former fashion model, actress, author and talk-show host

Cynthia Cristina Ferrare is an American fashion model, actress, author and talk-show host. She had lead roles in several films in the late-1960s and early-1970s, including the 1968 comedy The Impossible Years and the 1972 Western film J. W. Coop, as well as portraying the titular character in Juan López Moctezuma's horror film Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DMC DeLorean</span> 1980s automobile

The DMC DeLorean is a rear-engine two-passenger sports car manufactured and marketed by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) for the American market from 1981 until 1983—ultimately the only car brought to market by the fledgling company. The DeLorean is sometimes referred to by its internal DMC pre-production designation, DMC-12. However, the DMC-12 name was never used in sales or marketing materials for the production model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Sudeikis</span> American actor and comedian (born 1975)

Daniel Jason Sudeikis is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter. In the 1990s, he began his career in improv comedy and performed with ComedySportz, iO Chicago, and The Second City. In 2003, Sudeikis was hired as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, and later spent nine seasons as a cast member from 2005 to 2013, playing Joe Biden and Mitt Romney, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeLorean time machine</span> Time travel device used in the "Back to the Future" franchise

In the Back to the Future franchise, the DeLorean time machine is a time travel vehicle constructed from a retrofitted DMC DeLorean. Its time travel ability is derived from the "flux capacitor", a component that allows the car to travel to the past or future. This occurs when the car accelerates to 88 miles per hour and requires 1.21 gigawatts of electricity.

"Chuck Versus the DeLorean" is the tenth episode of Chuck's second season, and aired on NBC on December 8, 2008. Sarah's con artist father appears, and Chuck and Casey are ordered to use his latest scam to pursue a Saudi sheik with terrorist connections.

The Illegal drug trade in Puerto Rico is a problem from a criminal, social, and medical perspective. Located in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has become a major transshipment point for drugs into the United States. Violent and property crimes have increased due in part to dealers trying to keep their drug business afloat, using guns and violence to protect themselves, their turfs, and drug habits.

<i>Eastbound & Down</i> American television series

Eastbound & Down is an American sports comedy television series that was broadcast on HBO, and created by Ben Best, Jody Hill and Danny McBride. It stars McBride as Kenny Powers, a former professional baseball pitcher who, after a career downturn in the major leagues, is forced to return to his hometown middle school in Shelby, North Carolina, as a substitute physical education teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Hamm</span> Irish film, television, and theatre director and producer

Nick Hamm is a film, television, and theater director and producer born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He won a BAFTA for his drama The Harmfulness of Tobacco starring Edward Fox.

<i>Masterminds</i> (2016 film) 2016 US crime comedy film by Jared Hess

Masterminds is a 2016 crime comedy film based on the October 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery in North Carolina. Directed by Jared Hess and written by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer and Emily Spivey, it stars Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Jason Sudeikis.

<i>Back to the Future: The Musical</i> Musical stage adaptation of the 1985 film

Back to the Future: The Musical is a musical with music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard and a book by Bob Gale. It is adapted from the 1985 film Back to the Future by Robert Zemeckis and Gale. The show features original music, as well as songs featured in the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embankment Films</span> British film and television company

Embankment Films is a British film and television sales and production company based in London, England.

Crime in Puerto Rico describes acts of violent and non-violent crime that take place within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

<i>Booksmart</i> 2019 film by Olivia Wilde

Booksmart is a 2019 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Olivia Wilde and written by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman. It stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as two graduating high school girls who set out to finally break the rules and party on their last day of classes. Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, and Jason Sudeikis also star.

<i>Framing John DeLorean</i> 2019 documentary

Framing John DeLorean is a 2019 American documentary film directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce and written by Dan Greeney and Alexandra Orton, about the life of John DeLorean. The film stars Alec Baldwin, Morena Baccarin, Josh Charles, Dean Winters, Michael Rispoli and Jason Jones. The film was released on June 7, 2019, by Sundance Selects.

DeLorean Motor Company is a US company based in Humble, Texas, established in 1995 by Liverpool-born mechanic Stephen Wynne, using the branding of the defunct automobile manufacturer. It has no direct connection to the original company, but rather supplies parts and services to owners of DeLoreans, such as maintenance, restoration, and the sale of NOS, OEM, aftermarket, and replacement parts.

References

  1. 1 2 "Driven (2018)". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Lodge, Guy (September 8, 2018). "Film Review: 'Driven'". Variety . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. ↑ Marco, Camillo de (August 6, 2018). "Driven by Nick Hamm to be Venice's closing film". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  4. ↑ Chay, Augustine. "Driven (2019) – Nick Hamm". AllMovie . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  5. ↑ Lodderhose, Diana (April 28, 2017). "Jason Sudeikis, Lee Pace & Timothy Olyphant Gear Up For John DeLorean Pic 'Driven' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "'Driven': Film Review | Venice 2018". The Hollywood Reporter . September 8, 2018. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  7. 1 2 Hammond, Pete (September 8, 2018). "John DeLorean Story 'Driven' Closing Venice, Hoping For Big Toronto Sale After Barely Surviving Puerto Rico Hurricane". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Driven". TIFF. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  9. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 17, 2019). "John DeLorean Pic 'Driven' Acquired By UPHE Content Group – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 19, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  10. ↑ Hayes, Tim (November 8, 2019). "Driven review: John DeLorean biopic speeds in and out of court". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ Valentini, Valentina I. (August 15, 2019). "'Driven' Kept Shoot in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria to Help Locals". Variety. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Driven (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Driven (2019)". Metacritic . Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.