Speed Kills Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A plastic-faced speedboat champ moves to Miami, builds boats, accidentally joins the mob because… reasons, and cheats on wives while looking the same age for 25 years until speed *literally* kills.

🍿 Speed Kills: Detailed Plot Synopsis

From Construction to Speedboats in Miami

Ben Aronoff, a successful but mob-connected businessman from New Jersey, decides to leave his past behind and move to Miami with his family in the 1960s. Looking for a fresh start, he discovers the thrill of high-speed boat racing. This newfound passion quickly becomes his obsession and the basis for a new empire. Aronoff throws himself into designing, building, and racing powerful offshore boats. He quickly becomes a celebrated figure in the speedboat world, known for his innovative designs and competitive spirit. His companies, like Magnum Marine and Cigarette, become synonymous with performance and luxury, attracting wealthy clients from around the globe.

A Double Life Emerges

As Aronoff’s boat business thrives, his success and need for capital draw him back into the orbit of organized crime, including figures like Meyer Lansky. His fast boats are ideal for drug trafficking, and Aronoff finds himself navigating a dangerous double life between legitimate business and illicit dealings. This entanglement puts a strain on his personal life, leading to infidelity and distance from his first family. The film follows Aronoff’s rise through the ranks of the speedboat world while showcasing his increasingly complicated relationship with various criminal elements. He faces conflicts with rivals, both in racing and in the underworld, particularly with Lansky’s volatile nephew. Despite his success, the risks associated with his criminal connections grow.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ben Aronoff (John Travolta): Speedboat racing champion and multimillionaire who leads a double life entangled with the mob and law enforcement.
• Emily Gowen (Katheryn Winnick): Ben Aronoff’s second wife and love interest who provides a touch of class to his later life.
• Katherine Aronoff (Jennifer Esposito): Ben Aronoff’s first wife who struggles with his lifestyle and affairs.
• Meyer Lansky (James Remar): A powerful mob figure from Ben’s past whose influence continues to shape his life.
• Robbie Reemer (Kellan Lutz): Meyer Lansky’s antagonistic nephew who is a source of conflict for Ben Aronoff.
• Agent Lopez (Amaury Nolasco): A DEA agent investigating Ben Aronoff’s connections to drug trafficking.

💬 Memorable Quotes

💰Box Office

• Budget: $15,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $5,812

💥 Speed Kills Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched Speed Kills, and it was… an experience. I went in knowing the reviews weren’t great, but I was curious about the true story aspect and, well, it’s Travolta. The movie itself is pretty messy. The timeline jumps around a lot, and honestly, I spent a good chunk of the time just distracted by how Travolta looked – it was like he was wearing a mask! The boat racing scenes weren’t as thrilling as I hoped either. But weirdly, I wasn’t completely bored. There were moments of genuine absurdity that made me laugh, and the basic story idea is interesting, even if the movie doesn’t tell it well. It’s definitely not a ‘good’ movie by traditional standards, but if you’re in the mood for something unintentionally hilarious and a bit bizarre, you might find some enjoyment here. Just lower your expectations… significantly.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of crime dramas based on true stories”
  • “Viewers interested in the history of speedboat racing”
  • “John Travolta fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Language”
  • “Adult Themes (Infidelity, Organized Crime)”

Professional Reviews

• Film Critic Weekly: “”Speed Kills” is a choppy, poorly executed mess. Despite an intriguing true story premise, the film suffers from jarring editing, wooden performances, and laughably bad special effects. Travolta’s appearance is a constant, distracting issue, and the narrative feels rushed and underdeveloped.
• The Movie Gauge: “While the core concept of a speedboat entrepreneur’s descent into the criminal underworld holds promise, this film never hits its stride. Character relationships feel flat, plot points are introduced and abandoned abruptly, and the production often resembles a low-budget TV movie. Watchable only for unintended comedy.

Audience Reactions

John Travolta’s distracting and seemingly unchanging appearance throughout the film’s timeline.: Some found it unintentionally funny or appreciated the basic premise despite the poor execution.

The choppy editing and confusing narrative structure left many viewers lost.: A few viewers enjoyed seeing Travolta on screen, regardless of the movie’s quality.

Overall Consensus: Largely negative, citing poor production quality, confusing storytelling, and distracting performances, though some viewers found it watchably bad or appreciated the underlying true story.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the true story of millionaire powerboat designer and racer Don Aronow, with the main character’s name changed to Ben Aronoff.”
• “Despite an estimated production budget of $15 million, the film reportedly grossed just over $5,800 worldwide.”
• “During a reported interview while promoting the film, John Travolta claimed drinking sea water made him “feel alive.””
• “A visible goof in the film shows the word “SUBPOENA” misspelled as “SUBPEONA” on a typewritten document.”
• “Reviews frequently noted the inconsistent and sometimes unconvincing aging makeup used for the main actors, despite the film spanning multiple decades.”
• “The movie marks the feature film directorial debut for Jodi Scurfield.”

🖥️ How to Watch Speed Kills?

Looking to watch the John Travolta film ‘Speed Kills’? As a movie released in 2018, it may be available on various digital platforms for rent or purchase. Check popular services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube Movies for current availability and pricing. Subscription streaming may vary by region and service.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Speed Kills, you might like these similar films:

• Goodfellas (1990): Like Speed Kills, this is a biographical crime film detailing the rise and fall of a figure involved in illegal activities and a fast-paced lifestyle.
• Blow (2001): Chronicles the real-life story of a man deeply involved in the drug trade and living a life of excess, facing eventual downfall, similar to the themes in Speed Kills.
• The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Depicts a life of extreme wealth, excess, and illegal activities, focusing on the protagonist’s ambition and moral decline, albeit in the financial world.
• Scarface (1983): Set in the vibrant and often dangerous 1980s Miami, this film captures the era’s atmosphere and a classic crime saga of ambition, power, and self-destruction.
• Miami Vice (2006): A modern take on the gritty Miami crime scene, involving high-speed boats, drug trafficking, and stylish visuals, echoing elements of Aronoff’s world.

🛒 Speed Kills Related Products

• King of the Wild Orphan: The Story of Don Aronow: The book that inspired the film ‘Speed Kills’, diving deep into the true story of Don Aronow, the legendary speedboat builder and racer.
• High-Performance Speedboat Model Kit: Build your own detailed scale model of a classic high-performance speedboat, reminiscent of the designs featured in the movie.
• Miami Vice (The Complete Series) Digital Collection: Immerse yourself in the classic 80s Miami crime drama atmosphere with the complete digital collection of ‘Miami Vice’.
• John Travolta Film Collection (Various Titles): Explore other films starring John Travolta, from his acclaimed works to his later B-movie appearances.

🎧 Soundtrack

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

• “Let’s Take Off” – performed by Jimmy Carnelli

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Speed Kills VR – Sneak Peek of John Travolta and Katheryn Winnick on Episode 4

Ever wondered what filming in VR looks like, especially with big stars like John Travolta? Check out this quick peek behind the scenes; it seems pretty wild how they shot this!

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