In a world of superhero movies and action extravaganzas, it’s hard to find stories led by emotion and character study, and it’s even harder for those films to get a wider audience to share their message with viewers. But in the case of Sing J. Lee’s The Accidental Getaway Driver, it’s a movie that tries to beat the odds and deliver a story with heart and a message of kindness that audiences need now more than ever. The best part is that it’s a film that does it in style with a distinct visual language and powerfully emotional performances from its cast that audiences won’t soon forget.
The Accidental Getaway Driver follows an elderly San Francisco taxi driver named Long (Hiệp Trần Nghĩa), who picks up a trio of men late at night on his day off. As it turns out, they are criminals who are looking for a smooth escape by taking Long hostage as their getaway driver. However, what starts as a harrowing crime drama quickly evolves into one of the more heartwarming and emotionally driven movies to release this year, especially between Long and another criminal named Tây (Dustin Nguyen), which serves as a testament to why film exists and how it can be used to convey emotion with a distinct style.
The Accidental Getaway Driver Has Its Own Style
Sing J. Lee Shares His Vision Perfectly
The Accidental Getaway Driver serves as Sing J. Lee’s directorial debut after coming from a career in music videos and short films, and all of his education in those projects can be felt in this film. Though this is a largely simplistic story in terms of sets and characters, with a chunk of the narrative being set in a car, there’s an artistic flair. It’s a film set mostly at night or during sunrise, and because of that, it’s a chance for the artificial lights in the San Francisco area to reflect off of the characters and the camera to close in on them. Though these elements don’t always imply a moment where audiences should listen to a character’s inner monologue, it’s clearly designed to showcase the feelings of one character, namely Long. There are more than a few closeups, but they all serve a purpose and allow viewers to connect deeply to Long’s plight in a way that doesn’t involve criminals relentlessly tormenting an elderly man.
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Perhaps one of the best examples of directorial style comes in any instance where Long has a dream of his past, serving to offer context to the story as well. They are brief and dream-like by nature, but it allows Lee to showcase his music video aesthetic as a way to further push the narrative and show just how small Long is as a character and how so much has happened in his life that is only truly explored in dialogue and dreams.
From a visual perspective, The Accidental Getaway Driver is a very raw film that explores every facet of filmmaking style in terms of aesthetics. At night, it leans into the colors and closeups and shows just how small one can feel even in a big city. However, during the day, there’s an almost exposed style that perfectly reflects the characters and how exposed the sunlight brings them, one being a kidnapping victim and the others being criminals trying to hide. Finally, the dream sequences feel different, with almost haunting settings that don’t fit with the film. But this is on purpose as it shows just how versatile the story is, and it can only be conveyed in a visual sense by Sing J. Lee, and his vision is perfectly on display.
The Accidental Getaway Driver’s Cast Honors the True Story
The Characters Connect in an Authentic Way
Though the film is unique, The Accidental Getaway Driver is inspired by a true event from 2016. There are many parallels that the film takes from the real story, and it honors many key aspects that helped drive the film’s drama in a way that stands out with audiences. For starters, it leans into the powerful relationship between the kidnapped and one of the criminals and shows the power and importance of the human condition. But the true story in no way could have been honored without what the main cast offered the film, giving it their all in a way that shows the artistic talent in acting that can be lost in the shuffle of blockbuster franchises being given top billing.
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Hiệp Trần Nghĩa gives a simple but magnetic performance as Long and shows that he’s a man going through the motions with very little to look forward to anymore. Even still, he’s content in the life he has, for what it’s worth, but his desire for more puts him on his life-changing journey. Though audiences see a man who can only understand his home language of Vietnamese, his eyes tell a different story of someone who is scared but also smart. He knows he’s not stronger than three escaped convicts and tries his best to understand his situation and also connect in a way that both keeps him alive and leaves the possibility for something more to grow. But even that’s not possible without the character of Tây.
For Long’s character to succeed, everything hinged on Dustin Nguyen’s Tây, and he delivered in every way. Through their budding relationship, the audiences see a heartfelt story about vulnerability as they explore both characters’ pasts and discern that there’s something unique about them that’s equally important to one another. Nguyen, known for his roles in shows like Warrior and The Man With the Iron Fists 2, gets to flex his emotional range as a conflicted man trying to live a different but better life. Ruled by fear, the audiences see that he’s more than a villain but instead something more complex. As a result, the film delivers one of the most emotional moments of the decade and shows a level of vulnerability that’s hard to capture on camera.
The Accidental Getaway Driver’s Story Leaves Viewers Changed
It’s the Type of Film the World Needs Right Now
It’s easy to see The Accidental Getaway Driver as just another crime drama, but what the film offers is something so much more that the world needs to see to be believed. It’s a story about heart and forgiveness on both sides and shows that in a world that may praise coldness, it’s warmth, tolerance and kindness that can truly make a difference. The story is deceptively simple but emotionally captivating and has the ability to reel anyone in from the first 20 minutes. It’s a bit of a slow-burn, however, and may not be for anyone, but even if this isn’t the genre of choice for a moviegoer, it’s a movie that has the capability to change a viewer should they decide to watch. The best part is that, unlike other films in the crime genre, it leaves the viewer with a sense of hope and a desire to help those in need. In essence, The Accidental Getaway Driver may not be something a person expects when watching, but it’s exactly what they need, especially if one is going through a hard time.
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Though The Accidental Getaway Driver may not be for everyone, it delivers greatly on its visual style and performances. The criminals feel intimidating but equally human, showing the layers to archetypes in media that are often black and white. However, the relationship between Long and Tây shows the importance of not only showing these layers in action but also honoring the true story that inspired the film. Hiệp Trần Nghĩa and Dustin Nugyen shine in the film and deserve any and all accolades they get, but more than that, they deliver performances that will leave audiences feeling changed.
The Accidental Getaway Driver isn’t a movie that sticks to one genre, but whether it’s a crime drama or an emotional film with heart, it succeeds in both attempts. It’s also a film that can’t be recommended enough as it tests newcomers to this type of film to stick it out to the end with a great and important message as a reward and, for those who love these types of films, delivers something new and profound. Either way, anyone who watches can guarantee a changed experience as the credits roll that will keep the movie in the conversation for years to come. In short, The Accidental Getaway Driver is a movie worth watching because its message is enough to impact any viewer.
The Accidental Getaway Driver
- Release Date
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January 23, 2023
- Runtime
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116 minutes
Cast
- Emotional and heartfelt
- Great performances by the cast
- Well directed with a clear vision and style
- A slow burn some viewers may not expect
