Speed Racer (2008)

Emile Hirsch: Speed

Photos 

Quotes 

• Speed : Racing hasn't changed, and it never will.

  Racer X : It doesn't matter if racing never changes. What matters is if we let racing change us. Every one of us has to find a reason to do this. You don't climb into a T-180 to be a driver. You do it because you're driven.

• Pops Racer : You think you can drive a car and change the world? It doesn't work like that!

  Speed : Maybe not, but it's the only thing I know how to do and I gotta do something.

• Speed : Get that weak shit off my track!

• Speed : [At Cannonball Taylor]  Ok, Mr. two-time-Grand-Prix five-time-WRL future-Hall-of-Fame, teach me something!

• Pops Racer : I couldn't have been more proud of you, son. Not because you won, but because you stood up, you weren't afraid, and you did what you thought was right.

  Speed : It didn't amount to anything. It was completely meaningless.

  Pops Racer : How could it be meaningless? I saw my son become a man. I watched a man with courage and integrity drive the pants off of every other driver on that road. This is not meaningless. This is the reason for a father's life.

• Speed : Sounds beefy, Pops.

• Speed : [to Royalton]  Racing's in our blood. Like for Pops, it isn't just a sport. It's way more important than that. It's like a religion. And in our house, the major sponsors are kind of like the devil. I don't mean to offend you, sir, and I do appreciate your offer, but after all we've been through, I don't think this kind of deal is for me.

• Trixie : Since when did winning become so important?

  Speed : It is important. You gotta win if you want to keep driving, and that's what I want to do. It's the only thing I really know how to do.

  Trixie : That's not true.

  Speed : Come on, I wouldn't have made it out of high school without your help.

  Trixie : Okay, that's true.

• Speed : [finding him hiding in his truck]  Spritle!

  Trixie : You little sneak!

  Spritle : It wasn't my idea!

  Speed : Oh no?

  Spritle : [pointing to his chimp, who points back]  It was his.

• Speed : Okay, no more Mr. Nice Guy!

• Speed : Haven't any of these drivers read the rule book?

• Speed : I thought we made a good team today. It felt like we've been doing it for a long time.

  Racer X : If you say so.

• Speed : It's going to be okay.

  Mom : You wouldn't lie to your mother, would you?

  Speed : Never again.

• Pops Racer : This is abso...

  Speed : ...lutely crazy!

• Speed : [shouting at Pops]  Don't take it out on me because you feel guilty about what happened to Rex!

• Mom : Do you remember the day that you rolled the car? How upset I was?

  Speed : [laughing a little]  I remember. Rex said the only reason we survived was because I was wearing those red socks.

• Sparky : [as Speed preps for a race]  How are you feeling?

  Speed : [as he observes the coliseum]  It's big.

  Sparky : Hey, this cockpit is the exact same size as it was at Thunderhead.

  Speed : Right.

  Sparky : [pauses]  Just wanted to say thanks, for what could be the most exciting moment of my life.

  Speed : Couldn't have gotten here without you.

  [they hug] 

• Speed : [to Mom Racer]  Maybe Royalton is right. Maybe racing really is all about the business, and anyone who doesn't understand that is just a chump.

• Ben Burns : [to Speed, in the Fuji locker room]  Hey, kid.

  Speed : Ben Burns?...

  Ben Burns : Nice race. I ain't seen moves like that in a long time.

  Speed : [pause]  Didn't matter. I still lost.

  Ben Burns : Yeah. Tough break.

  [pause] 

  Ben Burns : Well. Good luck.

  [turns to leave] 

  Speed : [pause]  Mr. Burns, can I ask you something?

  Ben Burns : Sure, kid.

  Speed : The '43 Prix. Did you know you were gonna win?

  Ben Burns : [pause]  Y'know, everybody thought that me and Stickleton hated each other. Funny, ain't it?

• Mr. Royalton : I hope I didn't scare you, Speed, by showing you how hard we push our team. I just want you to see how serious we are about winning.

  Speed : [long pause]  I get that.

• Speed : I'll see you at Fuji.

  Mr. Royalton : Yes, and you'll find out you just made the biggest mistake of your life.

• Mr. Royalton : So. I can see you've been giving some serious thought to this thing.

  Speed : [pause]  I have. Yes, sir.

  Mr. Royalton : Good. That means you understand we're talking about not just your future, but your family's future.

  Speed : My family means a lot to me.

  Mr. Royalton : I know. I can tell. That's why this is so important, because you can help them. All you have to say is yes. That's all I need to hear. And I can make so many things happen, for you *and* your family.

  [pause] 

  Mr. Royalton : You ready for that? You ready to say yes, Speed?

• Speed : [to Trixie, about Rex]  I finally understand it now, Trix. I know why he left us. He was trying to change this rotten business and they killed him for it.

• Racer X : [about Rex]  I'm sure if he were here, he'd be immensely proud of you.

  Speed : For what? Making the same mistakes he did?

  Racer X : For trying to make a difference.

• Speed : [racing against Cannonball Taylor]  Get that shit off my track!

• Speed : [driving]  Racing hasn't changed. And it never will.

• [during closing credits] 

  Speed : Okay, Chim-Chim, go!

• [during closing credits] 

  Speed : Why don't you try to win this race fair and square?

• [during closing credits] 

  Trixie : Speed, are you all right?

  Speed : Never mind that Trixie, I gotta get you out of here!

  Trixie : You're wonderful, Speed!