Speed Racer (PG) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Speed Racer (PG, 2008) Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a gifted young driver following in his family's racing legacy, competing behind the wheel of the iconic Mach 5 built by his father Pops Racer (John Goodman). When Speed rejects a lucrative sponsorship offer from the powerful Royalton Industries out of loyalty to his family's independent racing team, he uncovers a dangerous truth: the world of professional racing is secretly controlled by corporate conglomerates who fix races for profit. Determined to expose the corruption and race with integrity, Speed teams up with the mysterious Racer X, his family, and his girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci) to compete in the treacherous Casa Cristo cross-country rally, taking on Royalton's ruthless tactics while striving to prove that skill and honesty can still triumph over corporate manipulation.

Directors Lana and Lilly Wachowski translate the beloved 1960s anime into a hyper-stylized, candy-colored spectacle unlike anything else in mainstream cinema, using groundbreaking digital effects to create a hyperreal racing universe that embraces artificiality rather than hiding it. The film's kaleidoscopic visual palette and impossible physics-defying race sequences function as a direct homage to its animated source material, prioritizing bold expressionism over photorealistic convention. Emile Hirsch anchors the film with earnest sincerity, while John Goodman and Susan Sarandon bring warmth to Speed's supportive family unit. The Wachowskis layer genuine anti-corporate commentary beneath the film's dazzling surface, critiquing the commercialization of sport and entertainment even as the film itself delivers spectacular blockbuster thrills. Though initially misunderstood upon release, Speed Racer has since been reevaluated as a visionary, singular achievement in family filmmaking.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Saturday, August 29th at 4:30PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: PG (Action violence and coarse language)