SPEED KILLS
US, 2018, 102 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Katheryn Winnyck, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Weston, Jordi Molla, Amaury, Nolasco, Kelan Lutz, Tom Sizemore, Matthew Modine, James Remar, Charles Gillespie.
Directed by Jodi Scurfield.
Unfortunately for the distribution of this biographical thriller, practically no one has a good word to say about it, certainly not the critics, and hostility from most of the bloggers.
The film is based on a true story, of Dan Aronow, played by John Travolta Ben Aronoff (and not flattered by reviews either). He was in Florida, is threatened by someone with gangster connections, played by Tom Sizemore, in the film moves into flashback.
Aronoff is connected with the gangster, well-known, Meyer Lansky, with a business in New Jersey. He moves to Florida, becomes involved in racing boats, building up a successful business. However, he is dominated by the mob and his business is a cover for drug distribution and dealing. He marries, has problems with his son, the action taking place over more than 20 years.
The film has a reasonably strong cast, has a lot of speeding boat races, has domestic drama, threats from gangsters, and a grim ending.
1. Based on a true story? The 1960s to the 1980s? American mob stories?
2. The opening, New Jersey, the dealership, Ben Aronoff, being called to account, his stance, driving, his being killed? The device of the flashback, for almost 30 years?
3. The action in Florida, the coast, boats, homes and mansions, clubs, dealerships, the homes of the mob members? Police and FBI precincts? On the sea? The musical score?
4. John Travolta as Ben Aronoff? Over a period of a quarter of a century? His wife, the children, his achievement in New Jersey, building shopping balls? Wealth? The transition to Florida, his desire not his wife’s? Plans?
5. The speedboats, his immediate attraction, the details, the exhilaration of driving? His collaborators, learning? His decision to build boats? His career over the years, success, his selling the boats? His participation in the races and winning? His sons accident, going to hospital, alienating his wife? The social and the encounter with Emily, his pursuing her, her falling in love with him? Marrying, the son? A new and different life?
6. Milo Lansky, audience knowledge of him and his work for the Mob? His personality, the discussions with Ben? Dealing, oats for drugs? Lansky and his going to Israel to avoid the FBI, the return to the US, his confrontation with Ben, accusing him of taking the money? Further deals for smuggling? His collapse and death? His nephew, interactions with men, Ben’s dislike of him?
7. Robbie Remo, relationship with Lansky, dealings with Ben, jealousies? Deals, violent threats, undermining him? The plan to build a rifle shipbuilding business? Ben pushing him into the water? The buildup of animosities, Robbie and his henchman?
8. The FBI agent, the discussions with Ben, friendly, Ben keeping respectable? The FBI and gathering information, ready to move to a arrests?
9. Ben, the threats, the violence, sending Emily and his son to New Jersey? The drive to the airport and the dangers, Ben intervening, the crash?
10. Ben, returning to New Jersey – and the return to the scene of the interview, the threats, his being shot?
