Bullet Points: Wheelman
The emergence of Netflix as a platform for new content has opened up my world to whole new possibilities. There are countless shows on there that have been sitting on my queue for ages and each month it seems like there are new Netflix movies that make me itch with curiosity.
Wheelman was a film that I only recently had heard of. It stars Frank Grillo, a man who I recognize most from The Purge series of films but who is probably most famous for his role in the Captain America movies as the villain Crossbones. Grillo, who is now 52 years old, might have missed his chance to be a true action leading man by a few years but he’s a dude who clearly has the ability to break out at any moment.
Synopsis: A getaway driver for a bank robbery realizes he has been double crossed and races to find out who betrayed him.
- The Job: Grillo stars as a character simply known as “Wheelman”. He doesn’t like to chit-chat unless it’s about the job. We’re introduced to him as he’s picking up the car that becomes the getaway vehicle for a bank robbery. Almost the entire movie is shown from inside the car. It’s a unique viewing experience, and while it might not be for everyone, I certainly found it entertaining.
- Break it in: Grillo’s only problem with the car is that it has a red trunk. I guess it makes the car stand out a little more than if it were all one color but Grillo doesn’t waste any time breaking the car in. He drives the shit out of the car from the first moment he sits behind the wheel and there is no arguing that the man knows a thing or two about driving.
- The Characters: Since the film takes place almost entirely in the car, Grillo’s Wheelman is really the only character that matters on screen. We meet his buddy Clay, who set the job up for him. Then we hear several conversations that he has with his ex-wife and daughter. All of which cause more drama which the movie cleverly infuses into the botched robbery storyline. I’m a big Frank Grillo mark so I enjoyed seeing him do all of the heavy lifting for this movie.
- Who needs enemies when you have friends like him: Grillo learns pretty quickly that the job is fudged. He starts to piece everything together as the danger ramps up and he kicks his car and F-bomb usage into high gear. The film starts transitioning the built-up tension into action as Grillo learns that he doesn’t have many people watching his back, except for the guy who has been following him. Luckily, the Wheelman has been driving around town with a loaded AK-47 in the front seat and he gets his money worth out of it.
- Family Matters: Whenever a decent amount of time is spent on introducing family members in a movie, you can be sure that they are probably going to be kidnapped/killed at some point. Wheelman is no different. Eventually, all sides are pointing guns at each other, driving ridiculously fast down mostly abandoned city streets, and cursing loudly into their cell phones.
The Verdict: Having Frank Grillo in the lead role is what caused me to even watch Wheelman and it should come as no surprise that he was my favorite part of the movie. I liked that the movie was short (about 80 mins) and there is never a dull moment once the crew gets together. My wife caught about 30 minutes of the movie and complained about 15 times about the language used but I can’t blame Grillo for cursing. You should see me in rush hour traffic! All in all, Wheelman is a well-shot movie that won’t take much of your time. Grillo is likable while still seeming badass. It’s exactly the type of film that I want to watch for free on Netflix and I recommend you give it a try.
