Death Race (2008 film)

Death Race is a 2008 remake of the 1975 action and thriller film Death Race 2000 about an ex-con turned speedway champion who's framed for a grisly murder and forced to compete in a grueling three-day televised car race against his fellow inmates. Sitting behind the wheel of a modified car rigged with machine guns, flamethrowers and grenade launchers, he is in the race of his life and the whole world is watching.
 * ''Directed and written by Paul W.S. Anderson.

May the best driver live. (taglines)

Jensen Ames

 * (to his daughter) What does little Piper want? Do you want a story? You know you won't understand it, but it'll be good practice for me.
 * (to Hennessey) You wanted a monster? Well, you've got one.
 * Someone once asked me if I was the best future for my little girl. I've thought about this for long time, and here's what I've decided: No one in this world is perfect. Heaven knows I'm not. But I love her more than anyone else possibly could. In the end, that's all that matters.

Machine Gun Joe

 * (before blowing up Frank's cart) Sayonara, Frankie.

Lists

 * 14K. First generation Chinese-American, tenth generation Triad. His father sent him to business school, and he's the only man in here who holds a degree from MIT. He's killed four men off the track.
 * Hector Grimm, the Grimm Reaper. The man's a master. Clinical psychopath. Three time consecutive life sentences. He's killed six men off the track, another twelve on it.
 * (to Jensen) You've already met the local chapter of the Brotherhood. Their driver, Pachenko, has killed nine men on the track. Nobody knows how many off.

Coach

 * (to Jensen, wearing Frankenstein's mask) Don't talk to the other drivers. Frank never did. Part of the mystique. Let the mask do the work.
 * (as the Dreadnought explodes) Now that's entertainment.
 * Nobody screws with my car.
 * Bam. (Triggers the bomb and blows up Hennessey and Ulrich, then breaks the fourth wall) I love this game.

Hennessey

 * Release the Dreadnought.
 * This prison is the home to murderers, rapists, and violent offenders of every kind. The United States Penal System sends me the worst of the worst.
 * Okay, bloodsucker. Mess with me, and we'll see who dies on the sidewalk.

Dialogue

 * Jensen Ames: What makes you think for a second I would risk my life doing this for you?
 * Hennessey: Win five races, you go free. Those are the rules, and Frank has won four. Win one more, you walk. Call it intuition, but I don't think you belong in here with the rest of these animals.


 * Lists: Jensen Garner Ames. Moved to the states at 24 years old. Named after a car, the Jensen Intercepter. A three time local speedway champion.
 * Jensen Ames: You've done your homework, or do you just know everything?
 * Coach: Jensen Intercepter. I had one. Handled like a school bus.


 * Jensen Ames: You sure are lucky a driver like me just happened to turn up in your prison when I did.
 * Hennessey: Oh, I'm more than lucky. I'm blessed. Sometimes it's like the right hand of god is sitting on my shoulder.


 * Ulrich: Ma'am, with all respect, what're we gonna do?
 * Hennessey: We're going to kill him, of course.
 * Ulrich: You want me to kill Frankenstein?
 * Hennessey: Don't be stupid. Frankenstein can't die. After all, he is just a mask.


 * Jensen Ames: (during the race) Did you kill the old Frank?
 * Case: I sabotaged his rear weapons.
 * Jensen Ames: Why?
 * Case: Hennessey. She said she'd sign my release papers. It's my life back.
 * Jensen Ames: Don't tell me you killed him, too.
 * Case: I didn't kill him. He wouldn't quit! I just wanted to make sure he wouldn't win.
 * Jensen Ames: Why would Hennessey want that?
 * Case: To keep Frank here, racing.
 * Jensen Ames: And yesterday?
 * Case: I was trying to set you back.
 * Jensen Ames: So, I'm not supposed to win, either. Just make it exciting.


 * Jensen Ames: Why don't you wear a number, Coach?
 * Coach: Because I'm not a prisoner. I qualified for parole three years ago. Got as far as the gate. They got a name for it: something-or-another syndrome. Simple fact is, world's changed since I've been in here. Don't know what, don't much want to. But this... this I know.
 * Jensen Ames: What did they sent you away for?
 * Coach: Oh, plenty... and nothing.


 * Jensen Ames: So what are you in for?
 * Case: They say I killed a cop.
 * Jensen Ames: Did you do it?
 * Case: Yeah.
 * Jensen Ames: Bad cop?
 * Case: Good cop. Lousy husband.


 * Machine Gun Joe: (about Jensen) Who's the new fish?
 * Coach: Grease monkey.
 * Machine Gun Joe: (to Jensen) Well well. Monkey. I got a new name for you - Igor, because you about the ugliest bloodsucker out here in this prison yo!


 * Lists: Travis Colt. Our local superstar. He used to race for Nascar.
 * Gunner: Yeah, he was good, too.
 * Lists: Until he fell asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes with the help of a bottle of scotch and a handful of freaks. Wiped out the entire patio of Moscala. Sent a dozen people to the hospital and killed three of them.
 * Coach: Technically, he's the best driver in here, but a mean son of a bitch quitter.


 * Coach: Tomorrow morning, you'll meet your navigator, Case. She'll help you navigate the course, reload your weapons, and help with the running of the car.
 * Jensen Ames: I'd love to talk to her ahead of time before the race.
 * Gunner: Yeah, I'd like a big bad girl to lick peanut butter off my toes, but it ain't gonna happen. This is still a prison, man. She's a chick. They get busted from the women's facility upstate.
 * Coach: It's all about ratings. Fast cars, pretty women...
 * Gunner: Machine Gun Joe's the only one that has male navigators, 'cause he's gay.
 * Lists: Well... actually, it's because he goes through them so fast, and... audience gets squeamish.
 * Gunner: Yeah he goes through them... through their skin.
 * Coach: He cuts each kill into his skin as a souvenir, I hear.


 * Jensen Ames: So where's the ammo?
 * Gunner: We get that on race day.
 * Jensen Ames: Pity.
 * Coach: Yeah, everyone thinks that, the first time.
 * Jensen Ames: Thinks what?
 * Coach: About turning the guns on the guards. About escaping.
 * Jensen Ames: No, I wasn't thinking that.
 * Coach: Well I'm glad, because Hennessey's got electric kill switches on all the guns on all the cars. And all the guard towers are fortified, and their guns are bigger than your guns. Oh, did I mention the helicopters and also the fact that we're on an island here a mile from the nearest shoreline? The only way in or out of here is on that one skinny bridge you came in on.


 * Hennessey: This prison is the home to murderers, rapists, and violent offenders of every kind. The United States Penal System sends me the worst of the worst. But the men you've provoked, well, let's just say Mr. Ames that the life term you've joined us for may be a lot shorter than you think.
 * Jensen Ames: I understand tradition. Shuffling up the new guy, having a slipping good time up to my neck... (is hit in the side by Ulrich)
 * Hennessey: Bad language... is an issue... for me. While looking over your record, I couldn't help noticing your occupational history. It seems you have some talent behind the wheel. Out of curiosity, when was the last time you raced?
 * Jensen Ames: It's been a while. I lost my license.
 * Hennessey: What if I could help you?
 * Jensen Ames: Get my license back?
 * Hennessey: I had something else in mind. You're familiar with the Death Race, and the driver the fans call Frankenstein. A man so disfigured by crashes that he's forced to wear a mask. His return to the track is highly anticipated, and therein lies my problem. No one knows yet, but poor Frank died on an operating table not long after his last race. Anyone can wear the mask, but not just anyone can drive the car. You have the skills required to keep the legend alive. I want you to become Frankenstein.
 * Jensen Ames: No thanks. He's dead. Why don't you just tell the truth?
 * Hennessey: The audience wants to see Frank again. He moves them. Inspires them. And in this world that's not easy to come by.
 * Jensen Ames: What makes you think for a second I would risk my life doing this for you?
 * Hennessey: Win five races, you go free. Those are the rules, and Frank has won four. Win one more, you walk. Call it intuition, but I don't think you belong in here with the rest of these animals.
 * Jensen Ames: I might surprise you.
 * Hennessey: The race is Friday, and I need your decision. You're a skilled driver. You're chances are good. I'm offering you your freedom, Mr. Ames. If it's not worth risking your life for, what is?

Taglines

 * May the best driver live.
 * Hang on for a killer ride.

Cast

 * Jason Statham as Jensen Ames
 * Joan Allen as Hennessey
 * Tyrese Gibson as Joseph Mason (a.k.a. Machine Gun Joe)
 * Ian McShane as Coach
 * Natalie Martinez as Case
 * Max Ryan as Pachenko
 * Jason Clarke as Mr. (Darryl) Ulrich
 * Frederick Koehler as Lists
 * Jacob Vargas as Gunner
 * Justin Mader as Travis Colt
 * Robert LaSardo as Hector Grimm (a.k.a. The Grim Reaper)
 * Robin Shou as 14K
 * David Carradine as Original Frankenstein (Niles York)