This short with the possible exception of Inarritu's Powder Keg is the best from the BMW series. This one is a typical film you might expect from Wong Kar Wai (very dark and film noirish). It should not be missed by any of his fans.
30 Reviews
Very romantic and touchy
jolka2 August 2006
This episode of the series is the most 'filmish' of all. What I mean is that the action concentrates not around the driving itself, but about the plot, the idea - and driving is only entwined with the action, but doesn't guide it.
The driving during all the episode resembles a dance - they two are moving tenderly, closely, yet intently. Storytelling is non-linear, but this dance runs through all the episode. At the same time the details, which are highlighted now and then, make all the plot somehow intimate. And the music matches the mood appallingly.
If other episodes could be associated with a comedy, a thriller or an action movie, this one is sure to be a melodrama: it's very romantic.
Well, you'd better see it - I doubt you'll regret you did.
The driving during all the episode resembles a dance - they two are moving tenderly, closely, yet intently. Storytelling is non-linear, but this dance runs through all the episode. At the same time the details, which are highlighted now and then, make all the plot somehow intimate. And the music matches the mood appallingly.
If other episodes could be associated with a comedy, a thriller or an action movie, this one is sure to be a melodrama: it's very romantic.
Well, you'd better see it - I doubt you'll regret you did.
BMW Films Delivers Again
camraman8 December 2001
BMW Films currently has 5 offerings and all of them deliver. In comparison to the rest, this one is subdued in vehicular action. The plot, suspense and mystery still keep you holding on until the surprise ending. An uncredited Forest Whitaker does a fine job as the investigator. BMW Films has presented talented actors/actresses without billing them.
The Finest Film in a Wonderful series ...
LateNightCable28 July 2003
I agree that The Follow is the finest film in " The Hire " series of BMW short films. With it, director Wong Kar-Wai gives us a unique take on the series. The photography, and music blend perfectly to make the film itself very simple, elegant, and more poignant then you would ever expect a " promotional film " to be.
The performances are genuine and unhurried, which aside from Clive Owen as The Driver, include the talents of Mickey Roarke and Forrest Whitaker. This really does leave you wishing it was a full length feature.
Something I have noticed in all of the BMW films is the attention paid to atmospheric sound, the effects are always excellant. I highly recommend viewing all the films in The Hire series, but particularly The Follow.
The performances are genuine and unhurried, which aside from Clive Owen as The Driver, include the talents of Mickey Roarke and Forrest Whitaker. This really does leave you wishing it was a full length feature.
Something I have noticed in all of the BMW films is the attention paid to atmospheric sound, the effects are always excellant. I highly recommend viewing all the films in The Hire series, but particularly The Follow.
The most subtle of the series, the most docile, possibly the most emotional
bradeeoh22 July 2001
So, this third installment in the "The Hire" series doesn't have any hard core car chases and the cars don't even get damaged, at all! But the cars are there, and the story makes up for the lack of action.
I won't get into details, because they would give away much of the film. But, here's an incredibly brief synopsis - The driver is hired to follow an actors girlfriend out of paranoia (her in the Z3 roadster and him in the 330 ci) but along the way, we see the story take a brutal turn and we get to see the driver have a heart, for the first time.
Being halfway through the series, and taking into account what came before and after it, this is a nice break in the adrenaline that will pull on your heart-strings more than your passion for the cars and the speed, but you'll still love it.
I won't get into details, because they would give away much of the film. But, here's an incredibly brief synopsis - The driver is hired to follow an actors girlfriend out of paranoia (her in the Z3 roadster and him in the 330 ci) but along the way, we see the story take a brutal turn and we get to see the driver have a heart, for the first time.
Being halfway through the series, and taking into account what came before and after it, this is a nice break in the adrenaline that will pull on your heart-strings more than your passion for the cars and the speed, but you'll still love it.
The first classic episode of the BMW series.
HypnoticEye5 June 2003
While John Frankenheimer and Ang Lee made films whose primary purpose is to show off the new line of BMW cars, Wong Kar Wai's FOLLOW is the first to actually try to make a genuine piece of art where the cars plays a secondary purpose. A driver (Clive Owen) is hired to keep surveillance on a movie star's wife, and begins to find himself emotionally involved.
OK, the plot is standard film noir material, but it is Wong Kar-Wai's elliptical visual style juxtaposed with melancholy music that creates an unforgettable mood piece that rejuvenates noir cliches. A perfect example is when Clive Owen looks into the wife's face and suddenly realize why she's attempting to leave her husband. It's just a simple understated shot that would be absolutely beautiful until you realize what the camera is focusing on.
This is a short film that a viewer would wish to be a full-length feature to stay in the sad stylish world that it has created. Now how many car commercials can claim that?
OK, the plot is standard film noir material, but it is Wong Kar-Wai's elliptical visual style juxtaposed with melancholy music that creates an unforgettable mood piece that rejuvenates noir cliches. A perfect example is when Clive Owen looks into the wife's face and suddenly realize why she's attempting to leave her husband. It's just a simple understated shot that would be absolutely beautiful until you realize what the camera is focusing on.
This is a short film that a viewer would wish to be a full-length feature to stay in the sad stylish world that it has created. Now how many car commercials can claim that?
One of the most beautiful in the series...though not one of the best overall.
planktonrules13 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
In 2001 and 2002, BMW hired some of the world's greatest living directors and Guy Richie (who actually made one of the best of these shorts) to make eight short but very cinematic films. All of them featured a BMW as well as Clive Owen in the lead, but otherwise the directors and directors were apparently allowed to carry out their vision in making some truly outstanding films. This is the fourth of the series that I have seen and it's just amazing that the folks at BMW managed to get John Frankenheimer, John Woo, Ang Lee and others to make these films--as well as the acting talent they could assemble.
In this particular film, Wong Kar Wai ("Chungking Express") directs and the film co-stars Forrest Whitaker and Mickey Rourke--all these in a genre that almost always features "newbies"!! This is the prettiest of the the shorts I've seen so far. The camera-work and especially the music are just wonderful--it's a real nice work of art. The problem, however, is that the story itself seems just too short--even for a short film. At about 8 minutes in length, I wish in hindsight they'd perhaps added another couple minutes, as the film just seemed incomplete. Interesting, yes, but incomplete. See it yourself and see if you agree with me--exceptionally artistic but missing something.
By the way, it is interesting that although you assume Clive Owen is an assassin in "The Follow", this is never explicitly stated! In addition, in all the other shorts I've seen so far, he's been a heroic sort--here he's much more morally ambiguous. I wanted to know more about this--it seemed like an interesting idea.
In this particular film, Wong Kar Wai ("Chungking Express") directs and the film co-stars Forrest Whitaker and Mickey Rourke--all these in a genre that almost always features "newbies"!! This is the prettiest of the the shorts I've seen so far. The camera-work and especially the music are just wonderful--it's a real nice work of art. The problem, however, is that the story itself seems just too short--even for a short film. At about 8 minutes in length, I wish in hindsight they'd perhaps added another couple minutes, as the film just seemed incomplete. Interesting, yes, but incomplete. See it yourself and see if you agree with me--exceptionally artistic but missing something.
By the way, it is interesting that although you assume Clive Owen is an assassin in "The Follow", this is never explicitly stated! In addition, in all the other shorts I've seen so far, he's been a heroic sort--here he's much more morally ambiguous. I wanted to know more about this--it seemed like an interesting idea.
Less driving than the others, but not bad
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews3 December 2004
This one has fairly little action(no, that's not true... it has no action whatsoever) and not much driving, but the interesting cinematography, good direction, well-written plot and good acting by all actors involved make it worth watching. The direction(and probably the cinematography as well) can be credited to the director, Kar Wai Wong, who does a pretty good job on telling an interesting story in a fairly short period of time. The voice-overs by Clive Owen were a very nice touch, and made the sequences of him following the wife more interesting. The well-written plot can, again, be credited to the talented writer, Andrew Kevin Walker, who is probably most well-known for writing David Fincher's Se7en. As for the acting; Clive Owen turns in yet another very good performance as The Driver, Mickey Rourke does a very good job as the husband and even Adriana Lima(who is a model, not an actress) gives a believable performance, as the wife(although arguably she doesn't have to do very much in the role). The uncredited Forest Whitaker also gives a great performance, as always. The film is thoroughly interesting, maybe mainly because of the directors(apparently trademark... I wouldn't know, I haven't seen any other films by him) non-linear method of storytelling. All in all, less driving than the others, but not bad... just a little less than what it could have been. Worth watching for fans of the commercials and possibly of the director. 7/10
Best in the series.
girmo20039 September 2001
The BMW Film series films are all excellent. I particularly appreciate the humor of "Star" and the sensitivity and awareness of "Powder Keg," but "The Follow" seems to stand out as the best film of them all. The Driver seems more relaxed and perhaps more together in this of all of the films. He starts out detached, coldly explaining the best way to tail someone, but becomes human, identifying with the heroine and allowing justice to be served. Amazingly all accomplished in 6 minutes. Clive Owen is great as always and Forest Whitaker is affecting in an unbilled performance. 9/10
Looks great, but a little slow
rbverhoef24 May 2003
'The Follow' again is written by Andrew Kevin Walker, just as 'Ambush'. We know him as the writer of 'Se7en'. The story is pretty good but a little slow as well. Mickey Rourke is a husband who lets someone hire The Driver to follow his wife (Adriana Lima). The one who hires The Driver is played by Forest Whitaker. As always in this series the ending of the short is very good. It looks great but like I said it is kind of slow.
Truly haunting little film
polkablues8 June 2001
I just watched the first four in the series of "BMW Films", and this is by far the best. I was more familiar with the other three directors (the great Ang Lee, the very good Guy Ritchie, and the stunningly adequate John Frankenheimer), but after seeing "The Follow" (and reading someone compare Kar-Wai's "In the Mood for Love" with Soderbergh's "The Limey") I feel a strong need to search out more of this director's work.
"The Follow" avoids the "five minutes worth of car chase" formula employed by the other BMW films, instead reaching for a more haunting, psychological examination of obsession and the loss of love. Clive Owens is given more to work with here than in any of the other films, and he comes through like a champ, delivering a lyrical, understated narration that the film would fall apart without. Mickey Rourke is solid, but his role goes by so fast that he doesn't get a chance to do much. Forest Whitaker is better, though for some reason uncredited. If you get a chance to watch this movie, by all means do it. Among the top five short films I've seen. Now I need to go see if I can find a copy of "Chungking Express" to rent.
"The Follow" avoids the "five minutes worth of car chase" formula employed by the other BMW films, instead reaching for a more haunting, psychological examination of obsession and the loss of love. Clive Owens is given more to work with here than in any of the other films, and he comes through like a champ, delivering a lyrical, understated narration that the film would fall apart without. Mickey Rourke is solid, but his role goes by so fast that he doesn't get a chance to do much. Forest Whitaker is better, though for some reason uncredited. If you get a chance to watch this movie, by all means do it. Among the top five short films I've seen. Now I need to go see if I can find a copy of "Chungking Express" to rent.
Not the best out of all the series, but still must be seen.
Batkid13 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The Plot: Clive Owen ( before he was in "The Bourne Identity," "King Arthur," "Elisabeth: The Golden Age," and "Sin CIty" ) plays a "hire" who drives people places they desperately need to go.
Often times, they are working for something "top secret" and can only give our protagonist limited information.
Also, this is meant to show off the BMW car and is executive-produced by Tony Scott, Ridley Scott and David Fincher ( Panic Room, Alien 3 ).
In this episode directed by Kar Wai Wong, our hero is hired by a client ( Forest Whitaker in an uncredited cameo ) to follow a celebrity's ( Mickey Rourke ) girl, suspected of adultery, without getting too close or too far away to where he will lose her.
The reason this isn't that great is because the BMW car is hardly seen and it's probably the shortest out of the entire series.
Often times, they are working for something "top secret" and can only give our protagonist limited information.
Also, this is meant to show off the BMW car and is executive-produced by Tony Scott, Ridley Scott and David Fincher ( Panic Room, Alien 3 ).
In this episode directed by Kar Wai Wong, our hero is hired by a client ( Forest Whitaker in an uncredited cameo ) to follow a celebrity's ( Mickey Rourke ) girl, suspected of adultery, without getting too close or too far away to where he will lose her.
The reason this isn't that great is because the BMW car is hardly seen and it's probably the shortest out of the entire series.
Slow with not much of a payoff
Humdinger6910 December 2013
The third in the BMW film series The Hire and the most disappointing one so far. No car chases in this one. This time around the driver (Clive Owen), is hired to find and spy on the wife of a movie star (Mickey Rourke).
I'm not saying an action movie has to have car chases to be good, but nothing really happens in The Follow. Most of it was pretty boring, and there was really no payoff in the end.
To be honest, all of the Hire shorts I've seen so far have been pretty underwhelming, but this one takes the cake.
4 out of 10
I'm not saying an action movie has to have car chases to be good, but nothing really happens in The Follow. Most of it was pretty boring, and there was really no payoff in the end.
To be honest, all of the Hire shorts I've seen so far have been pretty underwhelming, but this one takes the cake.
4 out of 10
Beautiful!
Boba_Fett113817 April 2005
Visually this is a beautiful short. It has some amazing cinematography by Harris Savides who also made moody movies like "The Game", "Finding Forrester" and "Birth". The fine directing is from Kar Wai Wong, who makes this short a little piece of art.
The story is also what helps to make this movie beautiful. Although its short it still manages to create depth and stir up the right emotions. This is the second and so far last "The Hire" short written by expert Andrew Kevin Walker. If you only like and expecting a cool car chase than you're better of watching another "The Hire" short and you can just better skip this one.
The good mood music is from Joel Goodman and Jeff Rona.
Famous stars in this are Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker in an uncredited but big role.
The third "The Hire" movie is just simply beautiful!
9/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
The story is also what helps to make this movie beautiful. Although its short it still manages to create depth and stir up the right emotions. This is the second and so far last "The Hire" short written by expert Andrew Kevin Walker. If you only like and expecting a cool car chase than you're better of watching another "The Hire" short and you can just better skip this one.
The good mood music is from Joel Goodman and Jeff Rona.
Famous stars in this are Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker in an uncredited but big role.
The third "The Hire" movie is just simply beautiful!
9/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
BMW Films has yet to let me down - fantastic.
pooter-25 June 2001
Another great short film from BMW films. Clive Owen is impressive as always as The Driver, but this time, he has heart instead of speed. Forest Whittaker is also wonderful and appears unbilled. A simple story told well brings a lot of emotion to a mere 6 and a half minutes. Bravo.
Surprisingly engaging short well delivered by Kar Wai Wong
bob the moo25 April 2012
I was surprised to find that the director of the second film in the BMW series The Hire was Ang Lee, so imagine how I felt when this one was directed by Kar Wai Wong, he of In the Mood for Love and other films where car chases do not feature particularly highly; to say the least I was curious as to what he would deliver here. The plot this time is a tailing job – a movie star's agent hires the Driver to follow the star's wife to confirm she isn't cheating on him; a simple job but then perhaps not.
What Wong delivers is actually a really nice short film that delivers substance in a way the previous two had not while also giving the guys paying for the film plenty of slick shots of their cars in motion. The film opens with some shots with an artistic slant and it continues as such throughout. In the previous films the Driver had been mostly silent however here his narration is key and it is pretty well written to be about the art of The Follow while also filling in the story as we go along. OK, it is a flaw of the film that his technique looks awful (he seems far too obvious to me!) but the narration and the style help cover this minor quibble.
The film has a great style to it and Wong really does a good job with the following sequences. Unable to work with the thrill of a chase, he instead captures moments of slick beauty as the two cars move around cities and landscapes – it had a real flow to it and looked beautiful; the shots after stopping at the bank were particularly memorable. The cast do well here, Owen is better with some character to talk about while the quality of Whittaker, Rourke and the looks of Lima all help the feel of the film as slick and polished.
The Follow may lack the action chase sequence of the other films thus far, but it produces something I enjoyed much more as a short film (as opposed to an action clip). The story is good, the narration adds a layer to the film and yet Wong still manages to make the central product look good. Very good little short that rises above its commercial heart.
What Wong delivers is actually a really nice short film that delivers substance in a way the previous two had not while also giving the guys paying for the film plenty of slick shots of their cars in motion. The film opens with some shots with an artistic slant and it continues as such throughout. In the previous films the Driver had been mostly silent however here his narration is key and it is pretty well written to be about the art of The Follow while also filling in the story as we go along. OK, it is a flaw of the film that his technique looks awful (he seems far too obvious to me!) but the narration and the style help cover this minor quibble.
The film has a great style to it and Wong really does a good job with the following sequences. Unable to work with the thrill of a chase, he instead captures moments of slick beauty as the two cars move around cities and landscapes – it had a real flow to it and looked beautiful; the shots after stopping at the bank were particularly memorable. The cast do well here, Owen is better with some character to talk about while the quality of Whittaker, Rourke and the looks of Lima all help the feel of the film as slick and polished.
The Follow may lack the action chase sequence of the other films thus far, but it produces something I enjoyed much more as a short film (as opposed to an action clip). The story is good, the narration adds a layer to the film and yet Wong still manages to make the central product look good. Very good little short that rises above its commercial heart.
short but sweet
Thomas Dice II6 December 2001
I checked out 'The Follow' mostly due to the attractive BMW commercial to hit their new films site. I think if more car companies took the cinema approach to showing off their cars, it would be a much more pleasurable experience. Rourke and Whitaker fit their roles as the abusive husband (ironic he took this role) and the agent perfectly, and Owen is suitable as a stunt driver and actor.
And in case anyone was wondering, the end song is "Una Palabra" by Charly Garcia and Mercedes Sosa. Beautiful end song to a very short but enjoyable experience.
And in case anyone was wondering, the end song is "Una Palabra" by Charly Garcia and Mercedes Sosa. Beautiful end song to a very short but enjoyable experience.
Good message, otherwise rather forgettable
Horst_In_Translation2 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Chinese director Wong Kar Wai's "The Follow" is another of the BMW promo short films written by Andrew Kevin Walker, (Se7en) and starring Clive Owen as the mysterious Driver. It's an exception, however, with regard to the storyline. This one has no wild car chase, but is really more of a thriller featuring actors Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker who gave two of the most lauded performances of the 2000s ("The Wrestler", "The Last King of Scotland"). As I thought about some of the other promo films that the car action was the worst part, I'm kinda missing it here. The Driver has to fill in as a private eye spying on an allegedly unfaithful wife and, in the process, tells us about the motivation behind it and we see a decent display of Rourke aching from being cheated on and alcohol abuse.
Sadly, I didn't really like this one that much. Especially looking at the cast, this could have been a lot better, especially with Wong Kar Wai seemingly having all the freedom he wanted as there was really nothing in here that hinted at being a BMW commercial.
Sadly, I didn't really like this one that much. Especially looking at the cast, this could have been a lot better, especially with Wong Kar Wai seemingly having all the freedom he wanted as there was really nothing in here that hinted at being a BMW commercial.
Gorgeous-looking and melancholic
ganbare124 June 2001
Hong Kong acclaimed director Wong Kar-wai ("In the Mood for Love", "Happy Together", "Fallen Angels", "Chungking Express") directed this short film about for German car manufacturer BMW (bmwfilms.com). Clive Owen plays a detective on an assignment to follow an actress. Instead of hard-selling the BMWs which we might expect Wong portrays the psyche of the detective in the form of monologue.
This short film is breathtakingly gorgeous (especially the first minute or so). Wong chose to mute the sound of the car and superimpose Silvio Rodriguez's Unicornio, which I think is beautifully done.
WKW has done it again. Definitely check it out if you like to look at beautiful things.
This short film is breathtakingly gorgeous (especially the first minute or so). Wong chose to mute the sound of the car and superimpose Silvio Rodriguez's Unicornio, which I think is beautifully done.
WKW has done it again. Definitely check it out if you like to look at beautiful things.
The best of(f) the lot.
leecmoyer15 June 2005
Beautiful, lyrical and - unlike so many of its commercial brethren - this one actually has a story to tell. And it makes me want to rent every one of the director's films.
While I felt that Clive Owen was auditioning for Bond in this series of ads, I liked him a lot more here - a hint of character, backbone and story go a long ways... And I've enjoyed Forest Whitaker ever since he stole The Color Of Money from Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. But where that film never seemed to get going again after he left it, this one moves ahead nicely.
Recommended.
While I felt that Clive Owen was auditioning for Bond in this series of ads, I liked him a lot more here - a hint of character, backbone and story go a long ways... And I've enjoyed Forest Whitaker ever since he stole The Color Of Money from Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. But where that film never seemed to get going again after he left it, this one moves ahead nicely.
Recommended.
Mickey Rourke--nothing ever changes
chulo376 December 2001
I had to watch this film, the third short in the BMW series, several times before I appreciated how good it is. The spare dialogue is perfectly timed to bring out the pure visual lyricism of the film. Solid supporting cast including the always watchable Forrest Whitaker and Mickey Rourke--art imitates life.
The best use of music in a film you've ever seen
luddite-130 August 2001
This was a fantastic cinematic experience. Everything in this film, every line, every move, it all means something. Kar-wai Wong shows himself to be master here, and Clive Owen shows just how effortless great acting appears. Why isn't this man Bond?
Best in the BMW Films series
kenlau6 July 2001
By far the best short in the BMW Films series, this piece by director Wong Kar-wei pays homage to the Los Angeles noir films of past, with a mesmerizing soundtrack by Silvio Rodriguez Dominguez that makes you wish this was 120 minute feature. With a welcome cameo by Forrest Whittaker and a luscious, mesmerizing monologue by Clive Owen as the reluctant hired-gun, "The Follow" indeed follows the noir mantra that all is not what they appear to be.
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