Revenge of the Electric Car

Revenge of the Electric Car
Directed by Chris Paine
Produced by Stefano Durdic
P.G. Morgan
Jessie Deeter
Dana Moreau
Michelle Kaffko
Written by Chris Paine
P.G. Morgan
Starring Elon Musk
Carlos Ghosn
Bob Lutz
Greg Abbott
Dan Neil
Narrated by Tim Robbins
Music by David Robbins
Raul Campos
Chris Paul
Cinematography Thaddeus Wadleigh
Edited by Chris A. Peterson
Release dates
  • April 22, 2011 (Tribeca)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Revenge of the Electric Car is a 2011 feature documentary film by Chris Paine, who also directed Who Killed the Electric Car?. The documentary, executive produced by Stefano Durdic, and produced by PG Morgan and Jessie Deeter, had its world premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.[1][2] The theatrical release to the public took place on October 21, 2011.[3]

Plot

Revenge follows four entrepreneurs from 2007 through the end of 2010 as they fight to bring the electric car back to the world market in the midst of a global recession. The protagonists are Bob Lutz from General Motors, Elon Musk from the American start-up Tesla Motors, Carlos Ghosn from Renault-Nissan, and Greg Abbott, an independent electric car converter from California.[2][3] Danny DeVito is also interviewed, as an electric car enthusiast and owner of a Chevy Volt.

Whereas the 2006 film Who Killed the Electric Car? ended with the destruction of nearly 5,000 electric cars from California's clean air program, notably the GM EV1, the new film features the birth of a new generation of electric cars including the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Roadster.[2][3]

Release and reception

The documentary premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.[2] The theatrical release took place on October 21, 2011 in Los Angeles and New York, followed by openings in major metropolitan areas.[4]

Revenge of the Electric Car received mixed reviews. ABC's review praised the film, commenting, "As much as you expect it to be a story about technology, it's really a tale about people. ... [The four entrepreneurs'] stories are skillfully woven together, each presented in their own voice."[5] USA Today wrote, "Revenge is a must-see movie for anyone interested in cars."[6] The Guardian noted that the film "is more than just a snapshot of the gamesmanship behind the creation of mass-market vehicles. Revenge offers a look inside the minds of business leaders struggling through one of the most troubled periods of recent economic history. ... [It] captures rich natural tension as it unfolds."[7]

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Steven Rea wrote, "As filmmaking goes, Paine's follow-up is a dud."[8] J. R. Jones of the Chicago Reader commented, "Once a muckraker, Paine now acts mostly as a cheerleader, and his slick new movie trades heavily in the sort of flattering CEO profiles that grace the covers of business magazines."[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Revenge of the Electric Car: World Premiere Announced". Revenge of the Electric Car website. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jonathan Schultz (2011-04-25). "Chris Paine Stages a Discussion of the Electric Car’s Future at the Tribeca Film Festival". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Daniel M. Gold (2011-10-20). "Revenge of the Electric Car (2011)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-10-22.
  4. ↑ Jake Lingeman (2011-09-28). "EVs are back in Revenge of the Electric Car". Auto Week. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  5. ↑ Shulman, Scott. "Reporter's Notebook: Revenge of the Electric Car", ABC News, October 21, 2011
  6. ↑ Woodyard, Chris. "Revenge of the Electric Car goes corporate", USA Today, October 21, 2011
  7. ↑ Aston, Adam. "Revenge of the electric car", The Guardian, July 22, 2011
  8. ↑ Steven Rea (2011-11-17). "The electric car recharged". Philly.com. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  9. ↑ J. R. Jones (2011-11-10). "Revenge of the Electric Car". Philly.com. Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2012-01-25.

External links