Call me crazy, but I liked this movie better than Bullitt. When I first saw Bullitt, I guess I expected a lot. I heard so much about it. Other than a few good car chases, I was disappointed. This movie, however, had better car chases, and I liked how simple the story was. I especially liked Bruce Dern as the crooked cop. Nobody can play a heavy like he can.
shareI agree. I think Bullitt is seriously over-rated. The Driver is fantastic, however.
shareThe chase scenes in The Driver were unbelievable. That first one! The criminals were really blown away and kind of afraid of him when they paid him. And, the "test" scene in the parking garage was a nail-biter, too.
"I was in a tight spot but I managed to wiggle out of it." Mae West
If this came out after Bullitt, then yeah, it would be better. While Bullitt is one of my favorite films, I can admit that there are movies that do things better than the movie (like bring the story together). But what made the movie important was that its reportedly the first film to use its style of chase scene. Real speed, real driving, real fun. Other movies before used sped-up sequences to simulate speed (North by Northwest for example).
Also, the film's overall style and level of "cool" (thanks in part to Mr. McQueen himself) made this classic.
I think Bullitt was released in 1968 while The Driver was released in 1978, it says the top of the page. True about some films improving upon the original. Bullitt was stark and unique.
"I was in a tight spot but I managed to wiggle out of it." Mae West
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Have you noticed that walter hill was assistant director on bullit?
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'But ask yourself this..."Would it have been as good a car movie if the chase seen in "Bullitt" had not set the benchmark?"'
If Bullitt did not set it, the French Connection, the Seven-Ups, Dirty Marry Crazy Larry, etc. would have. Nevertheless, the Driver works on its own merits. Does the plot get overly complex like Bullitt's? Of course not. The Driver, though, is a much more interesting character than Bullitt. As awesomely stoic and cool Mcqueen played Bullitt, he really was a run of the mill character type. The Driver is not a run of the mill character type and, in a certain respect a little bit cooler than Bullitt. Whereas Bullitt's final blow to the main antagonist, Robert Vaughns character, was saying "Bullsh!t" to his face, the Driver's was simply giving the Detective the same cold, and disconnected glare that he gives everyone else.
Instead of a hitlist, I have a Do NOt Kill List . . . . . so far no one is on it.
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What's all this simple plots simple minds bull *beep* An overplotted movie with no depth or filling (ahem, Bullit) can be just as ludicrously stupid as an empty and underplotted movie. The Driver is a lot more than just a car movie - it's got a hell of a lot more going on in it than just car chases and action sequences. You want two movies in one? How about the superficially styled car chases of The Driver coupled with a heaping helping of existential noir?
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"They send a fake witness that unlocks the door?"
Ross himself was responsible for the substitute, who clearly didn't know what was going on.
"Then Johnny Ross's girlfriend is strangled, why?"
It wasn't his girlfriend, it was the substitute's. She was strangled so that she wouldn't tell the police what was going on.
Bullitt certainly had a more complex plot, but I thought The Driver was much more effective. The car chases felt more genuinely exciting, perhaps because there were a few of them. The movie had the right tempo and pace, and didn't feel like it was over extending itself.
The influences of the film were certainly different. The Driver is more existentialist and inspired by Melville. Bullitt is more of a hard boiled, detective story that tends to be more grounded in realism and the police procedural.
One interesting note of IMDb trivia for the Driver. Apparently the lead role was written for Steve McQueen.
They're funny people, the Italians. Culture really isn't their thing.share
"the "test" scene in the parking garage was a nail-biter"
in my humble opinion, one of the best scenes ever...
Yes , in an interview Walter Hill says that he learned how to film car chases while beeing an assistant director in Bullit.
sharei love both but bullitt is better imo after watching the commitment to realism on bullitt which is why i love it
shareTo me they are both good,Bullitt was boring at times,but hearing that 4 barrel open up on that '76 Trans Am was awesome.It was a more car chase movie than Bullitt,since the beginning with the '74 Ford Custom 500,rolling police cars.Firebird escape bank scene.etc.All car chase movies are not created equal.Dont forget "To Live and Die in L.A."That '85 Impala kicked a**!!
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besides great car chases, probably some of the worst acting by bruce dern ever.
Hey, mascot. I need me a BAD TOUCH Krotchy!!
The Driver burns rubber in Bullitt's face and makes it eat its dust.
"...if that was off, I'd be whoopin' your ass up and down this street." ~ an irate Tarantino
First of all, Bullitt's car chase is a classic, recognized by all of Hollywood. The sound effects are much better, the scenes, etc. The car chases in The Driver seem to be the same reel of film and not have a continuous feel. The acting is so average in The Driver and the story is so simple and uneventful. Want a good car chase thriller, The Seven Ups is the best!
share"The acting is so average in The Driver".
McQueen is obviously better and cooler than O´Neal with his puppy dog face and a somewhat wooden demeanor, but otherwise there´s not much of a difference. Neither is what you´d call an actor´s film and features no particularly phenomenal performances - although Bruce Dern is undeniably lots of fun.
"The story is simple and uneventful".
It´s simple, but not exactly uneventful. And Bullitt isn´t exactly terribly plot heavy either.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
The Driver is more existentialist and inspired by Melville. Bullitt is more of a hard boiled, detective story that tends to be more grounded in realism and the police procedural.
Bullitt is one cool car chase, surronded by a forgettable film. Driver is cooler, has more going on, and overall is just the movie that sticks in your mind more after seeing it.
shareBullitt is overrated because of the presence of screen icon Steve McQueen.
The Driver is much better and an underrated classic but it's got Ryan O'Neal in it.
I don't know if I liked this more than Bulitt, but it feels considerably less talked about so when I saw it I was blown away. The Driver should definitely be considered an american classic.
Me too
Bullit very heavy handed plot somehow manage to kill every bit of Steve McQueen coolness
Its a film that leaves me cold
Now, just imagine The Driver played by Steve McQueen, just imagine that...
Not that I have anything with Ryan O'neal but McQueen was born for this role
I agree with the OP, except I wouldn't call Dern's character a crooked cop. He was just a guy willing to bend the rules to catch the bad guys...not much different than Dirty Harry really.
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