My Cultural Diet

This action classic turned 30 earlier this month, and at least 15 years have passed since I last watched it in its entirety, so now seemed like a good time for a revisit. And, following K. B. Hoyle’s lead, introduce my kids to it. So let me tell you, dear reader, that Speed totally holds up. It’s obviously a product of the ’90s (the extremely wide latitude given to the LAPD feels particularly incongruous these days) and the final act is a bit tacked on, but it’s never not a blast to watch (pun intended). Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are delightful with all of their meaningful looks, Dennis Hopper is appropriately kooky, and the stunts and practical effects are refreshing in this day and age of CGI. Indeed, I was struck by just how good the film still looks after three decades. Director Jan de Bont obviously learned a thing or two working as John McTiernan’s cinematographer on Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October. Speed’s action is never edited to the point of incoherence and scenes are given room to breathe, while the film’s visual storytelling is crisp and efficient. As a result, nothing feels rushed or wasted. Put simply, this is ’90s action filmmaking of the highest quality.

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