Torque (2004)

Biker Cary Ford is framed by an old rival and biker gang leader for the murder of another gang member who happens to be the brother of Trey (Ice Cube), leader of the most feared biker gang ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Kahn

Writer:

Matt Johnson

Stars:

Martin Henderson, Ice Cube, Monet Mazur

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Henderson	...	Cary Ford
Ice Cube	...	Trey
Monet Mazur	...	Shane
Adam Scott	...	FBI Agent McPherson
Matt Schulze	...	Henry James
Will Yun Lee	...	Val
Jaime Pressly	...	China
Max Beesley	...	Luther
Christina Milian	...	Nina
Jay Hernandez	...	Dalton
Faizon Love	...	Sonny
Fredro Starr	...	Junior Wallace
Justina Machado	...	FBI Agent Henderson
John Doe	...	Sheriff Barnes
John Ashker	...	Yellow Car Driver

Storyline

Biker Cary Ford is framed by an old rival and biker gang leader for the murder of another gang member who happens to be the brother of Trey (Ice Cube), leader of the most feared biker gang in the country. Ford is now on the run trying to clear his name from the murder with Trey and his gang looking for his blood.

---

Plot Keywords:

murder | on the run | spit in the face | bullet time | roadblock | 

---

Genres:

Action | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexuality, language and drug references

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Warner Bros [fr]

Country:

USA Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hart am Limit

Filming Locations:

Blythe, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$789,111 (Spain) (19 March 2004)

Gross:

$21,176,322 (USA) (2 April 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Village Roadshow Pictures, Original Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Jet Turbine" Y2K bike that Cary Ford rides to catch Henry actually exists - one is owned by Jay Leno. It's an MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE, powered by a Rolls-Royce Allison 250 turboshaft engine commonly used in helicopters.

---

Goofs

When the bikers tear out of the desert diner, only their tracks are visible, not the cars' that tore out earlier.

---

Quotes

[to Junior]
Sonny: You better count to ten!

---

Crazy Credits

The opening credits cast shadows on the landscape.

---

Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Inglourious Basterds/Post Grad/World's Greatest Dad (2009)

---

Soundtracks

"Master of Light"
Written by David Wyndorf
Produced by Scott Humphrey
Performed by Monster Magnet

User Reviews

I've waited a long time for this . . .

In reviewing the incredible annoying House of the Dead, I wrote, 'Why flirt with the concept of overkill when you can make it say 'whose your daddy?' Torque does not flirt with overkill; Torque *is* overkill's daddy, and it was fun.

Just a few hours before I watched Scary Movie 3 and that film barely managed to summon a chuckle from me. Torque had me in stitches before the first sixty-seconds were up. After years of watching 'serious' films with ridiculously over the top chase sequences (especially lately), finally a movie comes along and puts them all in their place. I have waited a long time for a racing-movie to recognize its own lameness and just (knowingly) go for all the over-the-top stunts it can possibly collect in a loosely strung together plot about a bunch of stereotyped misfits no one really cares about.

As stated above, the key was the fact this film does not take itself seriously. Take for example the MTV quick-cut commercial editing style, its overly colorful nature in sets and props, the comic-book-ish camera angles, the overused CG for impossible camera/bike moves, and the lighting which left the high-contrast shadows in mid-day. Want more? How 'bout when a bike speeds past a road sign, making it do a Looney Toonsesque-spin, and if you look carefully you can see the words 'Cars Suck?'

Everything perfectly matched the goal this film set out to hit, which is basically a tongue-in-cheek XBox game on the silver screen so commenting on the characters and plot seems virtually pointless. It's about as well developed as most action films-characters and plot serve enough purpose to get the bikes from chase scene A to chase scene B while poking fun at characters/lines from other racing films. No more no less.

I personally loved Torque. Would I recommend it to friends, family, or Joe-Shmoe who happens to pass me by in the video store? Well . . . for those who watch films with an anal eye and point out, 'That's not a logical plot point. That defies the laws of physics. That's the single stupidest thing I've ever seen in cinema?' No. Heck no. Don't even pick up the box. However, for those who can watch a film where the comedy lay not in punch lines rather in the style -- a film that's a celebration of all things lame in all of cinema's over-glorified chase scenes? Have a blast and join in with Torque's mockery of the genre.