I was aware of Redline (2009) by reputation and programmed its trailer before the Trash Classics screening of Speed Racer; they would make an excellent double feature of late-2000s hyperkinetic racing energy. If the Wachowskis used CGI and digital effects to produce an overstimulating racing experience, Redline can leave behind the human avatars for the cinematic power of anime. Within the animation style of Takeshi Koike, there’s a repeated visual motif is rockabilly styled racing hero JP driving at super sonic speed, the camera frame panning across the interior of the car and JP’s body and face stretched out as if being sucked through another dimension. Such is the level of power being endured to make the finish line.
Finally watching Redline, it felt very Cowboy Bepop in creating a world where the heroes are just cool, supporting characters a feast of exaggerated weirdos and big personalities, and the villains grim fascists. A main event racing competition that takes place every five years, and this time is being held on Roboworld, a hostile dystopian planet that wants to kill all racers and plans to, even if they are racing through the demilitarised zone, which is bound by intergalactic accords. While the build up to the big race doesn’t exactly make for an second hour extended climax (like Mad Max: Fury Road, for example) with the detours and stop-start digressions, Redline was still a whole lot of fun. From its distinctive and colourful animated style, to the thumping electro-rock score that serves the propulsive momentum of the narrative. A slew of memorable exaggerated archetypes – from magic-inflected twin pop-singing babes to a Batman and Robin parody to the most fearsome competitor who is a cyborg that builds himself into his vehicle, there’s a Judge Dredd comic-book satire, though not as violent or bloody, crescendoing into a euphoric victory lap (again, perfect double with Speed Racer). Available to rent on Apple Movies in the English dub. Recommended.
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