Driven Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A has-been race car driver teaches a young hotshot how to drive… but also how to steal cars and drive them through downtown Chicago, while dealing with love triangles, washed-up romances, and extremely unrealistic race crashes.

🍿 Driven: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Rise of Jimmy Bly

Young and talented Jimmy Bly is taking the racing world by storm, quickly becoming a championship contender. His aggressive driving and natural skill make him a fan favorite, but the pressure from his ambitious brother and manager, Demille, starts to take its toll. Endorsement deals and media appearances distract Jimmy from the focus needed to maintain his edge on the track. The added complication of a budding romance with Sophia, the girlfriend of his rival Beau Brandenburg, further destabilizes his mental game.

Enter Joe Tanto

As Jimmy’s performance begins to falter, team owner Carl Henry recognizes the need for guidance and experience. He brings in former racing star Joe Tanto, haunted by a past accident, to mentor the young driver. Joe’s unconventional methods and understanding of the mental aspects of racing clash with Demille’s corporate approach, creating tension within the team. Tanto’s presence forces Jimmy to confront his distractions and rediscover his passion for racing.

Rivalries On and Off the Track

The rivalry between Jimmy and Beau intensifies, fueled by their competition for the championship and Sophia’s affections. Joe attempts to mediate and steer both drivers towards a more sportsmanlike approach, drawing on his own past experiences. Off the track, the relationships become even more complex, with Joe navigating his own past with ex-wife Cathy, who is now married to Jimmy’s teammate, Memo.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Joe Tanto (Sylvester Stallone): A former racing star, haunted by a past accident, who is brought back to mentor a struggling young driver.
• Jimmy Bly (Kip Pardue): A talented rookie race-car driver who starts losing focus due to pressure and romantic entanglements.
• Beau Brandenburg (Til Schweiger): A champion driver and Jimmy’s main rival on the track, dealing with his own personal issues.
• Carl Henry (Burt Reynolds): The wheelchair-bound, cynical car owner who hires Joe Tanto to help Jimmy Bly regain his focus.
• Sophia Simone (Estella Warren): Beau’s girlfriend whose involvement with Jimmy further complicates the racing dynamics.
• Demille Bly (Robert Sean Leonard): Jimmy’s ambitious and controlling brother who acts as his promoter and manager.
• Cathy Heguy (Gina Gershon): Joe Tanto’s ex-wife who is now married to Memo Heguy, adding another layer of personal drama.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Carl Henry: “What about the fear?” – Carl Henry asks Joe about overcoming fear, highlighting the mental aspect of racing.
• Joe Tanto: “It’s gone.” – Joe responds confidently to Carl Henry about overcoming his fear, showing his renewed resolve.
• Carl Henry: “The fear is never gone.” – Carl Henry delivers a memorable line about the constant presence of fear in racing despite Joe’s claim.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $94,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $32,720,065
• Worldwide Gross: $54,744,738

💥 Driven Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so “Driven” isn’t winning any awards. But I have to admit, I enjoyed it. The racing scenes were so over-the-top, they were hilarious. And seeing Stallone back in action, even if it’s a bit cheesy, was fun. I particularly loved the part where they stole the race cars – totally ridiculous, but entertaining. It’s a great movie when you want to switch your brain off.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of motorsports and racing films”
  • “Sylvester Stallone fans”
  • “Viewers looking for high-octane action and drama”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Car crashes and racing accidents”
  • “Some language”
  • “Brief romantic content”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “Driven is visually exciting, but the characters are thin and the plot predictable. The racing scenes are over-the-top, bordering on cartoonish. While it provides some thrills, it lacks the emotional depth to be truly engaging.
• Variety: “Driven boasts impressive racing sequences, but the storyline feels like a patchwork of racing movie clichés. Stallone’s script struggles to find a unique angle, and the performances are uneven. Ultimately, it’s a visually appealing but narratively weak experience.
• IGN: “If you’re in for some loud racing action then ‘Driven’ will entertain you for a couple of hours. Otherwise, there’s not much under the hood. The acting is what you expect and the script is far from creative. The best thing about this movie are its special effects.

Audience Reactions

The racing scenes, while unrealistic, are still visually stunning and exciting.: Fans appreciated the fast-paced action and the over-the-top crashes, even if they weren’t believable.

Stallone’s return to the racing world offered a nostalgic feel for action movie fans.: Some viewers enjoyed Stallone’s presence and the familiar action movie tropes, even if the plot was weak.

Overall Consensus: Driven is a visually exciting but narratively weak racing movie that offers some thrills but ultimately fails to deliver a compelling story or believable characters.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Sylvester Stallone originally conceived the script as a Formula One movie, but Formula One declined to participate. The production then shifted its focus to the CART series.”
• “CART allowed unprecedented access to its venues, races, paddock, announcers, drivers, and sponsors during filming.”
• “Some of the tracks depicted in the movie are non-existent, and the portrayal of crashes is often unrealistic, drawing criticism from racing fans.”

🖥️ How to Watch Driven?

Currently, ‘Driven’ is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Unfortunately, it is not available on subscription based platforms like Netflix or Hulu at this time.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Driven, you might like these similar films:

• Days of Thunder (1990): Similar focus on the personal and professional lives of race car drivers, with a competitive rivalry and a mentor-mentee relationship.
• Rush (2013): A more critically acclaimed racing film that also explores the intense rivalry between two Formula One drivers.
• Ford v Ferrari (2019): Features the high-stakes world of racing, focusing on the drive for perfection and the personal sacrifices involved.
• Grand Prix (1966): An earlier, more critically acclaimed racing film with a similar focus on the drama and danger of the sport.

🛒 Driven Related Products

• Driven (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the high-octane energy of the movie with the official soundtrack. Featuring a mix of rock and electronic tracks, it’s perfect for workouts, road trips, or just pumping up the adrenaline.
• Driven Movie Poster: A high-quality reprint of the original movie poster. Features Sylvester Stallone and the sleek race cars, making it a great addition to any movie or racing enthusiast’s collection.
• Formula 1 Racing Car Model (Customizable): A customizable model car kit, build and paint this F1 vehicle and add a custom driver figure for display!
• Race Car Driving Simulator Game: Immerse yourself in the world of high-speed racing with this simulator game. Featuring realistic physics, customizable cars, and challenging tracks, it’s the ultimate racing experience.

🎧 Soundtrack

Driven features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Good Time” – performed by Leroy
• “Take Me Away From Here” – performed by Various Artists (Soundtrack Compilation)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

DRIVEN (2001) – The infamous race through Chicago between Stallone and Pardue

Remember that totally over-the-top race through Chicago? This clip breaks down just how ridiculous (and hilarious) it was. You gotta see it again, if only to remind yourself how wild action movies used to be!

Driven reviewed by Mark Kermode

Want a brutally honest take on ‘Driven’? Mark Kermode doesn’t hold back in this review. It’s always interesting to see what the critics thought!

Driven (2001) Coin Trick

Check out this scene with the coin trick – the music really makes it! It’s a cool little moment that shows how they tried to amp up the tension. What do you think, did it work?

✨ Rate