Top 5 car films on Netflix
It’s Easter weekend. You have nowhere to go due to the lockdown. The weather doesn’t look good. So it’s best you hunker down with your laptop and catch up on my favourite car films on Netflix NZ.
They make the top five because of the car chases or just the cars, but most of all they’ll keep you entertained – and hey, you can’t drive anywhere.
In no particular order, here are my top 5.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
This movie has some amazing car - and boat - chases and no CGi allowed. Photo: Imdb
You have Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson partnered up in an action comedy so I may as well stop there. But there’s more to this dynamic pairing with Reynolds as bodyguard Michael Bryce and Jackson as hitman Darius Kincaid.
What makes this a great car film are the chase scenes around the streets of Manchester, British country roads, the canals and narrow streets of Amsterdam and The Hague.
Interestingly, the film has no CGI — instead, veteran stunt coordinator Greg Powell coordinated the action scenes.
John Wick
Keanu, a Russian baddie and Keanu’s third love, his 1969 Ford Mustang. Photo: Imdb
Keanu Reeves gets points for doing most of the driving in this film (though here’s a tip, if you don’t see his face in a scene, it was a stunt driver). Reeves plays retired – and grieving - hitman John Wick whose 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is stolen by some Russian thugs. And, spoiler, they kill his puppy! But Wick comes out of retirement to get his car back – and seek revenge.
Keanu’s scene drifting in a closed airport is enough to appease any petrol head during lockdown.
The Blues Brothers
Look out, it’s the Blue brothers and the Bluesmobile. Photo: Imdb
This 1980 classic will have your laughing, and singing, this long weekend. You have John Belushi playing Jake Blues, who is just released from prison, and his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) who put their old band back together to save the Catholic orphanage they were raised in. Add co-stars such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, plus Carrie Fisher and you are in for a fun ride.
The reason it makes the top five is thanks to the Bluesmobile. It’s a 1974 Dodge Monaco sedan, described as a decommissioned Mount Prospect police car that Elwood bought at an auction.
Gran Torino
Clint’s beloved Gran Torino … so do you feel lucky, punk? Sorry, wrong Eastwood film. Photo: Imdb
Get the tissues out for this 2008 film starring and directed by Clint Eastwood. He plays disgruntled Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski who sets out to remove his neighbour Thao Lor, a teenager who tried to steal Walt’s prized possession: a 1972 Gran Torino (above).
But Walt soon finds himself taking ways to protect Thao and his family from the local gangs that have infested their neighbourhood. After you’ve dried your tears, I bet you’ll be on auction sites looking at the price of a Gran Torino.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The real 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California in the film - don’t worry, it wasn’t harmed. Photo: Imdb
Written and directed by John Hughes, this 1986 comedy features Matthew Broderick in the title role, along with his snitch sister (Jennifer Grey), his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and girlfriend Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara). But you can’t forget the car star – Cameron’s dad’s 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California convertible.
Because an actual Ferrari would be way too expensive to shoot extensively for the film, Hughes used a replica, the 1985 Modena GT Spyder California. The filmmaker bought three Modenas — two to shoot throughout the movie, and one fiberglass shell for that window scene. And don’t bother checking TradeMe for a 1961 Ferrari 250 – it’ll cost you more than $16 million, if you can find one for sale.