I happen to be a fan of director Paul W.S. Anderson, but he has a horrid tendency of missing the point. That is apparent with the direction of the "Resident Evil" franchise (Why would anyone write a film that brings out the worst from Russell Mulcahy?). There was his good "AVP" film that should have targeted an R-Rating just to prevent its bad and overly violent sequel.
Anderson's most recent flawed tale is "Death Race", an action drama without the camp/best elements of the film it was based on "Death Race 2000". It also lacked the dark humor and dead pedestrians. Since Uwe Boll has not obtained the rights to "Carmageddon", why would one abandon the grindhouse feel of this David Carradine/Sylvester Stallone classic?
The American way is to embrace violence, so say the president of the totalitarian United American Provinces. What better way to do so than by hosting an annual transcontinental rally known as the Death Race?
The nation's five best racers: Calamity Jane, Nero the Hero, Matilda the Hun, Machine Gun Joe Viterbo, and the rebuilt Frankenstein, will race across the country, from New York to New Los Angeles. Of course with so many miles to cover, the race would be pretty boring if they did not encourage running down the poor saps who happen to be on or near the routes. It is the first true sport that it is not about winning or losing, but how you choose to maim.
"Death Race 2000" shows how America has lost its sense of fun and imagination. Everything today is bleak as if we have given up because there is no threat of Russian Imperialism or American Fascism (The first draft of this review was written in 2010.). Our governments are stable and anarchy has no chance of changing the landscape of things to come. Marshall law or the kill or be killed mindset is just too impractical. It make me wonder how the "Escape From New York" remake will be worthwhile.
"Death Race 2000" is a vintage B-movie that may feature the only truly villainous Sylvester Stallone. Most of the budget must have went into designing the cars because the sets are beyond cheesy.
For the most part, the film delivers on action but we are kind of let down by anti-climatic deaths of the drivers. There is plenty of collateral damage, but no true car on car violence. This is a film where you want to joyfully cringe at the carnage. There is no room for a funny ha ha kill of our primary cast.
Aside from that, you cannot help but enjoy the premise and the tacky Roger Corman nature. It holds nothing back in terms of being gratuitous making it a brilliant grindhouse picture.
"Death Race 2000" is a prime example of the freedom cinema once had. A film for video game fans and anyone else with an American dark...black sense of humor. Nothing is tame about this film and the filmmakers need to start embracing that attitude once again.
