The Cruise (1998)

Director:

Bennett Miller

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Fasten your seat belts

Plot:

Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses...

Plot Keywords:

Chrysler Building New York City | Bus Station | Bus | New York City | Brooklyn Bridge

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Timothy 'Speed' Levitch

...

Himself

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Certification:

Taiwan:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Charter Films Inc.

Quotes:

Timothy 'Speed' Levitch: The anti-cruise is an attempt to imprison us. At every level of living it exists. Younger cruisers have asked me, "Why?" "Why is the anti-cruise so avaricious and constant in its attempt to stop the cruise? And I have no answer. There is no answer. I mean, it's gravitational, it's a relationship that's made up of reciprocals and pulling gravities. It simply exists. Where there is cruise there is an escort of anti-cruise. But even in a bastion of anti-cruise fodder...

Movie Connections:

References Spartacus (1960)

Soundtrack:

Spinning

What fun!

I am a bit surprised to see the negative reviews on here because I thought the film was an absolute blast! The film follows an eccentric tour bus guide in New York City who speaks in a unique style with a wealth of knowledge about his beloved city. There is no more, on the surface, than that central premise.

However, the gentleman starring in this feature is a more interesting character than one might imagine could exist in such a position. Not only is he quite extraordinarily intelligent, but he has a very unusual perspective and form of delivery that is extremely engaging and fun to listen to.

I found myself not wanting the film to end as I grew to respect some of his ideas more and more. His oddball posture is so unique that it feels as though the movie front-loads viewers with strangeness, only to allow the more relatable side of him to slowly show itself as the film rolls forward. However, his ideas are simply more accessible as his delivery becomes more familiar to the viewer. A second viewing of the film showed me that I was too overwhelmed, in the beginning of it the first time around, by the sheer idiosyncrasy to pay attention enough to follow his line of expression.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes unique characters or really good contemplative and philosophical conversation.