Another brick in my YouTube Watch Later wall, one of those BMW Driver shorts, this one directed by Guy Ritchie. The main attraction is Madonna having fun playing an obnoxious pop superstar who is systematically automotively humiliated by Clive Owen's Driver, and, by extension, the director, who was also her husband at the time, with a punchline that is too bizarre for me to spoil here. Ritchie finds time for not just one but two hacky needledrop choices in just eight minutes, although maybe that Blur song wasn't quite as overused in 2001 as it went on to be later.

Another short film as produced by BMW for their "The Hire" series. This time it's Guy Ritchie's contribution. Not so much of a plot to this one and it's essentially a one gag film but that gag is very funny and entertaining.

Ritchie incorporates his usual style and music into the mix and you can really get that same vibe from Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels also in this film. I find it funny of the concept Ritchie chose to do this film on as he is essentially mocking and torturing his then wife Madonna and the artificial and egotistical lifestyle of superstars living in the fame. Owen's Driver is more charismatic in this film and actually shows some life in his character (laughed out loud to the look on his face when the car goes airborne). I also laughed when the film literally changes gears and the mayhem ensues.

Star (2001) is the fourth instalment of BMW’s The Hire series of short films made for the internet. With 8 films in total, all starring Clive Owen, each film had a well established director at the helm with a helping of famous co-stars. Star saw Guy Ritchie in the Director’s chair with then wife Madonna starring opposite Owen. Based on the atrocity that is Swept Away (2002), directed by and starring Ritchie and Madonna respectively, you’d be forgiven for assuming that this short could be bad, but you’d also be absolutely right. If BMW’s requisite was ‘just make the cars look good’ then I suppose they went a small way to achieving their goal. Unfortunately Owen’s and particularly Madonna’s acting made me never want to sit in a BMW ever again.

The good parts are really good but it kind of fizzles out. Great to see Clive Owen make Madonna piss herself, though! Can't stand that woman...

This is definitely the best one get. Humorous and shot wonderfully, I think this one has a flair of fun that all the others were missing. Some may question that The Driver went a bit overboard, but I think it gave a decent enough reason.

Don’t know why the band thought they needed an alternate video with Madonna getting thrown around, they themselves were getting thrown around in the original and that was perfectly fine.

Worked better as a PSA for wearing seatbelts than a BMW ad for me.

why no one is doing like BMW series?

As much a promotion of BMW as well as Ritchie's then-wife Madonna, The Hire: Star is fun, funny, with some sick driving skills and the most overtly comedic tone of them all (almost to a fault, as the performances are too cartoonish), though there is nothing else noteworthy to make this stand out compared to the other short films.

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Guy Ritchie's PIPs Showcase.

I don’t care, that was the best one cuz it was fun and really dumb

Madonna pisses herself after a very bumpy car ride

This is the cool one

Guy Ritchie is the best!

Clive Owen you legend. The best one yet.

High Quality Camera Movements for a Awareness Promo Ad? Typical Ritchie Move.

“Directed by Guy Ritchie” 

Yeah...

That makes sense

Este es muy genial

Madonna couldn't handle an average BMW driver - priceless.

This one doesn't start off that well and the centerpiece of it all, Madonna, is not really a good actress. Ritchie does however make up for most of it with his very stylish and visual directing that works well even in the poor beginning and really well in the driving sequence.

Exposes many of Ritchie's limitations. He can't direct action, he can't direct comedy & he can't write dialogue that doesn't sound like it was lifted from Lock, Stock... Of course, since this is a car commercial, it has to play into sexist tropes & have a female rather than male superstar pilloried, with Madonna's caricature humiliated for being shrill & demanding. Why not ridicule an actual diva, like Russell Crowe?