Ticker

TICKER is the short film out of the famous "The Hire" series, that I liked best. Why? It has a great opening shot taking you right into the action filled chase of the Z4. Soon the reason of this chase is revealed up to a point where you still don't really know anything for sure. And the story stays tense until the final scene, revealing what's actually in the case Don Cheadle was so worried about throughout the short film.

It's great story-telling combined with good acting, surprise cameos by e.g. Ray Liotta, well choreographed action and good camera work, but you should see for yourself (once you know the ending, watching the film will not be the same, so enjoy the first time!)

Having just watched his work in The Grey, I was quite surprised and happy to see Joe Carnahan's name pop up as being the director of this second of the second series of BWM-produced short films. The story such as it is, begins with bullets pelting the roadway all around the Driver's BMW. His passenger has a briefcase that has to be delivered to its destination – a briefcase that just started leaking a flammable fluid and has begun a countdown sequence.

The story behind this starting point is played out quite nicely in flashbacks before the reveal at the end and, while it doesn't make a massive amount of sense, it does work for what it is – providing a decent conclusion but also mystery up till that point. Of course this all comes to nothing if the short can't deliver a certain amount of tension and pace and here on both fronts it does. The direction is good throughout and with the cinematography and (most importantly) the editing, it not only looks good but has energy and pace while also being able to retain that while cutting away to fill in the story. Gilroy is the one though – I thought it was edited perfectly to make everything work as well as it did, not easy considering telling the story is in the construct. Of course, having a score from someone like Clint Mansell does no harm either.

The cast are mixed. Owen is really good with his urgent delivery and good presence, while Cheadle is just as good while retaining the mystery of his character. What didn't work so well for me though was how many other faces are crammed into this very short film – particularly the ones that barely have a word to say. Abraham is probably not the worst of these as he is a key player at least, but it is just distracting and unnecessary to have Patrick, Haysbert and Liotta in there for no reason; their presence late on in the film distracted me with thoughts of what they were going to do (the answer is "nothing" by the way).

This gripe aside though, this is urgent and enjoyable with a decent plot and makes for one of the better of the BMW short films.

What makes this "The Hïre" short slightly better than most of the others is the very solid acting in this movie. Don Cheadle gives away a very solid performance.

Also the action is once more top-class! The Driver versus a helicopter is a very cool thing to watch.

I also love the way the story is told and it's edited well together by John Gilroy. Also the story itself is very solid and exciting and is very well constructed, completely with a solid and satisfying ending. Good job Joe Carnahan and Joe Sweet!

Also look for some small cameo's by F. Murray Abraham, Ray Liotta and Robert Patrick.

8/10

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If you you have nothing to do and have a cable or DSL connection you should defiantly download all of the BMW films movies and watch them. These are great movies that appear to be based off of recent 007 films with the stunt driving that they have in them. Hopefully BMW will make larger movies so that they can get more plot into them. At around 8 or 9 minutes a piece, they end before you fully get into the scene.

This is among the best of BMW Films to date, a charged and emotional action short revolving around a mysterious suitcase. The Driver and the man who holds the suitcase are being chased by a helicopter whose passengers fire incessently to stop the delivery, and The Driver demands to know why it is so important that this suitcase be delivered. He gets his answer when blood drips from the package, and when he arrives at the delivery point, and sees an army, both a literal one and one of doctors.