The
February 16, 2001 issue of Entertainment Weekly contains
the following write-up about "Driven"
starring SYLVESTER STALLONE, BURT REYNOLDS,
KIP PARDUE, ESTELLA WARREN written by SYLVESTER STALLONE
directed by RENNY HARLIN
what's the big deal? SLY writes himself
a Rocky of the racing circuit
The last time STALLONE buddied
up with action auteur HARLIN - for 1993's Cliffhanger
- they rappelled back to base camp with $260 mil worldwide.
And since the thriller was also STALLONE's last hit,
it makes sense that he'd tap the Finnish director to help steer
him back onto the fast track. In fact, it's why STALLONE
penned this race-car-driving saga. "I'm trying to do something
different with my career," he admits. "Yeah, this
movie has action and adventure, but it's really a drama underneath,
like Rocky." How so? Well, the actor plays a retired
driver whose days in the victory circle are over. Then a sage
racing-team owner [REYNOLDS] offers him a second chance
- not to get behind the wheel, but to help train a cocky young
prodigy [Remember the Titans' Pardue]. Still,
despite all the human drama, HARLIN promises it's the
wipeouts that'll fuel this vehicle. "The way we're shooting
these crashes is brand-new," he says. "You've never
seen it before. The viewer's going to be right there in the
driver's seat, spinning out of control." Pass the Dramamine.
[April 27]
I really like the overall positive tone
of this write-up. It's especially gratifying that the writer
feels that the "big deal" about "Driven"
is that SLU wrote the screenplay himself!
- Craig Zablo [February 4, 2001]
