Ambulance is a 2022 American action thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay. A co-production between New Republic Pictures, Project X Entertainment, and Bay Films, it is based on the 2005 Danish film of the same name by Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Pedersen. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza González and follows two adoptive siblings (Gyllenhaal and Abdul-Mateen) turned bank robbers who hijack an ambulance and take two first responders hostage.
The film was first announced in 2015 and went through several crew changes. In 2020, Bay came on board to direct after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his plans to shoot a different movie. Filming took place in Los Angeles, in the midst of the pandemic with cinematographer Roberto De Angelis. During post-production, editing was completed by Pietro Scalia and the score was composed by Lorne Balfe.
Ambulance premiered in Paris, France, on March 20, 2022, and was theatrically released in the United States by Universal Pictures on April 8. The film underperformed at the box office, grossing approximately $52 million worldwide on a budget of $40 million. While the story drew some criticism, the film received praise for Bay’s direction and the action sequences.
Patrick takes a look at this movie and explains why it’s great.
As Michael Bay has evolved as a filmmaker, his style has also evolved and matured. From his early work on action movies like “Bad Boys” and “The Rock,” Bay has always been known for his frenetic, explosive style and love of big budget special effects. However, in more recent years, Bay has shown a willingness to experiment with different genres and storytelling techniques, as seen in the critically acclaimed “13 Hours” and “Pain & Gain.”
But it is in his latest film, “AMBULANCE,” that Bay truly showcases his growth as a filmmaker. The movie follows the story of a group of paramedics as they race through the streets of a city in the midst of a crisis, trying to save as many lives as possible. While there are still plenty of thrilling action sequences and special effects, Bay also manages to capture the intense emotion and humanity of the paramedics as they struggle to save lives in the face of overwhelming odds.
“AMBULANCE” is a testament to the evolution of Michael Bay’s style and a triumph of his ability to balance heart-pounding action with deeply moving storytelling. It is a masterful work that solidifies Bay’s place as one of the greatest action directors of all time.
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