I woke up this morning and learned that Jan De Bont’s 1994 action-adventure “Speed” was released in theatres on this day 25 years ago. This information threw me a bit as I realized it has been 25 years since I began my obsession with the art of motion picture storytelling. And nearly 25 years since that video store customer ruined by birthday.
Of all the films in the 1990’s, it might sound strange to say that “Speed” inspired me to make movies, but note that I was turning 10 when the film was released on VHS. I remember watching it in the family room at my parent’s house and being completely immersed. It became a consistent topic of conversation among my friends at the time. As I recall, we all enjoyed the heck out of it and watched it several, several times.
Before all that though, when I was still just a nine year old and it had just become available to rent, I remember asking my mother if we could get it for my birthday party. Not knowing anything about the movie, she said yes. I told all the guys that this would be the feature presentation of my party and in my memory they were at least half as stoked as I was. The day came and my Mom took me to the Blockbuster to rent it. I may have even called ahead to request a hold on it to ensure it would be there. We were standing in line waiting to check out and this woman behind us inquired as to what we are renting.
“Speed,” I said to the lady. Her eyes grow a bit wider and she has this look of concern on her face.
“I understand that’s a very violent movie,” she says. This catches the attention of my mother. She turns around to face the birthday party destroyer.
“Oh?”
The conversation went on to spread this stranger’s concern over to my mother. How dare she? Who does this person think they are? Why can’t we just all stand in line in silence?
My mother turned to me with that look on her face. “I don’t think we can rent this for your party, Michael. I didn’t realize it was such a violent movie.”
As the reality that I was not going to be able to change my mother’s mind set in, I became overwhelmed with sadness and disappointment. This movie was going to be the highlight of my birthday party and now it’s off the table. My friends will think I lied to them and if I tell them there’s no “Speed” they might not even come anymore.
Thinking back on it, my heart breaks for my mother because I know she knew what this movie meant to me. This is the one thing that I wanted and now she had to take it away just as we were so close to the front desk. And it was my birthday.
“You can pick another movie,” she said hopeful that I would. But there was no other movie that I wanted. It was “Speed” or nothing. So nothing it was.
The birthday party went fine, I believe, I have no memory of the details that followed. My mother was right to do what she did and I know it couldn’t have been easy. And shortly after the party, a small group of my closest friends and I got together to watch the movie once our parents could discuss it first.
But that lady behind us in line… You broke my little heart in that moment. I remember what you did almost 25 years later. ?
