This is the third and last film in the second series of BMW’s “The Hire” short films. This was directed by Tony and Ridley Scott. Not only do we get James Brown, but we get Gary Oldham, and a cameo from Marilyn Manson. This is the most fun film of the two series, with the possible exception of “Star”.
the plot
The Driver is employed by James Brown, who goes to meet the Devil to re-negotiate the deal he made as a young man in 1954 to trade his soul for fame and fortune. He is worried about his ageing and the fact he can no longer do his moves like the splits, and says his lessened ability to perform means he cannot maintain his fame and fortune. He proposes a new wager, for the stakes of the Driver’s soul against another 50 years for his career, betting on the Driver drag racing against the Devil’s doorman/driver Bob on the Las Vegas Strip at dawn. The race ends with the Driver swerving to pass around a train while the Devil’s car (a flamed Pontiac Firebird) crashes and explodes. Having won the race, the Driver leaves James Brown in the desert, but as he drives away he sees him as a young man again, who then does a handspring into the splits. The final scene shows Marilyn Manson who lives down the hall from the Devil, complaining that the noise is disturbing his Bible reading.
