CH Exclusive!: The Wachowski Brothers
Cinema Hype: Thanks for coming in to speak with us today. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about Speed Racer?
Andy Wachowski: Car chases. I loooooove car chases. On the racetrack, off the racetrack, burning rubber, twisted met—
Larry Wachowski: Inner strength. Courage. Family. Self-esteem. In remaking Speed Racer for a new generation, we wanted to foster the kinds of positive forces that teach young people how to be strong on the inside and loving towards their fellow human beings. We believe we’ve made a film that exemplifies all of those things.
CH: Yes, you’ve made Speed Racer into a family film. What was it like making a film aimed at young people, after the extravagant violence of the Matrix movies and some of your other work?
AW: BOOOORI—
LW: Well, it was just such an honor to create something to inspire and encourage young minds, you know? Andy and I believe that the racetrack in the film represents life and the desire to accelerate and experience as much as possible in the short time that we have. Don’t we, Andy?
AW: Yeah, Larry’s right, life is like a racetrack. And sometimes you make it to the finish line all in one piece, but sometimes you end up rolled over along the rail somewhere with your wheels up in the air, and sparks are all flying out behind you, like—you know—errrrrr! And you’re hanging from your harness and you wonder whether that was the car making that crinkling sound, or if it was your—
LH: Andy. [Under his breath] We talked about this.
AW: Sorry.
CH: …Now, who do you consider your greatest influences?
AW: Oh, you know. Steve McQueen, Bullitt, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Smokey and the Bandit, The Fast and the Furious…
LW: He means William Gibson, Ghost in the Shell, Robotech, and Simulacra and Simulation. RIGHT?
AW: Right. That Gibson guy.
CH: I…I see. Now, with that in mind, what would you say is the main point—the thesis, if you will—of Speed Racer?
LW: Love.
AW: Love. And car crashes.
LW: …and car crashes.
Speed Racer comes out today, May 9, 2008.
(This is a work of fiction; I do not know and have not met the Wachowski brothers.)
Speed Racer, The Wachowski Brothers, Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, The Matrix
May 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
But clearly you are *bonded* with them!
(Also, you have some of your initials wrong. - Inner Editor)
May 13th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Clearly a work of fiction. Everyone knows the Wachowskis refuse to do interviews. And after Speed Racer’s box office performance, no one’s going to bother asking for them.