Running Scared (2006) September 4, 2006
Posted by gproject in : Recently Viewed , trackbackDirected by: Wayne Kramer
I haven’t expected much of Paul Walker movies in the past. It’s not so much the guy himself, but his choice of roles that has never really caused me any excitement. Running Scared was different – the trailer looked stylish and gritty, his character appeared desperate, dark, even human. So throw aside your Into The Blue preconceptions, and brace yourself for a shockingly brutal thriller.
Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) works for the mob. After a failed drug deal results in some dead cops he is given the responsibility of getting rid of the offending gun. But things go off-track when Oleg, the boy next door, gets hold of the weapon and shoots his abusive father. With Oleg on the run it’s up to Joey to find him & the gun before the police do, or else risk bringing the whole gang down.
Writer / director Wayne Kramer serves up the story in an extremely visual cinematic style, possibly a little over-styled at times, but certainly not boring. The camera is literally all over the place, with an interesting use of time-rewinding in some sequences. Also, the action is extremely violent, in fact it’s one of the more violent movies I’ve seen this year rating high on both deaths and gore. Evil is a main theme in this movie, and Oleg’s tour of the night finds him encountering some of the worst characters humanity has to offer. I don’t think it’s spoiling anything to say that along the way we meet drug dependants, a prostitute, a vicious pimp and the creepiest pair of paedophiles ever, who feature in the films most disturbing scenes. It’s the kind of content that always leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
This movie was a surprise, and probably exceeded my expectations of it slightly. The relentless nature of both the action and the visuals really help lift what is essentially a cat & mouse movie, above the norm. Letting it down however is the script, which packs in more profanity than anything of actual substance, and an unnecessary last-minute character change that is entirely implausible & unrealistic. If you can stomach movies like this (Tony Scott haters stay away), then it’s certainly worth checking out. Don’t expect Se7en-like darkness or a thought-provoking story, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
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