We’ve talked about the BMW Films before, starring Clive Owen in their series of shorts entitled The Hire.
Well the news from Autoblog is that BMW are to remove them from the site on October 21st and only offer them on DVD. So if you want to download them you should do so now.
They star a whole range of people from Mickey Rourke to Madonna with such Directors as Guy Ritchie and John Woo.
Much like the guys at Autoblog I do love the Madonna\Ritchie short The Star, which just takes the…mickey out of Madonna so much.
I’d check them out, or you can always buy the DVD version from BMW themselves. Have you seen any? What’s your favourite and why?
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My favorite is probably the short directed by Ang Lee. I really love the classical score & stunt choreography during the car chase scene on the docks. The absolute worse was the Race The Devil (or whatever) w/James Brown.
Here’s more information I just received today:
After four thrilling years, BMW Films’ award-winning on-line film series, The Hire, will take its final bow on October 21.
The sometimes touching, sometimes funny, and always exciting twists of The Hire have attracted over 100 million views. In a powerful turn that reflects the performance of a BMW itself, Clive Owen (star of Closer, Croupier, Sin City, King Arthur and Gosford Park) plays a mysterious driver hired for his sharp driving skills and unswerving cool. Each film presents a fierce new challenge to the driver’s talents.
Directed by filmmakers hailed for such classics as Seven, Face/Off, Top Gun, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and starring some of today’s hottest talents, The Hire broke ground in style while blanketing the viewer in fast-paced suspense. The BMW Films site also features cool extras, including cast interviews, making-of documentaries, and more.
In 2002, The Hire was awarded the Cannes International Advertising Festival’s Cyber Lion Grand Prix prize. The series was inducted into the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Additional accolades include WIRED magazine’s 2001 “Best Excuse for Broadband” award; and, in 2002, John Woo’s episode, “Hostage,” won the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival’s “Best Action Short” award.
As for the DVD, well there is also a little snippet of info:
Only a limited number of DVDs remain, so act now! Get two seasons’ worth of episodes and behind-the-scenes commentary on one DVD, compliments of BMW.
What films are on the dvd?
the website lists “Season One” films; Ambush,Chosen,The Follow,Star,Powder Keg.
and “Now PLaying” films;Hostage,Ticker,Beat The Devil.
Are all these on the dvd?
Also, is the Making Of The Films and Driving Techniques on the dvd?
the wong kar wai one
i love the mellon collie track…
There are only a couple of scenes of movies that really show off the home cinema I have. One is the agent shooting at Neo on the roof in Matrix and the other is the opening sequence of meteors in Armageddon.
These both have great pictures and an amazing audio track that really shows off the audio separation perfectly.
I’ve not heard any of the BMW Films that rival that in audio terms, unmless they’ve totally remastered them. Have they?
One of the best-value DVD purchases you are likely to make. for about $8 (that is the shipping, the DVD is otherwise free!) and you get some fantastic films which I tend to use as a “Home Theatre” demo. Highlights for me are the War Kong Wai film “Following” and the Alejandro Gonz√ɬ°lez I√ɬ±√ɬ°rritu film “Powder Keg”, but really they are all great.
I’ve passed this disc around to so many people with movie tastes all over the map, and haven’t had a complaint about it yet. It is truely the happy middle of art/commerce…Frankly I’m amazed at how many of these short films barely notice the cars at all…