The Cruise (1998)

Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses. He talks fast, is in love with the city, and dispenses historical facts, ... See full summary »

Director:

Bennett Miller

Star:

Timothy 'Speed' Levitch

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Timothy 'Speed' Levitch	...	Himself

Storyline

Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses. He talks fast, is in love with the city, and dispenses historical facts, architectural analysis, and philosophical musings in equal measures. He's reflective and funny about cruising: he loves it, got in it to meet women, and he'd quit work if he could. His personal life is disclosed in small doses: he takes home $200 a week for 20 hours work, home is his suitcase and wherever he can flop, he's been arrested for going out on the roof tops of skyscrapers to see his city; he stands between the towers of the World Trade Center, spins until he's dizzy, then looks up.

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Plot Keywords:

1990s | tour guide | manhattan | new york | tourist | 

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Taglines:

You are 3 1/2 blocks away from infinity.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

I periigisi

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$139,064 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,127, 25 October 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$238,434, 10 January 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charter Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edward Norton's favorite movie.

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Quotes

Timothy 'Speed' Levitch: I am cruising, currently, right now! I am cruising because I have dedicated myself to all that is creative and destructive in my life right now, and I am equally in love with every aspect of my life, and all the ingredients that have caused me turmoil and all the ingredients that have caused me glory. I am the living, whispered warning in the Roman general's ear, 'Glory is fleeting', and in that verb - that active verb 'fleeting' - there I live, there I reside, in this moment. I have dedicated ...

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Connections

References Spartacus (1960)

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Soundtracks

Spinning
Written by Marty Beller
Performed by Jean Schneider & Pablo Aslan
Published by Skee-Ball Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

What fun!

I am a bit surprised to see the negative reviews on here because I thought the film was an absolute blast! The film follows an eccentric tour bus guide in New York City who speaks in a unique style with a wealth of knowledge about his beloved city. There is no more, on the surface, than that central premise.

However, the gentleman starring in this feature is a more interesting character than one might imagine could exist in such a position. Not only is he quite extraordinarily intelligent, but he has a very unusual perspective and form of delivery that is extremely engaging and fun to listen to.

I found myself not wanting the film to end as I grew to respect some of his ideas more and more. His oddball posture is so unique that it feels as though the movie front-loads viewers with strangeness, only to allow the more relatable side of him to slowly show itself as the film rolls forward. However, his ideas are simply more accessible as his delivery becomes more familiar to the viewer. A second viewing of the film showed me that I was too overwhelmed, in the beginning of it the first time around, by the sheer idiosyncrasy to pay attention enough to follow his line of expression.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes unique characters or really good contemplative and philosophical conversation.