The Accidental Getaway Driverskillfully blurs the lines betweengritty crime noirand a deeply personal human drama. Based on the article by Paul Kix, an elderly Vietnamese taxi driver is taken hostage after accepting a late-night job.He’s thrust into a dangerous situation, but soon establishes a connection with one of his captors that transforms them both.The situation becomes increasingly dubious as everyone involved knows there can be no witnesses. The journey undertaken requires significant patience, but speaks stark truths about the burdens of past sins and confronting our failureswith superb cinematography.
In Orange County, California’s Little Saigon, Long Mã (Hiệp Trân Nghĩa) sits alone in his small apartment as night falls. He stares out the window as his neighbors play cards before rummaging through an empty fridge. Long decides to get a snack at a nearby supermarket in his striped pajamas. The old man ignores his cell phone, but it constantly rings as he waits in line.Long finally picks up to hear a customer begging for a late ride.
A Desperate Situation
The Accidental Getaway Driver
The Accidental Getaway Driver follows an elderly Vietnamese cab driver who is unexpectedly taken hostage by three escaped convicts in Orange County.
The promise of a double fare lures Long to work. He drives his Toyota Camry to a nearby corner. Three disheveled men get into the car. Long reminds them that the passengers must all sit in the back seat. He takes them to a mini-mart where the men buy snacks. Two are Vietnamese, but only one speaks fluently and can communicate with Long. The third, a menacing fellow with a beard, is Caucasian and clearly the leader.Long begins to feel a sense of unease.
They ask him to drive aimlessly while whispering quietly. Long pulls over and asks them to get out. There’s something wrong and he’s not taking them any further. Tây Dương (Dustin Nguyen) gets in the front passenger seat. He pulls out his gun and points it at a frightened Long. Tây, in Vietnamese, introduces Eddie Ly (Phi Vu), and Aden (Dali Benssalah).They are now his captors. Follow their orders and he’ll soon be released.
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Director/co-writer Sing J. Lee deservedly won the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.He shows nuance and technical aptitude in his feature film debut.The Accidental Getaway Driver, always seen from Long’s perspective, employs methodical pacing, intricate character exposition, and a clever flashback structure to frame his primary characters. The criminals needed a taxi driver patsy. Long’s age and inability to speak English made him the perfect choice. He could facilitate their escape without arousing suspicion.
Long at first refuses to talk with Tây. He’s petrified and harbors no illusions about their motives. Tây doesn’t like uncomfortable silences as his cohorts change their appearance. He wants small talk to pass the time, but is cognizant about dropping his guard. He can’t let the old man escape while waxing poetic.Long soon realizes it behooves him to engage Tây.Aden is clearly merciless, and an unstable Eddie follows him like a puppy. Long must remain calm and figure a way out of a desperate situation.
Slow Burn Drama
The Accidental Getaway Driverapplies the brakes in a slow burn second act. Lee keeps the ensemble in limited settings once the criminals' true intentions are revealed. A big chunk of the film takes place in a squalid motel room over 48 hours. This period allows Long, still relatively quiet and fearful, to observe the kidnappers' power dynamics. They are not a well-oiled machine of villainy. Aden and Eddie are worrisome, butTây proves himself to be a different animal. He’s haunted by his transgressions and needs catharsis. Long becomes more than just a hapless victim.
The Accidental Getaway Driver’sflashbacks begin to make sense as the entire plot comes into focus. Long’s memories of his youth, family, and life in Vietnam are all he has left. His loneliness has been earned. Aden coldly states that no one will be looking for Long. He’s completely at their mercy, which has a different effect on each of the men. Long and his kidnappers strike an uneasy bond as their plans unravel. At what point does having him around become a negative?Can he be easily discarded after making such a distinct impression?
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Lee gets top marks for his visual strategy. The film is tightly shot and bathed in moody hues. Most of the action takes place at night. Lee films hand-held close-ups in the car, then cuts to an outside dolly that moves back and forth between the characters. He also does this in the hotel while they’re all talking in bed like a twisted slumber party. Lee lays intimate groundwork for a final act that’s surprisingly touching. You definitely will not see the ending coming.
Stay with It Despite the Slow Lulls
Nghia and Nguyen are tremendous here. They anchorThe Accidental Getaway Driverwith a palpable connection when it admittedly slogs through several lulls.These downbeats can be frustrating, but make sense in the story’s context. There had to be a time when the characters interact and get substantive. Hang in there for the full ride and you won’t be disappointed. Hollywood should take notice of Lee. He deserves a big-budget opportunity.The Accidental Getaway Driverhas Vietnamese dialogue with English subtitles.Itis a production of Cedar Road, K Period Media, and Thunder Road Films et al., andis currently in limited theatrical distribution from Utopia.Find theaters and showtimes here.
