It’s Christmas! Usually that would mean chilling out on the sofa with too much cheese/chocolate/booze/whatever and trying to avoid the ire of a non-PC elderly relative. TV schedules are packed with fun-filled family movies over the festive period, but as 2020 has mucked up ‘the normal’ way people do Christmas, car people all over the UK can enjoy the kind of films that they want to watch, not just the kind of thing that’ll placate an over excited child. Here’s a few movies to get you started…
The Italian Job
A bona fide classic, right here. It’s the story of a bunch of criminals trying to steal a whole heap of gold using careful planning, some smart (for the 60’s) tech, and a bunch of cool cars. Not only will The Italian Job make everyone in the house say “You’re only supposed to blow the blahdy doors off” in awful Michael Caine accents, it’ll also make you hanker after an old Mini, want to hoon around an Alp in a Lamborghini, and feel sorry for an Aston Martin DB4. It boasts some truly excellent stunt driving, and an ending that’ll get you thinking for a bit. Do be aware going in, though, that it’s a film very much of its era in its attitudes to, well, anything.
Back To The Future
Is it a car movie? Or is it a time travel movie? Both! It’s the film that made the DeLorean, a woeful car in period, in to an international star. You can praise Christopher Lloyd and Michael J Fox for their performances as Doc and Marty all you like, the thing you’re really there to see is the DeLorean turn tarmac in to fire. The DeLorean’s impact in the film is undeniable, from its sleek lines, occasional lack of reliability, and, y’know, time travelness, it swiftly went from being a bit of a joke (with an incredible backstory attached) to one of the most famous cars in movie history. The film itself is a classic, so there’ll be few complaints if you throw it on.
Gone In 60 Seconds
Where will you find Christopher Ecclestone playing a swivel-eyed loon of a villain, Angelina Jolie with dreadlocks, Nic Cage breathlessly Nic Cageing, and a snake in a Hummer? 2000’s Gone In 60 Seconds of course! The premise of the film is pretty simple: Cage and a band of merry crims need to steal a big list of cars to order by a certain time, else Doctor Who will kill his little brother. Oh, and they’re being chased by the cops the whole time. Cage’s acting is as OTT as you’d expect as well. The metal on show is the kind of stuff that’d make any normal person stop and pay attention, and it’ll make car nerds make all sorts of involuntary noises at the drop of a hat. If you’ve not seen the film, you’ll regardless know about ‘Eleanor’ the Shelby GT500 Mustang star car. Its ludicrous big red button speed boost aside, it’s a stunning car, and one that inspired countless copycats to appear on the market. Just try not to be too put off by the terrible CGI at the end.
Senna
He’s one of the best loved racers to walk the earth, taken way before his time, and the film that bears his name is a brilliant way to learn more about him. Senna is a truly wonderful documentary that’ll reveal more about not only who Ayrton Senna was as a racer, but as a human being as well. The Bafta winning film features interviews with friends, family, fans, and fellow racers, all of whom tell some truly incredible stories. You’ll be gripped by the sympathetic storytelling, and delicate way it handles Senna’s life and eventual death. If you’ve not seen it before, you’ll see why so many people rank this film as one of their favourite documentaries.
Smokey And The Bandit
Ah, the 70’s. A time when men could get away with moustaches all year round without looking sinister, and when the Pontiac Trans Am came with a 7.0-litre engine that produced naff all power… Smokey And The Bandit is something of a classic road trip movie, except this one comes with crime, runaway brides, bar fights, and dog called Fred. Burt Reynolds’ Bandit is challenged to get a literal truckload of illegal beer in record time by a pair of ludicrously outfitted businessmen, and, as you’d expect from a car chase movie made in the 70s, things go a touch awry. Its pacing is slow, and the story is weaker than an MP’s promises, but the ‘car’ side of things is truly excellent. You’ll end up wanting a cowboy hat and a Trans Am when it’s over. Just don’t grow a ‘tache in homage to the late Reynolds. It won’t suit you. If you really dig it, there are two sequels – the second ends with a bizarre trucks V cop cars showdown, which features a truly obscene amount of automotive destruction. The third is, well, even Reynolds decided to do no more than feature as a cameo. Save that for when you’re mostly booze at the end of the day.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, of course, but this little lot should help your Christmas breeze by a little easier. Or if you’re stuck with a grandparent that maintains that being ‘woke’ is some sort of bad thing, these’ll keep them quiet for a bit – especially some bits of The Italian Job…
Keyword: Car Movies To Watch This Christmas