By T. A. Moreland for Harlem World

The year is 2012.  One the most popular TV programs is a pay-for-view event in which prison inmates use cars as weapons to kill each other in a three round car race. In this program called Death Race, the losers die; the ultimate winner gets his freedom.  

Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) is a down and out steelworker who had raced cars in the past. He’s framed for a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. A mask wearing inmate and fan favorite can no longer drive so the Warden (Joan Allen) offers Ames the mask, the car and chance at freedom.

This film reminds me of a dish I start off disliking but come to enjoy the more of it I eat.  The beginning of this movie was laughably bad. A completely implausible storyline of prisoners committing mayhem and causing each other violent deaths for TV. As much as criminals are despised that would be an international outcry if murders were allowed to kill each other as a form of entertainment.

There are beautiful young women inmates riding along with the convicts as navigators which would only create more political opposition to such an event.

Further, the screenwriters throw in full range of hate-able event participants:  An Aryan racist, a loud mouth Puerto Rican, the brilliant Asian turned multiple murderer and the dark skin, silver toothed, angry black man (Tyrese Gibson – see his video exclusive interview below).  This sinister bunch takes on the hero (Ames) who is a wrongly convicted good guy.

The competition begins with what looks like an amusement park bumper car contest.  And there is something very inauthentic about British actor Jason Statham complete with an accent playing Ames an American steelworker.

My smirking over the absolute ridiculous of this film soon gave way to a genuine interest in what was going to happen next.  Part of the attraction results from the stellar performance of the veteran actress Joan Allen as the warden and brains behind the death races. She’s manipulative, cruel and even strangely, sexy.  The story which evolves in a way that was not expected, becomes an entertaining production.  And if you like violence and action you going to love this movie and even if you don’t, the story is ultimately an interesting one.

Note: There is a song in the film played from sound track using the “N” for those of you who object to its use.

Death Race is Rate R for its extreme violence and ekes out our highest rating, “SEE IT”.

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