Need for Speed
U.S.A./Philippines/Ireland/U.K. 2014

Opening 20 Mar 2014

Directed by: Scott Waugh
Writing credits: George Gatins, John Gatins
Principal actors: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Scott Mescudi, Rami Malek

“You always go back... You never leave a man behind” ~ Tobey Marshall, underground street car racer and owner of the family auto shop.

Heads turn to this day for the mint-conditioned classic king of the road to the most modern elitist racer, flaunting ultimate power from underneath the hood. DreamWorks Pictures and Reliance Entertainment bring to the silver screen a thrilling adrenalin rush with underground street racing. In honor of the great car culture flicks of the ‘60s and ‘70s their latest feature Need for Speed guarantees to take the audience on a ride-to-remember, putting each movie-goer into the drivers seat of a powerful machine.

In addition to racing down memory lane, Need for Speed is based on an iconic video-game series created by Electronic Arts. In 1994, EA Entertainment (a division of Electronic Arts) released "The Need for Speed", a racing video game. It made the player an active participant in the stress and strains of street racing. The game received many accolades for being extremely authentic. It acquired millions of fans to take the chance to get behind the wheel of an exotic race car and be a winner. The game became the most successful racing video-game series in the world. It has been published in twenty-two languages in sixty countries.

George and John Gatins’ original screenplay goes beyond the intensity of radical car racing. Behind every good racer there is a story to tell. Director Scott Waugh is fortunate to understand this fact and finds the perfect collaborative partners.

Waugh tells it best in the visual world, as a former stunt man with over 150 films to his credit. His calling card is reality driven action and special effects admired by the film industry especially in his feature film debut Act of Valor, using real Navy Seals for much of the action scenes. He believes that audiences gravitate to movies with characters they really care about and identify with the practical stunts that are not computerized. Using a solid script, Waugh takes the Gatin brothers' words and puts visuals to the reality of their intimate narrative: honor, friendship and loyalty in a testosterone-driven world. Winning is everything. Revenge controls a journey. Redemption dictates destiny.

Synopsis: Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul), of Marshall Motors, in the sleepy town of Mt. Kisco, New York, is one to recon with when it comes to the underground street racing circuit. His daytime job is to run the local auto shop, Marshall Motors, as owner. His late father left him the family business but not without a load of debt. Tobey, a young man of integrity and honesty, seeks to rectify each delinquent bill the shop owes.

Tobey's only hope of survival is making sure he hangs on to his guys: Benny (Scott Mescudi), Finn (Rami Malek), Joe Peck (Ramon Rodriguez), and Little Pete (Harrison Gilbertson) -- Tobey's best friends and the shop’s skilled mechanics; and winning many of the local underground street races on the weekends often bring home a take of $5,000.

Tobey's recent local street race win attracts a former local rich-boy, famous NASCAR driver and personal rival, Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). As a compliment to Tobey's work, Brewster makes him a business offer he can't refuse: to build the fastest Mustang in the world with a financial windfall that could save Marshall Motors. In spite of his misgivings, Tobey takes the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and asks the guys for help.

The job is complete. The money is almost in the pocket until a few choice words escalate the animosity between the long-time rivals. The two agree to an impromptu race that includes Tobey's close friend, Little Pete (Harrison Gilbertson). The first man to the nearest bridge takes all the earnings from the Shelby Mustang deal -- all or nothing. Tobey, Dino and Little Pete each take one of the most expensive race cars on the road from a private collection owned by Dino's uncle.

The outcome of the race has tragic consequences sending Tobey to prison. Upon his release, Tobey is ready to seek revenge on the man who put him behind bars for a crime he did not commit. An opportunity for Tobey to get his day in court shows up on the race track at the high-stakes race known as The De Leon, an invitation only race run by the Monarch (Michael Keaton).

One obstacle after another keeps Tobey away from an invitation to the race until at the last minute he gets a little help from his loyal crew--the guys and the annoying, big-time car broker Julia Maddon (Imogen Poots) -- making him the last man to be invited into the annual Super Bowl of underground racing. Winner takes all the stakes is a prize to behold but for Tobey his prize is a clean win in honor of his buddy, Little Pete. Tobey's journey is long and winding. A road fueled by revenge. A destiny open to redemption. (Karen Pecota)