Clive Owen Returns! After 15 Years, BMW Films Is At It Again

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Before Twitter and Facebook and all that other social media crap that complicates your life, BMW was hiring legendary (or noted) filmmakers to shoot a series of eight 10-minute short films.

The directors instilled their years of experience into the plot and cinematography of each spot, with big-name actors brought on for flashy star power. Perhaps the last time Madonna was relevant was in one of these flicks. (It was directed by Guy Ritchie — when he was last relevant, too. —Mark) And all of this happened before YouTube! Can you believe how much you’ve aged?

Well, BMW Films is back, and it’s packing a Brit.

The automaker released a teaser of an upcoming short film, The Escape. Like the original films, British actor Clive Owen (Sin City, Children of Men, that film about the couples that made everyone uncomfortable) is back as “the driver,” BMW in tow.

The film celebrates the 15th anniversary of The Hire.

BMW shot the original short films in 2001 and 2002, distributing them a number of ways, including on DVD. So quaint. This time, you’ll simply need to visit bmwfilms.com on October 23 at 6 p.m. (EST) for a shot of action and a healthy side of marketing.

For The Escape, BMW tapped Academy Award-nominated director Neill Blomkamp, known for such movies as District 9 and Elysium. As far as we can tell, this film takes place in the present day, with no aliens in sight.

Hey, it looks better than one of those insufferable events, and far more pulse-pounding than that Danish Ford ad with the unhappy kids and ruined marriage.

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Bd2 Bd2 on Oct 12, 2016

    Owen would have made a good Bond.

  • Quentin Quentin on Oct 12, 2016

    The hands-off-the-wheel power slide from Star was an absolute favorite clip of 18 year old Quentin.

    • See 4 previous
    • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Oct 13, 2016

      @TonyJZX I remember seeing these and, a few (several) years later, trying out an E39 540i. As nice as the car is, the steering is pretty lifeless; I had a Mazda Protege at the time and was sorely disappointed by the V8 E39. I'd swap the inline six for the eight in order to get non-truck steering.

  • 05lgt 05lgt on Oct 12, 2016

    I loved those. But I have to point out an error in the story here. NO WAY HAS IT BEEN 15 YEARS! Mumblefratz. Not dying, that's how I got this old.

    • Swester Swester on Oct 12, 2016

      Heck, I've been on Facebook for 12 years already. That's a frightening thought.

  • -Nate -Nate on Oct 12, 2016

    SWEET ! . Will this be a full length motion picture or just another fun advert ? . I got the original DVD when it first was released, somehow it got away from me =8-( . -Nate

    • See 1 previous
    • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Oct 13, 2016

      @05lgt You can get downloadable HD sources from (mumblemumble*torrentsite*mumble) with very little effort.

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