The Hire

The Hire is a series of short films produced by BMW to market their cars. I first heard of this from a friend who persuaded me to download it from the internet. I did, and I enjoyed watching every single minute of it. You see one of our professors in the DAC department uses these films in his HUM1 classes so that his students could explore the different cinematographic styles used in the series. There are 8 films all in all and each has a different director. All of them by the way are big time directors. Names such as John Woo, Ang Lee, and Tony Scott (directors of movies such as Mission:Impossible II, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Enemy of the State), to name a few, were some of those involved in the project.

The films star Clive Owen as the driver who is hired by the most unusual people because of his skills behind the wheel. The series boast amazing car chases, an engaging storyline, and an intricate plot twist. With an average runtime of only 6 minutes per film, The Hire is comparable, even tops the quality of some feature-length movies. It's highly entertaning and if you're a car afficionado you'll definitely want to watch it. The films can be downloaded at BMW's website, you need a broadband or a dsl connection though.

Anyway here's a rundown of the plot summaries of The Hire:

01 Ambush
Directed by: John Frankenheimmer
On a dark freeway, a van swerves close to the driver and the door slides open. From inside, masked gunmen threaten to fire unless the driver stops and surrenders his passenger, a seemingly harmless man they accuse of smuggling diamonds. It's a simple choice: Do or die. Legendary director John Frankenheimer and star Clive Owen combine talents to create a dramatic chase with some unexpected twists.

02 Chosen
Directed by: Ang Lee
The driver meets a ship carrying an eight-year-old Tibetan boy at a dark, deserted New York shipyard. But he's not the only one waiting. Ang Lee, director of the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and star Clive Owen create a thrilling, yet beautiful, tale filled with mystery.

03 The Follow
Directed by: Wong Kar-Wai
The cunning and tactics of trailing another car quickly evolve into a mystery rife with deceit, as The Driver is hired to follow a woman accused of cheating on her famous husband. Discover acclaimed director Wong Kar-Wai's ability to play heart against mind in this drama of mistrust.

04 Star
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
The driver faces perhaps his most perplexing challenge: Coming face-to-face with a hugely talented and successful rock star. But beneath her beauty lies a problem she always gets what she wants. Guy Ritchie directs Clive Owen and a surprise guest star in a battle of power against power.

05 Powder Keg
Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Soldiers patrol fields and rural villages. Their mission: Find a photojournalist who has snapped a picture certain to unite the world against their leader. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu directs Clive Owen as the photographer's driver and sole hope of getting him and his film beyond the strongly guarded border.


06 Hostage
Directed by: John Woo
The driver races to locate a kidnapped victim locked in the trunk of an abandoned car somewhere on the water's edge. Linked to her only by cell phone, the driver narrows in on her location in a desperate race against time and tide. Preeminent action director John Woo and star Clive Owen pair to create this fast-paced action thriller.

07 Ticker
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
The driver rescues a mysterious messenger carrying an even more mysterious briefcase after an ambush on a rural highway. As a helicopter gunman relentlessly pursues them, a game of political intrigue plays out, with an unforeseen ending. Acclaimed new director Joe Carnahan helms Clive Owen, Don Cheadle, and F. Murray Abraham in this thrilling race against time.

08 Beat The Devil
Directed by: Tony Scott
Decades ago, the legendary James Brown sold his soul to the devil for fame and fortune. Now he wishes to renegotiate. Hired to take Mr. Brown to a rendezvous with the devil (Gary Oldman), the driver soon finds himself entangled in fiendish plans. Tony Scott directs Clive Owen in a satirical duel between good and evil.

This entry was posted on July 19, 2005 at 12:16 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.