The lights dim and a kaleidoscope of color appears as the score slowly rises up. This is what we are treated to as The Wachowski’s 2008 film starts. The barrage of color continues through the opening credits as Michael Giacchino’s incredible score swells to a climax. The title card appears. SPEED RACER.
We see Speed Racer—played perfectly by Emile Hirsch—from behind sitting on a bench in the locker room as he taps his foot in anticipation. We are instantly treated to the vibrant color palette of the film with the harsh red lockers in the background in contrast with Speed in his all white outfit, and the dark blue lockers in the foreground leading our eyes exactly where The Wachowski’s want us looking. The overhead voice says “All drivers to your cars please, all drivers to your cars.” We get a close up of the tapping foot and a smash cut to a younger speed in school, tapping that same foot while attempting to take a test. It’s made clear very quickly that Speed probably isn’t the best student as he violently erases his answers on the bubble sheet. He mulls over the annoying math question, and as the camera pans down the letters change to Blah Blah Blah–All drivers to your cars, please. All drivers to your cars… We are thrust into the mind of Speed, he is a true racer at heart. He shoots his gaze at the clock on the wall and prepares himself. The second hand strikes zero and we hear a gunshot and Speed begins filling out the test as quickly as he can. A perfectly timed comedic cut takes us to the always wonderful Susan Sarandon who plays Mom Racer in which she says “Distracted?” We are in a teacher’s office at school talking about how Speed only ever has his mind on racing. Mom racer says that Speed’s father designs race cars so that would explain his obsession. The teacher then pulls out Speed’s test only to reveal that he just wrote ‘GO REX GO’ on the sheet. Rex is of course in reference to his brother Rex Racer who is a racing driver. Mom Racer is speechless but she can’t help but to let a little smile out.
Back with Speed and he is once again not paying attention in class but making flipnotes of cars crashing into each other. We get a shot from behind Speed at his desk and the background begins to distort and stretch out. It quickly morphs into 2D sketch drawing around Speed as he imagines himself winning a race and everyone rushing out to celebrate. Back to reality and Speed is making crowd noises in the back of the classroom to the amusement of Trixie who we will get to know more later. The bell rings and Speed rushes out of the classroom before the teacher can even get a sentence out. As Speed races out the door the teacher exclaims “ Speed Racer slow down!”
Young Speed exits the school and we are treated to the first shot of the outside world. A full cartoonish CGI world has been completely created. It is so ridiculous and jarring to look at it almost takes you out of it. It is made abundantly clear not even 5 minutes into this film that The Wachowski’s aren’t interested in making a run of the mill racing story based on an old anime. They want to do something truly bold. This is where we meet Speed’s older brother, Rex, who is here to pick him up from school in the legendary Mach 5. A car so recognizable and singular it doesn’t need an introduction. It basically takes control of this scene and it just sits there in the background as Rex leans against it. On the drive home Speed begs and pleads for Rex to take him to the racetrack with him. After an initial denial, Rex falls victim to Speed’s relentless attack saying, “Are you wearing the socks?” Speed throws his leg up on the dash revealing that he is indeed wearing the socks. Rex finally agrees but says that if he rolls them again, it will be the last time. Speed agrees with a vibrant “DEAL!”
That word echoes as we cut back to the present day. We are looking inside Speed’s locker where we see a photo of Rex, instantly communicating that Rex has since passed away. Speed throws his jacket on his back, grabs his gloves, Rex’s photo, and his helmet as he gets ready for the race. Cut to the racetrack and we see the Mach 4—the glorious all red predecessor to the Mach 5—ripping around a corner all alone. It’s Rex and Speed at the track doing some hotlaps. “Stop steering and start driving” Rex teaches speed as they twist their way through the track. He tells him to close his eyes and feel the car, a smart placement of a motif that will pay off at the climax of the film. As they come around a corner, Rex asks Speed to tell him when to punch it for the upcoming jump. Rex smiles as Speed yells “NOW” letting us know he chose the perfect time. They hit the jump and we get a beautiful shot of EXTREME slo-mo as they glide through the sunset sky in the empty stadium. In the background we see the Mach 6 speeding towards the jump. It cuts through the ghost of the Mach 4 and we transition to the present.
It’s twilight and the race is in full swing as Speed and the Mach 6—obviously the impressive sequel to the legendary Mach 5— leads the pack over the jump and around the corner. The whimsical and exciting score comes in as the cars drift around the track at blistering speeds. This is where you truly see how vivacious and kinetic the racing will be in this film. It is so engrossing and outlandish that you can’t help but to be completely captivated by the world that’s been created. The crowd screams as the camera literally flies around the stadium down to the track following the Mach 6 drifting around corners and ends in a close up on Speed in the cockpit who is absolutely locked in. We flash to many different commentators from all different countries talking about how local fan favorite Speed is absolutely flying around the track. We begin with english but go through many different languages, no subtitles needed as we know exactly what they are saying. “Let us hope he does not make the same mistakes his brother made,” A solemn reporter states laying down the first bread crumb for what happened to Rex Racer.
The camera whips around to none other than Sparky—Speed’s best friend and mechanic for the Mach 6—who is watching from above with his binoculars. He tips off speed that Snake Oiler is hot on his tail looking to make a move. Speed affirms this as he looks at his rear view, which incredibly is inside his steering wheel. The camera then goes into the steering wheel to transition us to a close up of Snake Oiler who is looking quite intense. Speed prepares for the move and right as he is about to be overtaken he pulls an incredible move. He brake checks him and then uses the iconic stilts on the bottom of the car to propel himself over top of Snake Oiler, landing behind him. A moment sure to get a cheer out of any Speed Racer fan. The crowd goes crazy as Snake Oiler flips over in a violent crash and is then engulfed by this colored foam that protects the driver from an accident.
Sparky warns Speed about the next part of the track telling him to be careful. “Not this time Sparky” says Speed as he pushes the Mach 6 to the absolute limit. Cresting each corner with his wheels almost coming off the track, sparks flying as he spins around this section of the track. Sparky hits the stopwatch and as he reacts the camera does a swift zoom in. “Holy cannoli Speed, do you know who you’re racing?” Tears in his eyes Speed replies “Yeah” as we go to first person on the Mach 6 to reveal the apparition of Speed’s brother Rex in the Mach 4 racing around the track. Speed is racing the ghost of his brother.
We hit yet another jump and transition back to the past. We are now watching a race that features Rex in the Mach 4 at the same track. A young Speed accompanied by Pops and Mom Racer watching from the stands. “Everyone else is running for second” says the young Speed as he hypes his brother up. Convinced he is going to win the race and break the lap record. We learn that notorious race fixer Blackjack Benelli wants to take Rex out of the race but is struggling to do so as he is told by someone on his payroll “We are trying but he’s just too fast.” The camera flips upside down and around following Rex around the track trying to keep up but there is only one person who can…
Speed crashes through the Mach 4 and we are back to the present as Speed is on pace to potentially break the lap record held by none other than his brother Rex. This sequence is so excitingly edited as we seamlessly transition to all the different reporters through wipes covered by their heads and split screen. Pops Racer hits his stopwatch with Spritle Racer—Speed’s younger brother—who notes that Speed is on pace to break the record. Calling back the memory of Rex doing the same thing for Pops Racer. Spritle annoys Pops about the idea of Speed breaking the record just like a young Speed did all those years ago.
Cut to a woman watching the race with binoculars. As they lower it is revealed to be Speed’s girlfriend, Trixie, played wonderfully by the drop dead gorgeous Christina Ricci. Definitely had a profound impact on me as a young boy. She reminisces on how she and Speed first met. Here we get a really cool shot that starts following a young Speed driving his go kart through the park, the camera slowly pulls back to reveal a young Trixie and a blonde girl talking about him. The blonde girl talks a bit of smack about the Racer family saying that the whole family is crazy. Trixie retorts saying “Speed’s not crazy.” Blonde girl goes on a rant saying how he’s just dumb and then eventually calls him a slur. Trixie who has been getting visibly angrier throughout the conversation finally has enough and sucker punches her in the face. Speed looks over and sees Trixie standing there. The background hilariously begins to blur into a bunch of little hearts as speed falls for her in that moment both emotionally and literally as he crashes his kart into a bush and flips over. Trixie runs to Speed who is comedically sprawled out on the grass. She introduces herself and Speed, using his incredible charm, asks if she wants to see his car collection. “I’d love to.”
Speed and Trixie drive up to Speed’s house in the almost plastic looking neighborhood. The colors are so vibrant and the design is so modern but also has an older, homey feeling. It’s really fun to look around all these establishing shots to see all the incredible detail that goes into designing this fully realized world. In this one in particular, I love to look down the street and see all the crazy looking cars parked on the side of the road. Speed introduces Trixie to Pops and Rex who are in the garage working on an engine. I should mention that Pops is played by the legendary John Goodman. Speed hands Pops a package saying a big fan wanted to give it to him. He says the guy was driving a ‘68 Fenderson which Rex immediately clocks and asks to see the package. Turns out that it’s actually a freaking bomb. This begs the question, why would someone send a bomb to their house? The answer is soon to come. Rex swiftly dispatches the package by putting it in the kart and sending it on its way to a beautiful explosion in the street. The camera lingers on Trixie as she lets out the classic“Cool beans.”
Back to the present and we see the racers driving through this insane corkscrew section of the track that goes by these bright neon advertisements. The sound of the cars shakes your spine as they twist through the corkscrew. We now get an awesome sequence that showcases the incredible visual style of this film. We see Mach 6 driven by Speed and the apparition of the Mach 4 tearing the track up overlaid by all the reporters going through the history of Rex Racer in the World Racing League. We start to get differing perspectives from the reporters ranging from “he almost ruined racing” to “bravest man to ever drive a racecar.”
Flashback again to Rex leaving home and Speed asking to come with. I absolutely love the way this scene is lit. The way Rex is completely covered in shadow as he packs up his things. He tosses Speed the keys to the Mach 5 and kneels to tell him something important. “One day, people might say things about me. No matter what they say, I just, I hope you never believe ‘em.” Speed says he won’t and they embrace.
Now comes one of my absolute favorite scenes. This scene between Pops and Rex is pivotal to the story and will be perfectly paralleled later in the film. It starts off with an incredible shot. Pops in the foreground sitting at the table in red(the color of anger). Rex in the background walking towards the door in blue(the color of sadness). The backlighting on Rex casts a hard shadow that reaches towards the door. He stops before the doorway but his shadow is literally pulling him away from the warm light of the home into the unknown darkness that lies ahead. Pops accuses Rex of selling out and turning his back on him and everything they built. Rex says it’s his life to live and he can’t tell him what to do. “You walk out that door now and you better not ever come back.” The words obviously cut deep coming from his father, but Rex makes his decision and walks out the door to join rival racing team Uniron.
Clearly this conversation is on the mind of Pops as we cut back to the present once again. The camera smoothly slides over to Mom Racer and acts as a transition wipe to what she is thinking about. Her, Pops, and young Speed are watching Rex on the TV as they watch him intentionally taking out other racers. They all look incredibly disappointed as anyone would be, Pops tell Speed to turn off the television. This whole sequence is interspersed with the reporters talking about the trial of Rex Racer. We learn that Rex took orders from the criminal underworld to fix the result of races. All of this weighing on the mind of Speed, the music swells and tears fill his eyes as he flies around the track. We see how this affected young Speed as he is in a fight with another kid from school that said his brother doesn’t belong on a race track but in jail instead. The reporters float across the screen as we learn about how Uniron was indicted at Rex’s trial and Blackjack Benelli was linked to them and also indicted. He is still in prison today for his crimes and is rumored to be the mastermind behind the Casa Cristo Tragedy.
Another great shot is set up here as the old man reporter slides off the screen. We see a spherical shape slowly coming towards the screen. It bursts on the screen accompanied by a glass breaking sound as a red liquid pours out of it. This acts as a transition and a reveal simultaneously. The liquid wipes off the screen and we see Mom Racer from below with a shocked look and her hand out as she has just dropped her glass because of the horror transcribing on the television. We see the Racer family and Trixie all watch as Rex Racer explodes and dies in his car on live TV at Casa Cristo. We then get another one of my favorite shots in the film. Speed is crying into his mother as she holds him in a dark room. One strip of light is painted harshly across Speed’s face but only the bottom half of Mom Racer. A very striking image that states that even though this mother has just lost her son, she has to be strong in this moment for her other child that is still here and needs her. Showcasing her incredible strength and resilience. The camera glides back to Mom and Pops Racer, they are both feeling the emotional weight of this moment as we come back to the present for the last time.
Coming up on the end of the lap we get an absolutely incredible 30 seconds of filmmaking. Speed is hot on the tail of his brother’s ghost and he rips around the corner and the crowd cheers him on. The Wachowski’s treat us to a visual feast full of color and kinetic camera movement and they race toward the finish line. Every reporter and every fan is absolutely encapsulated in the moment as they scream and yell for Speed as he nears history. Around the final corner they are neck and neck heading to the line. “It’s gonna be close!” One of the reporters exclaims as we get a shot of them side by side. Speed looks over and sheds a tear as he thinks about his brother’s legacy. He takes his foot off the accelerator right before the line allowing Rex’s lap record to remain. Trixie releases a sigh of relief and Mom and Pops embrace as they realize what has transpired. They are instantly proud of Speed and his noble decision. Speed lets out a faint smile with tears down his face as he looks down the track to his brother’s apparition. He crashes through it and takes his place in the spotlight. By this moment usually I have tears streaming down my face. Finally we get an incredible shot as the camera pulls back from the television to be in an extreme close up on a mysterious new character’s side profile. The camera pans around to reveal a woman. “He’s going to be very good,” she says. “No, he is going to be the best,” our mysterious new character replies as he is silhouetted with the light in the background from the iconic Racer X car. A car that any Speed Racer fan would instantly recognize. An incredible tease for what’s to come in the rest of the film.
If you read this far hopefully I was able to articulate what makes this opening sequence so special. The way it introduces all the major characters, teaches you the history of this world, and showcases the spectacular and inventive filmmaking style. You understand clearly from just 15 minutes the motivations of Speed and the history of those connected to him also. The deep pain and tragedy that resides within their family. The regret that Pops feels about his final encounter with his son Rex. The strength of Mom Racer and the support of Trixie. All so clearly articulated in the midst of the most overwhelming and exciting presentation. It perfectly sets up the rest of the film. It’s honestly a miracle that any of this film works with the insane vision the Wachowski’s brought to this project. But that’s the magic of the movies.
NickStimer.com 