Thomas’s review published on Letterboxd:
It´s sometimes easy to forget that the Wachowskis started their career with the grounded, low-scale mafia thriller “Bound”, because after that they became something like the patron saints of maximalist cinema. “Speed Racer” could be described as the peak of that maximalism. I wouldn´t call it their best movie but it´s the brightest and boldest. I´m in awe of the total commitment to the wacky, colorful visual spectacle. The film is a live action cartoon at its most cartoonish and your eyes don´t get to rest for a second. Every frame brims with life, color, and exhilarating energy. To be honest, it borders on overkill, and I lost track of the story because the visuals were so overwhelming, but you have to appreciate that a movie like this exist. It´s hard to imagine that a studio greenlighted this and that there wasn´t a guy in a suit who told the Wachowskis to tone it down a bit. If there was one, they clearly didn´t listen to him. They really went all out with this film, and you have to love them for the sincerity of their filmmaking passion. Not everything they throw at the wall sticks but the infectious charm of it all won me over, nonetheless. The style is part of the substance for sure but underneath the dazzling surface, you also find a beating heart and classic Wachowski themes such as anti-capitalism, self-discovery, and the individual vs. an oppressive system. “Speed Racer” is an exhausting movie but it´s worth the ride. Such a creative, audacious, and exciting slice of blockbuster auteurism is a rare treat in our cinematic landscape and deserves to be treasured. I can´t even say they don´t make them like this anymore because I honestly think they never made them like this. ”Speed Racer” is simply one-of-a-kind.
