Leave it to movies to make everyday things look a thousand times cooler and more interesting than they are in real life. Take driving, for example. Unless you’re a professional Formula 1 pilot or a Top Gear cameraman, chances are that driving is usually quite tedious and involves getting from Point A to Point B without getting bored or frustrated by traffic, with the occasional exciting road trip. Movie makers, however, have a talent for shooting epic driving scenes and writing complex characters that work as drivers.
Whether you’re a driver yourself or you just love any car-themed movies, the way the (fictional) life of these fascinating drivers is portrayed on screen will definitely inspire you:
1. Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Driver, mechanic, soldier, and all-around epic survivor Furiosa (Charlize Theron) was one of the best parts of the Mad Max reboot and one of the most inspiring female protagonists in recent years. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where water is scarce, and survivors live under the tyranny of Immortal Joe, warrior Imperator Furiosa joins Max (Tom Hardy) in saving Immortal Joe’s five slaves and seeking refuge in the “Green Place”. On the way there, however, they are chased across the deadly desert, in what’s one of the most engrossing driving scenes in recent cinema history. And it’s not just us movie buffs who say that; according to one study, Fury Road really does have the most heart-pumping car chase scenes, causing the viewer’s heart rate to increase by 33%.
2. Sam in Ronin (1998)
Ronin is an all-time classic, and Sam, the protagonist, is one of Robert De Niro’s most iconic roles. A former American mercenary who tries to track down a package that’s wanted both by the Irish and the Russians. The movie received critical acclaim for its intricate plot, but also for its realistic car chase scenes, which were shot in Paris and Nice. For example, the famous freeway chase, where Sam has to dodge his followers while avoiding the usual traffic, took four hours to film on a closed road, and no special effects (not even sound effects!) were used because director John Frankenheimer wanted it to be as realistic as possible. Although the movie employed the help of over 300 stunt drivers for the final chase scene alone, the actors, including Robert De Niro, took high-performance driving lessons before production began.
3. Ricky, in Sorry We Missed You (2019)
Not all driving movies have to involve sports cars and epic chases on the freeway. In the past few months, we’ve all realised that man and van services are essential and that delivery drivers are modern-day heroes, so it was quite refreshing to see a more down-to-earth depiction in Sorry We Missed You. Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the movie tells the story of Ricky, a man who struggles financially and decides to become a delivery driver. Sorry We Missed You gives some insight into the lesser-known daily routines of delivery drivers and the challenges they sometimes face, but, more than that, it’s a touching depiction of how an ordinary family navigates financial stress and a masterclass in acting from leads Kris Hitchen and Debbie Honeywood.
4. Baby in Baby Driver (2017)
Baby, a young man living in Atlanta, has a pretty peculiar job: he’s a getaway driver working for Doc, a criminal mastermind. As a car crash survivor, he was left with tinnitus, but he has a unique talent: by choosing the right piece of music, he can do any driving manoeuvre, no matter how crazy or dangerous it is. After he decides to end his complicity with Doc and settle down as a pizza driver, he gets coerced to take part in one last, life-changing heist. To get out alive from the chaos that ensues, Baby must use all his skill and the right music. Baby Driver is an exciting movie from start to finish, and if you can’t take your eyes off the screen, it’s because the producer carefully synchronised the soundtrack with the driving scenes, so it all flows seamlessly. What’s more, the movie was praised for the original way it depicted a relatable theme: that the right music can help us seek solace from the chaos around us.
5. Vic in Give Me Liberty (2019)
Some driving jobs are epic, but not because they involve sports cars, explosions, and freeway chasing. Being a medical driver is the perfect example. If you want to get a glimpse into that life, you can watch Give Me Liberty, directed by Kirill Mikhanovsky. The movie follows Vic, an overworked medical transport driver who has to navigate crises every day. Almost the entire movie takes place in a medical van, and the dialogue is simply gripping. Although Give Me Liberty is a comedy, it also features several sentimental scenes that depict the struggles that medical drivers have to face.
6. Bond. James Bond.
The Bond franchise achieved many things, including making British cars look incredibly cool on screen. In fact, James Bond may have single handedly made Aston Martin become one of the most coveted car brands in the world. Although he’s not technically a driver, Bond’s image is inextricably linked to that of stylish cars, and his ability to survive a car chase without ruining his posh suit is definitely legendary. Whether you prefer Daniel Craig’s modern depiction of James Bond or the classic Sean Connery, the entire Bond franchise is perfect if you want to see some glamorous cars and explore the history of the British automotive industry in a unique way.