Welcome to the Alltruck blog

The Oscar nominations were announced this week – recognising the finest achievements of the year from films, directors and performers. But there is one glaring omission for the Oscars list of awards – not a single mention of trucks or commercial vehicles!

So, to restore some justice to the world, we thought we’d go back through the film archive and create our nominations for the ‘Truck Oscars’ – recognising outstanding achievement by trucks and vehicles in films. The panel have discussed, debated and deliberated and the nominations are in!

Best Picture

Maximum Overdrive – 1986 – Dir. Stephen King

Based on Sephen King’s short story Trucks - Maximum Overdrive is a film about machines coming to life and becoming homicidal (I know, I can’t understand how it didn’t ever get nominated for a real oscar either!). In amongst out of control electric carving knives and bad-mouthed cash machines, the film focusses on a group of people stranded in the Dixie Boy truck stop as a herd of trucks plot their demise. Will the trucks take-over – will the inhabitants of the Dixie Boy find a way to fight back?! They don’t make them like this anymore…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqz2rejJS6M

Duel – 1971 – Dir. Steven Spielberg

A salesman out on the desert highway finds himself relentlessy stalked by a truck for the duration of the film; with suspense, thrills and collisions ensuing. The chilling thing throughout the whole film is that the driver of the truck remains unseen throughout – raising the question for the viewer – who, if anyone, is driving it?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtAMc4i8OA

Convoy – 1978 – Dir. Sam Peckinpah

An all-time trucker classic inspired by a song of the same name, Convoy follows truck driver ’Rubber Duck’ as he leads a growing fleet of truckers as they attempt to out-run and out-wit crooked cop Sheriff Wallace. A road trip adventure at its finest with plenty of CB Radio banter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5RI30RJIPk&feature=fvst

Smokey and the Bandit – 1977 – dir. Hal Needham

“Bandit” needs to transport 400 cases of Coors beer 1800miles from Texas to Georgia in just 28hours. Cue a rip-roaring game of cat and mouse between Bandit and Sheriff “Smokey Bear”. Trucks and Burt Reynolds have never been so cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5KNcFRZLQ

Speed – 1994 – dir. Jan De Bont

A wildcard nomination as it’s not strictly a truck that features, but a bus. But we won’t let this detail stand in the way of a worthy nomination. A bus is armed with a bomb that will detonate if the bus drops below 50mph. A simple premise – an outstanding film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk4A1AY10U0

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Best Performance by a  Truck in an Motion Picture

“The Spooky Truck” – Jeepers Creepers – 2001

Before the evil protagnist is revealed to be a big monster and spoils the whole film, “the spooky truck” puts in a show stealing performance as it pursues a terrified brother and sister innocently making their way home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7uiQdfppCA&feature=related

‘Mutts Cutts’ Van – Dumb and Dumber – 1994

Its a rare treat that a comedy performance receives an oscar nomination, and although not a truck – the ‘Mutts Cutts’ van puts in a majestic showing throughout Dumb and Dumber and would have earnt a nomination for the leg lifting scene at the petrol station alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isbAgdfJkFo

Peterbilt 281 Tanker Truck – Duel  – 1971

The only film in our shortlist to receive two nominations in separate categories. To keep the viewer second-guessing throughout the entire film if the truck has a driver or not takes a special performer – so hats off to the Peterbilt for pulling it off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jx-h45TTko&feature=related

Ensemble cast – Die Hard with a Vengeance - 1995

A silent and sinister performance from all 14 tipper trucks as they make their way out of New York with a deficit busting $180 billion dollars worth of gold. A valiant effort from the tippers as they take the acqueduct rather than the bridge – but ultimately, they are no match for Detective John McClane – but then again, no-one is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e8dzxU926s (clip contains strong language)

Harrington Coach – The Italian Job – 1969

Again, not a  truck – but they’ve taken all the seats out  so it qualifies! The coach that Charlie Croker and his band of merry men use to escape in is reposnsible for one of the most iconic scenes in film history. Flying around sharp mountain bends, the coach clings to the road as the gold and passengers in the back fly from side to side spilling champagne as they go. But then the coach spins out of control and hangs perilously on the edge of the cliff. As the future of the coach, passengers and gold hangs in the balance, Croker utters the immortal words in the film’s closing sequence: ”Hang on a minute lads, I’ve got a great idea”. Cinema gold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XeEGJP-Huk

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Best Performance by an Animated Truck

“Packer”  – Bob the Builder

Inspiring a generation of truckers for the future, Packer is part of the team who can always fix it - “Pack me up and watch me go-go” is Packer’s catchphrase and we’ve got nothing but respect for that kind of can-do attitude!

http://www.bobthebuilder.com/uk/meet_packer.asp

“Mack” – Cars

Mack (a Mack Superliner) is the fallable but ultimately loyal companion of Lighting McQueen and puts in an endearing performance in this Pixar smash hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wozh2KiEF4c

“Butch” – Thomas the Tank Engine

While Thomas and the trains take centre stage and all the plaudits, let’s take this moment to recognise the achievement of Butch – the Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit – and all the great work he does in the backgrond.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqniiO0XLQc

“The red car and the blue car” – The Milky Way advert

OK, so they aren’t trucks – they’re not even buses or vans. But the red car and the blue car had a race…and what a race it was!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4drNFXd6dw

Tow Mater – Cars 2

Rewarded for his outstanding work in the first film, by being given centre stage in the sequel, Tow Mater delivers a heartwarming performance that will make you laugh and cry in the under-rated follow-up to Cars 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuYGxka4HEs

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And there we have it – our nominations for the Truck Oscars!

So, what do you think? Have we missed any films? Any you don’t agree with? Any additional categories and nominees you’d suggest?

We want to hear from you! Please post your comments below.