BMW's three picture deal to supply James Bond's car came to an end in 1999. MI6 looks at their short film series with 007 #6 candidate Clive Owen in "The Hire"...

Clive Owen in BMW's "The Hire"
22nd February 2005

A New Ride
GoldenEye debuted the much hyped BMW Z3 for a short stint in 1995, and BMW returned in 1997's "Tomorrow Never Dies" with full force with the unusual choice of car in the form of a 7 series saloon car, and BMW's latest RC1200 cruising motorbike. The three picture deal was finalised in 1999 with Pierce Brosnan;s third outing as James Bond in "The World Is Not Enough".

BMW reappraised their role as supplier to Bond with the retro Z8. In 1999 BMW's Bond contract was up, and was quickly replaced by the Ford motor company for 2002's "Die Another Day".

 

Above: Clive Owen as "The Hire" in "Star"

After finishing there contacted time with 007, BMW developed "The Hire" to feature their cars as the stars of short films. Currently made up of two seasons of shorts, these Bond-esque movies highlight the cars as the centre of the action. These shorts were not released in any mainstream theatres but directly to the internet. The films are all free available to download from BMW Films.

Season one focused on a different BMW's in each installment, however season two focused on the then new Z4 roadster. Each of the shorts has been given a "Bond Rating" (out of 5 stars) to indicate how 007-esque the films are.

Season One

The debut season in 2001 saw current James Bond contender and Oscar nominee Clive Owen take on the role of "The Hire", starring as one of the world's best drivers. The nameless character performed several stunning feats and was captured on film by various world renowned directors and produced by David Fincher.

Ambush (2001)

Synopsis
On a dark freeway, a van swerves close to the driver and the door slides open. From inside, masked gunmen threaten to fire unless the driver stops and surrenders his passenger, a seemingly harmless man they accuse of smuggling diamonds. It's a simple choice: Do or die. Legendary director John Frankenheimer and star Clive Owen combine talents to create a dramatic chase with some unexpected twists.

Running Time: 6:06
Stars: Clive Owen, Tomas Milian
Writing Credits: Andrew Kevin Walker
Director: John Frankenheimer
Car: 740i

Bond Rating

 

Chosen (2001)

Synopsis
The driver meets a ship carrying an eight-year-old Tibetan boy at a dark, deserted New York shipyard. But he's not the only one waiting. Ang Lee, director of the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and star Clive Owen create a thrilling, yet beautiful, tale filled with mystery.

Running Time: 6:39
Stars: Clive Owen, Mason Lee
Writing Credits: David Carter
Director: Ang Lee
Car: 540i 6-speed

Bond Rating

 

 

 


The Follow (2001)

Synopsis
The cunning and tactics of trailing another car quickly evolve into a mystery rife with deceit, as The Driver is hired to follow a woman accused of cheating on her famous husband. Discover acclaimed director Wong Kar-Wai's ability to play heart against mind in this drama of mistrust.

Running Time: 8:47
Stars: Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Forest Whitaker
Writing Credits: Andrew Kevin Walker
Director: Wong Kar-wai
Car: Z3 30i and 3M

Bond Rating

 

Star (2001)

Synopsis
The driver faces perhaps his most perplexing challenge: Coming face-to-face with a hugely talented and successful rock star. But beneath her beauty lies a problem she always gets what she wants. Guy Ritchie directs Clive Owen and a surprise guest star in a battle of power against power.

Running Time: 6:54
Stars: Clive Owen, Madonna
Writing Credits: Guy Ritchie, Joe Sweet
Director: Guy Ritchie
Car: M5

Bond Rating

 

 

 


Powder Keg (2001)

Synopsis
Soldiers patrol fields and rural villages. Their mission: Find a photojournalist who has snapped a picture certain to unite the world against their leader. Alejandro González Iñárritu directs Clive Owen as the photographer's driver and sole hope of getting him and his film beyond the strongly guarded border.

Running Time: 8:14
Stars: Clive Owen, Stellan Skarsgard
Writing Credits: Guillermo Arriaga, David Carter, Alejandro González Iñárritu
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Car: X5 3.0i

Bond Rating

 

Season Two

Produced between the Scott Brothers and Jules Daly, the shorter second season saw bigger names and even more explosive action.

Hostage (2002)

Synopsis
The driver races to locate a kidnapped victim locked in the trunk of an abandoned car somewhere on the water's edge. Linked to her only by cell phone, the driver narrows in on her location in a desperate race against time and tide. Preeminent action director John Woo and star Clive Owen pair to create this fast-paced action thriller.

Running Time: 8:38
Stars: Clive Owen, Maury Chaykin, Kathryn Morris
Writing Credits: David Carter
Director: John Woo
Car: Z4

Bond Rating

 

 

 



Ticker

Hostage

Ticker (2002)

Synopsis
The driver rescues a mysterious messenger carrying an even more mysterious briefcase after an ambush on a rural highway. As a helicopter gunman relentlessly pursues them, a game of political intrigue plays out, with an unforeseen ending. Acclaimed new director Joe Carnahan helms Clive Owen, Don Cheadle, and F. Murray Abraham in this thrilling race against time.

Running Time: 8:40
Stars: Clive Owen, Don Cheadle, F. Murray Abraham
Writing Credits: Joe Carnahan, Joe Sweet
Director: Joe Carnahan
Car: Z4

Bond Rating

 

Beat the Devil (2002)

Synopsis
Decades ago, the legendary James Brown sold his soul to the devil for fame and fortune. Now he wishes to renegotiate. Hired to take Mr. Brown to a rendezvous with the devil (Gary Oldman), the driver soon finds himself entangled in fiendish plans. Tony Scott directs Clive Owen in a satirical duel between good and evil.

Running Time: 8:40
Stars: Clive Owen, Gary Oldman, James Brown
Director: Tony Scott
Car: Z4

Bond Rating

 

 

 

DVD
With the great success of the shorts, BMW eventually released "The Hire" on DVD. If you are looking for better quality than what is available on the official website, you can order "The Hire" DVD. The final version disc which is available contains all eight films plus numerous special features.

Video: Widescreen 2.35:1 (except "Power Keg" and "Beat The Devil" which are 1.85:1)

The colours are clear the blacks are solid, and the image clarity helps deliver the vision of these talented directors superbly. This vivid colours and no visible distortion mean that the transfers are one of the highest quality for a non-anamorphic widescreen release.

Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles: English (Closed Captioning)

If you have your audio set to 2.0 you miss out on a lot of great sound, so when watching any of these shorts select 5.1 from the audio menu to enjoy the true experience. The mix on the second season is richer with a more dynamic and better use of the 5.1. The best installment for sound is the Ticker.

Extras

Director's Commentary (All films)
Trailers (Hostage, Ticker, Beat The Devil)
Credits/Bios (All films)
"Making of" Videos (Hostage, Ticker, Beat The Devil)
"Making of" Production Stills (Hostage, Ticker, Beat The Devil)
"Making of" Storyboards (Hostage, Ticker)
Machines - Driving Techniques
Machines - Rig Images
The Hire - Cinema Trailer
The Hire - Long Trailer
The Hire - Digital Signage
The Making of The Hire - Season One
The Making of The Hire - Season Two

Hostage - Vintage Woo Car Chase
Hostage - Drive and Rescue
Hostage - The Big Spin
Hostage - The Big Jump
Ticker - Humvee Collision
Ticker - The Actor's Craft
Ticker - Chopper Explosion
Ticker - Script to Screen
Beat The Devil - Train Dodge
Beat The Devil - Train Jump
Beat The Devil - Racing The Strip
Beat The Devil - Creating Madness
Beat The Devil - Motion VR
Machines - Overview/Performance (Gallery & Motion VR for the Z4)

These mini action movies give us a taste of future potential Bond directors and also maybe future 007 star Clive Owen. With its low cost (or free to BMW owners) this is a must have of both Bond and automotive enthusiasts.

Images courtesy BMW Films.