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"Speed Kills" (2018): A Powerboating Fan's Take on the Don Aronow Film
"Speed Kills" is based on the story of Don Aronow - offshore powerboat builder, racer, fast-living icon, and the Miami Cigarette Boat King. Directed by Jodi Scurfield, starring John Travolta.
The Official Trailer
The Legend of Don Aronow
- Built multiple powerboat brands, bought and sold his own companies multiple times
- Dominated the powerboating industry for 20 years
- Made it big in construction up north, came to Miami to escape the cold - and alleged mob ties
- Murdered in 1987 in a case that still has more angles than most realize
What Worked
- Casting was excellent - Travolta, Tom Sizemore, Jordi Mollà ("Blow," "Bad Boys 2")
- Travolta's resemblance to Aronow was uncanny
- Story follows the 2013 book by Jay Harris almost word-for-word
Where It Fell Short
- Real race footage was poorly assembled - almost uncomfortable to watch
- Scenes felt overly staged with too-bright, over-colored lighting
- Key facts, experiences, and photos from the book were left out
- IMDB & Rotten Tomatoes: barely 3 out of 10
The VR Problem
The producers seemed more excited about Virtual Reality filmmaking than telling the story. They forgot who this film was for: the offshore powerboating community first, Travolta fans second.
Bottom Line
Still worth a watch as a reminder of the life and death of the most influential boat builder who ever lived. Just manage your expectations.
Written by OL Admin - OutboardListings.com
Related: IHRA's new era for offshore racing · Don Aronow on Wikipedia
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