Speed Racer (film)

Speed Racer is a 2008 American live action film adaptation of the 1960s Japanese anime series of the same name. The story involves an 18-year old in 2118 who is a natural born racer. When his brother dies he's out to prove that won't happen again.

Written and directed by The Wachowskis, based on the story by Tatsuo Yoshida.

Speed Racer

Kid

• Can I come with you, Rex?
• But the Mach 5's your car!
• Are you going to the track? Mom said you were, you don't have to drop me off, I can just go with you.
• Hey, you wanna see my car collection?
• He was driving a 68 Fendersend, sweet set of wheels.

Adult

• I don't know why I'm doing it anymore.
• Get that weak shit off my track!
• Have any of these drivers read the rulebook?
• Watch the backdraft!
• Hey, all I was doing was saving your ass.
• If you know so much, why don't you tell me why I should keep racing?
• When I'm driving a T-180 I don't know, everything just makes sense.
• Okay, Mr. Two-time-Grand-Prix-five-time-WRL-future-Hall-of-Fame, teach me something.
• Lesson's over. See you at the finish line.
• I'm not a child, Pops. You can't tell me how to live my life. If you want to fire me as your driver, then fine, do it. But it won't change the fact that I am going to finish this race.
• You'll understand when it's your turn.
• Don't take it out on me because you feel guilty for what happened to Rex!

Racer X/ Rex Racer

Rex Racer

• No way Speed, Pops would kill me.
• Hey Speedy.

Racer X

• SPEED!
• If you say so.
• I'm sorry, that's for you to find out. I just hope that when you do, that I'm there to see it.
• Wa-watch the blind side!
• A CIB man will be posted outside your room. We got their attention today. You and Trixie should be very careful.
• What's he doing here?
• Do what he'd do. Break his legs and let him walk back.
• It doesn't matter if racing never changes. What matters is if we let racing change us. Every one of us has to find a reason to do this. You don't climb into a T-180 to be a driver; you do it because you're driven.
• If I did, it's a mistake I'll have live with.
• Don't fall apart yet... There's still a lot of race to run.

Taejo Togokhan

• Stowaway, we weren't sure what to do with him.
• If we drive tomorrow...like we drove today, WE WILL LOSE! You will get nothing. All of this will be meaningless!
• Speed, what are you doing?
• Where have you been?
• (Repeated Twice) No, Please!
• I understand. People make mistakes.

Others

• Pops Racer: God, you sound like Rex! You wanna die like him, too? Will that make you happy?!

Dialogue

Mom: Distracted?

Speed's Teacher: No, that's not exactly right. Your son seems to be interested in only one thing. All he talks about, all he seems capable of thinking about, is automobile racing.

Mom: Well, you know, his father designs racing cars.

Speed's Teacher: And where is your husband?

Mom: Working. He couldn't be here.

Speed's Teacher: Perhaps the apple hasn't fallen very far from the tree.

---

Racer X: Are you hurt?

Taejo: N...N..No.

Racer X: Then get up.

[Racer X and Taejo drive off]

Taejo: Thank you. You saved my life.

Racer X: I didn't save anything worth saving unless you get smart real fast. You thought you could take on the cartel. You can't. Not without help.

Taejo: I don't know what you're talking about.

Racer X: You've been on Cruncher Block's leash for so long, maybe you forgot how it feels to stand up and be a man. The only way you'll ever stop these people is to bring them to justice.

Taejo: Justice? That's a commodity I don't waste my money on.

[Racer X stops abruptly]

Racer X: Get out.

[Taejo does so]

Taejo: I'll see you at Fuji.

Racer X: You won't finish. When you lose, if you can still dial a phone, [hands Taejo a business card for the CIB] call this number.

---

Speed: [finding him hiding in his trunk] Spritle!

Trixie: You little sneak!

Spritle: It wasn't my idea!

Speed: Oh no?

Spritle: [pointing to Chim-Chim, who points back] It was his.

---

Ben Burns: [to Speed, in the Fuji locker room] Hey, kid.

Speed: Ben Burns?...

Ben Burns: Nice race. I ain't seen moves like that in a long time.

Speed: [pause] Didn't matter. I still lost.

Ben Burns: Yeah. Tough break.

[Pause]

Ben Burns: Well. Good luck. [turns to leave]

Speed: [pause] Mr. Burns, can I ask you something?

Ben Burns: Sure, kid.

Speed: The '43 Prix. Did you know you were gonna win?

Ben Burns: [pause] Y'know, everybody thought that me and Stickleton hated each other. Funny, ain't it?

---

Royalton: [on the phone to Cruncher Block] Ineptitude. IS THIS WHAT I PAY YOU FOR?!?!

Cruncher Block: They ain't chequered yet.

Royalton: If they do, I assure you, it will be a very costly mistake for everyone!

---

Trixie: Oh my God. Was that a ninja?

Pops: More like, a non-ja.--Terrible, what passes for a ninja these days.

Trixie: Cool beans!

---

[Driving on Thunderhead in total fury due to Togokhan reneging on his end of the bargain about the Casa Cristo race, Speed throws Racer X with some aggressive driving. After both spin out, Speed calms down]

Speed: X? Racer X!

Racer X: [recovers] Jesus, kid, you can drive. I haven't been thrown like that in years.

Speed: [deadpan] What are you doing here?

Racer X: The Inspector told me what happened. I came looking for you.

Speed: And why would you care?

Racer X: Because you're a fighter. And a friend.

Speed: Why don't you just tell me the truth? You're Rex, aren't you?

Racer X: You mean your brother?

Speed: You first appeared two years after Rex died. You drive just like him. You knew I'd be here because this is where he always used to take me. Just tell me the truth.

[Racer X unmasks himself, revealing an unfamiliar face. Speed is astounded]

Speed: You're not Rex.

Racer X: No, Speed. I'm sorry, but your brother is dead.

Speed: I'm sorry.

Racer X: Don't be. I'm sure if he was here, he'd be immensely proud of you.

Speed: For what? Making the same mistakes he did?

Racer X: For trying to make a difference. From what I've read, that's all he tried to do.

Speed: And what good did it do? He got killed for nothing. Racing hasn't changed and it never will.

Racer X: It doesn't matter if racing never changes. What matters is if we let racing change us. Every one of us has to find a reason to do this. You don't climb into a T-180 to be a driver; you do it because you're driven.

Speed: If you know so much, why don't you tell me why I should keep driving?

Racer X: Sorry. That's for you to figure out. I just hope when you do, that I'm there to see it.

Cast

• Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer
• Nicholas Elia as young Speed Racer
• Christina Ricci as Trixie
• Ariel Winter as young Trixie
• Matthew Fox as Racer X
• Rain as Taejo Togokahn
• John Goodman as Pops Racer
• Susan Sarandon as Mom Racer
• Scott Porter as Rex Racer
• Paulie Litt as Spritle Racer
• Kick Gurry as Sparky
• Nayo Wallace as Minx
• Benno Fürmann as Inspector Detector
• Togo Igawa as Tetsuo Togokahn
• Yu Nan as Horuko Togokahn
• Roger Allam as E.P. Arnold Royalton
• Hiroyuki Sanada as Mr. Musha
• Richard Roundtree as Ben Burns
• John Benfield as Cruncher Block
• Ralph Herforth as Jack "Cannonball" Taylor
• Christian Oliver as Snake Oiler

External links

• Speed Racer quotes at the Internet Movie Database