The BMW film series The Hire was a series of eight short films (each about eight minutes long) produced for the Internet in the summers of 2001 and 2002. The films were directed by popular Hollywood and international directors. All starred Clive Owen as "The Driver". Each film's story highlighted the performance aspects of various BMW automobiles. The 'first season' films, as well as the Ben Younger-directed interludes, were executive-produced by David Fincher, the 'second season' three films were executive-produced by Ridley Scott.
BMW Films - Season 1 Making of The Hire
BMW Films - Season 1 Driving Techniques
BMW Film (S1E1) - Ambush
Ambush
The Driver escorts an elderly man to an undisclosed location before being confronted by van full of armed men and warned that the man has stolen a large amount of diamonds. The old man claims to have swollowed the diamonds and claims the men will likely cut him open to retrieve the diamonds. The Driver decides to help the man at the last minute and participates in a car chase/shootout with the van. The Driver eventually evades and gets the van blown up. He then delivers the old man to a town nearby where it is revealed that the man never swollowed the diamonds but had them in his bag in the back. The Driver smiles and leaves.
- Directed by John Frankenheimer
- Featured the BMW 7-Series
- Ambush at the Internet Movie Database
BMW Film (S1E2) - Chosen
Chosen
The Driver protects a holy Asian child that was brought to America by boat. The child gives the Driver a gift that he is not supposed to open yet. After being pursued by many armed assassins, and being grazed in the ear, he delivers the boy to another holy man. The Driver however sees through the disguise, defeats the holy man, and rescues the boy and several other holy children. As he leaves the Driver opens the gift it is revealed to be a a Hulk bandage for his bleeding ear.
- Directed by Ang Lee
- Featured the BMW 5-Series
- Chosen at the Internet Movie Database
BMW Film (S1E3) - The Follow
The Follow
The Driver is hired by movie nervous manager (Whitaker) to spy on a paranoid actor's (Mickey Rourke)wife (Adriana Lima). During his tailing of the wife, the Driver describes the right way to tail someone. As he followers her he begins to fear what he might learn of her apparantly tragic life, which ends with him giving the manager's money back. The wife was evidently trying to leave the country to find her mother but and was beaten at one point (by her husband most likely.)
- with Forest Whitaker
- Directed by Wong Kar-wai
- Featured the BMW 3-Series and the Z3 roadster
- The Follow at the Internet Movie Database
BMW Film (S1E4) - Star
Star
The Driver is chosen by an spoiled and shallow celebrity (Madonna) to drive her to a venue. Unbeknowst to her, her manager has actually hired the Driver to teach the celebrity a lesson. Pretending to be losing her guards, the Driver recklessly drives through the city, tossing the unbuckeled celebrity all around the backseat. They arrive at the venue where she is thrown out of the car, and photographed by paparazzis in an embarrassing way on the red carpet.
- Directed by Guy Ritchie
- Featured the BMW M5
- Star at the Internet Movie Database
BMW Film (S1E5) - Powderkeg
Powder Keg
The Driver is drafted by the UN to rescue a wounded war photographer named Harvey Jacobs (Stellan Skarsgård) from out of hostile territory. While they are leaving, Jacobs tells the Driver of the horrors he has seen as a photographer and how shameful his lifestyle. He than gives the Driver the film needed for the Time Magazine story and also his dog tags to give to his mother. When they reach the border, they are confronted by a guard who begins to draw arms as Jacobs begins taking pictures of them all, trying to get himself killed. The Driver goes through a hail of gunfire to the border. Jacobs then dies in the back seat. The Driver arrives in America to give the dog tags to Jacobs' blind mother. note credited james brown makes a cameo apperance
- Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
- Featured the BMW X5
- Powder Keg at the Internet Movie Database
