# The Hire (2001)

> A chauffeur-for-hire known only as The Driver takes on dangerous fares in a series of short BMW-branded action films.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/40153

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 9
- Episode runtime: 10 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: action, crime
- Created by: David Fincher
- Network: BMW Films
- Cast: Clive Owen, Stellan Skarsgård, Maury Chaykin, F. Murray Abraham, Mason Lee, Mickey Rourke, Adriana Lima, Forest Whitaker
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12958702/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: mild
- Tone: cool, tense, minimalist, stylized, understated

## Synopsis

The Hire (2001-2016) is a US anthology series created by David Fincher for BMW Films, a branded-content collection of short films produced for the internet. Clive Owen plays the nameless professional known only as The Driver, a man who accepts dangerous fares and must get his clients where they need to go, whether that means outrunning police, escaping a kidnapping plot, or delivering a package through hostile streets. Each episode runs roughly ten minutes and stands alone, with a different filmmaker from around the world directing and a fresh set of supporting players, including Forest Whitaker, Mickey Rourke, Madonna and Stellan Skarsgard appearing in one-off roles. The engine of every film is the same: a tightly planned job, a ticking clock, and a stretch of precise driving that puts the car's performance at the centre of the action. Across nine films in three uneven batches, the tone stays cool, minimalist and tense, with long quiet stretches broken by sudden bursts of violence and speed. Fans of Drive and The Driver will find resonance here, as will anyone who enjoys glossy, stylized action in bite-sized form. The series spans a single continuing character across short, self-contained stories rather than one arc, making it easy to dip into one film at a time.

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