Misplaced Pages

#390609

43-589: Lee Cavender Daniel (born January 23, 1962) is an American cinematographer . He was born in Dallas , Texas. His best known films are Boyhood and Dazed and Confused , both directed by Richard Linklater . Daniel has worked on many of Linklater's films and worked with Linklater as a co-founder of the Austin Film Society . He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin . He helped his brother Bill Daniel on

86-430: A 95% approval rating based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 8.10/10. The site's consensus reads, "A terrific popcorn thriller, Speed is taut, tense, and energetic, with outstanding performances from Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock." On Metacritic , it has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave

129-422: A balance of vulnerability and strength. Reeves underwent physical training and shaved his head for the role, a decision that initially concerned the studio. The character of Annie was originally written as an African American paramedic to justify her ability to drive the bus. The role was first offered to Halle Berry , who declined, but later expressed regret over her decision. As the character evolved into

172-428: A bombing on a city elevator containing 13 people, masterminded by a vengeful extortionist, Howard Payne. After narrowly rescuing the passengers, where Payne seemingly blows himself up, Jack and Harry are conferred medals in a ceremony. However, Payne, who survived, resurfaces with a new deadly scheme: a bomb planted on a city bus that will detonate if the bus slows below 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Jack receives

215-401: A comic relief sidekick, Ellen DeGeneres was considered for the part. Eventually, the role was rewritten as a love interest for Jack Traven, leading to the casting of Sandra Bullock . Bullock auditioned alongside Reeves to ensure their on-screen chemistry, which involved performing physically demanding scenes. Meryl Streep , Kim Basinger , and Anne Heche were also offered or considered for

258-447: A gap in the freeway, and directs it to Los Angeles International Airport to prevent traffic issues. Meanwhile, Harry discovers Payne’s identity as a former Atlanta Police Department bomb squad officer and leads a SWAT team to his home. The team is killed when Payne’s house explodes, leaving Jack to try and defuse the bomb alone. When that fails, he learns Payne is monitoring the bus through a hidden camera. A clever ruse involving looping

301-405: A lawyer into a hapless tourist. Additionally, the character of Harry Temple was originally intended to be the film’s villain, but once Dennis Hopper was cast as Howard Payne, this role was adjusted, and Temple’s character remained non-complicit. When Speed was under development at Paramount Pictures , Jeff Speakman was originally attached to star in the lead role. However, after the project

344-462: A specially rigged bus equipped with a ramp to allow for lift-off. The driver was suspended in a shock-absorbing harness to prevent injury during the landing. The film's fictionalized bus route, "33 Downtown", was modeled after the real-life Big Blue Bus serving Santa Monica . One of the buses used in the film was auctioned for $ 102,000 in 2018. Many of the freeway scenes were shot on California's Interstate 105 and Interstate 110 , specifically at

387-617: Is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work on one particular motion picture . A number of cinematographers have become directors, including Reed Morano who lensed Frozen River and Beyoncé's Lemonade before winning an Emmy for directing The Handmaid's Tale . Barry Sonnenfeld , originally the Coen brothers ' DP; Jan de Bont , cinematographer on films such as Die Hard and Basic Instinct , directed Speed and Twister . Nicolas Roeg , cinematographer on films such as The Caretaker (1963) and The Masque of

430-422: The 48th British Academy Film Awards . A sequel, Speed 2: Cruise Control , was released on June 13, 1997, but performed poorly and was critically lambasted, receiving widespread criticism for Reeves' absence and the film's change in setting. It is often cited as one of the worst sequels and action films ever made . LAPD SWAT bomb disposal officers Jack Traven and Harry Temple are tasked with preventing

473-475: The Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange , which was under construction at the time of filming. De Bont noticed unfinished sections of the freeway during a location scout and suggested adding a bus jump to the script. The scene where the bus jumps over an incomplete freeway was achieved using a ramp to give the vehicle the necessary lift. Computer-generated imagery (CGI) was later used to create

SECTION 10

#1732892024391

516-460: The surveillance footage allows the passengers to escape, and the empty bus explodes while crashing into an empty cargo plane. After Payne realizes his plan’s been foiled, he kidnaps Annie and demands the ransom. Jack chases Payne into the subway system. Payne straps an explosive vest to Annie, but his plans unravel when Jack fights back, resulting in Payne’s decapitation. Jack deactivates the vest, but

559-456: The Jaguar-to-bus jump, which he later performed himself, against de Bont's approval. The production utilized eleven GM New Look buses (TDH-5303) and three Grumman 870 buses. Two of these buses were destroyed in explosions, while others were adapted for specific scenes, including high-speed sequences, interior shots, and "under bus" scenes. The bus jump scene was filmed in one take using

602-599: The Red Death (1964), directed Don't Look Now (1973) and The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). Ellen Kuras, ASC photographed Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind as well as a number of Spike Lee films such as Summer of Sam and He Got Game before directing episodes of Legion and Ozark. In 2014, Wally Pfister , cinematographer on Christopher Nolan 's three Batman films , made his directorial debut with Transcendence , whilst British cinematographers Jack Cardiff and Freddie Francis regularly moved between

645-540: The advancement of cinematography, including: The A.S.C. defines cinematography as: A creative and interpretive process that culminates in the authorship of an original work of art rather than the simple recording of a physical event. Cinematography is not a subcategory of photography. Rather, photography is but one craft that the cinematographer uses in addition to other physical, organizational, managerial, interpretive and image-manipulating techniques to effect one coherent process. The Academy Award for Best Cinematography

688-432: The advent of artificial lighting and faster (more light-sensitive) film stocks , in addition to technological advancements in optics, the technical aspects of cinematography necessitated a specialist in that area. Cinematography was key during the silent movie era; with no sound apart from background music and no dialogue, the films depended on lighting, acting, and set. The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)

731-405: The appearance of a gap in the freeway, aided by Sony Pictures Imageworks . A 2009 episode of MythBusters tested the feasibility of the bus jump and concluded that it was impossible under real-world conditions. De Bont revealed in a DVD commentary that the bus jump stunt did not go as planned on the first attempt. The stunt driver missed the ramp, damaging the bus beyond repair. A second bus

774-543: The box-office, surpassing The Flintstones and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold , and grossing $ 14.5 million in its opening weekend. Internationally, the film set opening records for 20th Century Fox in Brazil with $ 669,725 and in South Africa with $ 267,140. Speed held the #1 position for a week before being overtaken by Wolf , generating $ 12.9 million in its second weekend. In its third weekend, despite

817-434: The bus. De Bont suggested starting the movie with a bomb on an elevator, drawing from his own experience of being trapped in an elevator while working on Die Hard . Yost used this opening to establish the cleverness of LAPD SWAT officer Jack Traven, inspired by Perseus ’ trickery with Medusa . De Bont also suggested concluding the film with a subway sequence to provide a final twist, which Fox approved. Joss Whedon

860-412: The cinematographer and director vary. In some instances, the director will allow the cinematographer complete independence, while in others, the director allows little to none, even going so far as to specify exact camera placement and lens selection. Such a level of involvement is less common when the director and cinematographer have become comfortable with each other. The director will typically convey to

903-453: The cinematographer what is wanted from a scene visually and allow the cinematographer latitude in achieving that effect. The scenes recorded by the cinematographer are passed to the film editor for editing . In the infancy of motion pictures, the cinematographer was usually also the director and the person physically handling the camera. As the art form and technology evolved, a separation between director and camera operator emerged. With

SECTION 20

#1732892024391

946-776: The debut of The Lion King , the film retained #2 at the box office. It enjoyed prolonged success in international markets, staying #1 for 8 consecutive weeks in Australia and 10 weeks in Japan. Overall, Speed grossed $ 121.3 million in the United States and Canada, with an additional $ 229.2 million internationally, for a total worldwide gross of $ 350.5 million. This far exceeded its production budget, estimated between $ 30 million and $ 37 million. The film remained Sandra Bullock 's highest-grossing film until Gravity surpassed it in 2013. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes , Speed holds

989-453: The director of photography for action films like Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October (1984), agreed to direct. Michael Bay had also expressed interest in directing. Paramount ultimately passed on the project, believing audiences wouldn’t want to watch a film set almost entirely on a bus. Yost and de Bont then pitched the film to 20th Century Fox , who agreed to green-light the project but requested additional action sequences beyond

1032-465: The disaster, with Bullock portraying a passenger who becomes unexpectedly involved in the mission. Speed premiered on June 10, 1994 by 20th Century Fox . The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $ 350 million worldwide against a $ 30-37 million budget, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 1994 . At the 67th Academy Awards , Speed won Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Sound. The film also won Best Sound and Best Editing at

1075-509: The entire film set on the bus, with no elevator or subway sequences. The bus was meant to drive around Dodger Stadium and ultimately crash into the Hollywood Sign . After finishing the script, Yost presented it to Paramount Pictures , which showed interest and suggested John McTiernan to direct. However, McTiernan declined, feeling the script was too similar to Die Hard (1988), and recommended Jan de Bont instead. De Bont, who had been

1118-515: The film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars, describing it as "manic exhilaration" and praised Reeves' transition into a credible action hero, while also commending Hopper's performance as the film's villain. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone remarked that " Speed works like a charm," highlighting its entertainment value. Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Hopper’s portrayal of "crazy menace" and noted

1161-468: The film was released on June 28, 1994, with the following tracks. The soundtrack was commercially successful in Japan, being certified gold by the RIAJ in 2002. Michael Kamen was initially considered to do the score of the movie, however De Bont chose Mark Mancina , who at the time worked in some Hans Zimmer scores like Days of Thunder , Where Sleeping Dogs Lie and True Romance . In addition to

1204-494: The film's climactic subway sequence were created using an 1/8 scale model, except for the train derailment jump. The MD520N helicopter featured in the film, registration N599DB, was later sold to the Calgary Police Service in 1995 and remained in use until 2006, after which it was sold to a private owner. Speed was released on June 10, 1994, in 2,138 theaters across the United States and Canada. It debuted at #1 at

1247-496: The film’s swift pacing, which left little room for character development but maintained momentum. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film an "A" rating, lauding director Jan de Bont ’s craftsmanship, and Richard Schickel of Time noted the film’s ability to tap into common anxieties, calling it an effective thriller. The film has also received long-term recognition. Quentin Tarantino named Speed as one of

1290-454: The loss deeply affected Reeves, making him quieter and emotionally withdrawn. Initially hesitant about the film’s action sequences, Reeves expressed to de Bont, “I’m not an action hero. I don’t like it. I don’t know how to do it,” which de Bont saw as an advantage, believing it paralleled Reeves’ character, who was thrust into an extraordinary situation. As production progressed, Reeves became more involved with his stunts, even secretly rehearsing

1333-535: The role but declined. Principal photography for Speed commenced on September 7, 1993, and concluded on December 23, 1993, in Los Angeles . Director Jan de Bont used an 80-foot model of a 50-story elevator shaft for the film’s opening sequence. During production, actor Keanu Reeves experienced the death of his close friend River Phoenix . In response, de Bont adjusted the shooting schedule to accommodate Reeves, giving him less demanding scenes. De Bont noted that

Lee Daniel - Misplaced Pages Continue

1376-426: The song " Speed " by Billy Idol . On June 13, 1997, Speed 2: Cruise Control , a sequel to Speed , was released to overwhelming negative reviews and poor box-office performance. Sandra Bullock reprised her role as Annie, reportedly in exchange for financial backing on another project, but Keanu Reeves declined to return as Jack Traven. As a result, Jason Patric was cast as Alex Shaw, Annie’s new boyfriend, with

1419-414: The soundtrack release, a separate album featuring 40 minutes of Mark Mancina's score from the film was released on August 30, 1994, by 20th Century Fox Film Scores . La-La Land Records and Fox Music released a limited expanded version of Mark Mancina's score on February 28, 2012. The newly remastered release features 69:25 of music spread over 32 tracks (in chronological order). In addition, it includes

1462-432: The subway train cannot be stopped. Jack accelerates the train, causing it to derail and crash onto Hollywood Boulevard . Jack and Annie emerge unscathed and share a kiss as onlookers watch in amazement. Screenwriter Graham Yost was inspired to write Speed after hearing about the 1985 film Runaway Train from his father, Canadian television host Elwy Yost . Elwy mistakenly believed the train's out-of-control situation

1505-568: The top 20 films he had seen between 1992 and 2009. Entertainment Weekly ranked the film eighth on its list of "The Best Rock-'em, Sock-'em Movies of the Past 25 Years." Empire included Speed in its "500 Greatest Movies of All Time" list in 2008, ranking it #451. In 2017, BBC 's Mark Kermode revisited the film and declared it a "timeless masterpiece," praising its enduring appeal as an action classic. American Film Institute recognition: A soundtrack album featuring "songs from and inspired by"

1548-548: The two positions. Speed (1994 film) Speed is a 1994 American action thriller film directed by Jan de Bont in his feature directorial debut, with a screenplay by Graham Yost . The film stars Keanu Reeves , Dennis Hopper , and Sandra Bullock in lead roles, with Joe Morton and Jeff Daniels in supporting roles. The plot centers around a city bus rigged by a vengeful extortionist (Hopper) to explode if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Reeves plays an LAPD officer tasked with preventing

1591-449: The ultimatum from Payne—$ 3.7 million in ransom or the bomb will go off. Racing through traffic, Jack boards the bus, but a felon’s panic leads to the driver being shot. A passenger, Annie Porter, takes over driving. With the bomb armed and passengers aware of the threat, Jack contacts Harry for help while trying to keep the bus moving. Despite Payne’s constant surveillance, Jack maneuvers the bus through several dangerous obstacles, including

1634-423: The underground hobo culture film Who is Bozo Texino? . His trademark is "709" and the number can be seen in several of the films on which he has worked. Much like the trademark appearances by Alfred Hitchcock , they are always quick and subtle. Cinematographer The cinematographer is a subordinate of the director , tasked with capturing a scene in accordance with the director's vision. Relations between

1677-611: Was acquired by 20th Century Fox , Speakman was dropped. Stephen Baldwin was initially offered the role of Jack Traven but declined, citing the character’s similarity to John McClane from Die Hard (1988). Richard Grieco also turned down the role, later expressing regret over his decision. Other actors considered for the part included Tom Cruise , Tom Hanks , Wesley Snipes , and Woody Harrelson . Director Jan de Bont ultimately cast Keanu Reeves after seeing his performance in Point Break (1991), believing that Reeves projected

1720-409: Was brought in a week before filming began to rework the dialogue and improve the script. Whedon made significant contributions, including transforming Jack Traven’s character from a maverick hotshot into a more earnest and polite officer, removing forced one-liners, and creating the iconic line, "Pop quiz, hotshot." Whedon also reworked minor characters, such as turning Doug Stephens ( Alan Ruck ) from

1763-458: Was caused by a bomb, leading Graham to think that such a concept would work better on a bus. He initially envisioned a bomb that would detonate if the bus dropped below 20 mph, but a friend suggested raising the speed limit to 50 mph. The film's ending was inspired by the 1976 film Silver Streak . Originally titled Minimum Speed , Yost renamed it Speed to avoid negative connotations associated with "minimum". Yost's initial draft had

Lee Daniel - Misplaced Pages Continue

1806-581: Was formed in 1919 in Hollywood , and was the first trade society for cinematographers. Similar societies were formed in other countries. For example, the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC). Their aims include the recognition of the cinematographer's contribution to the art and science of motion picture making. There are a number of national associations of cinematographers that represent members (irrespective of their official titles) and are dedicated to

1849-475: Was prepared, and a successful jump was filmed two days later, although it traveled further than expected and destroyed one of the cameras set up to capture the landing. Fortunately, another camera, placed 90 feet from the jump ramp, recorded the stunt. The film's final scenes were shot at Mojave Airport , which stood in for Los Angeles International Airport . Shots of the LACMTA Metro Red Line during

#390609