Premium Rush (2012)

Released: August 14^th 2012

Cert: 12A

Dir: David Koepp, Written by: David Koepp & John Kamps

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dania Ramirez, Michael Shannon, Jamie Chung & Wolé Parks

 

Plot Summary

A New York City cycle courier is about to have the delivery from hell.  On his last run of the day, Wilee picks up a package that must be taken across the city in less than 90 minutes. The package however is also wanted by a dirty cop who will do anything to get his hands on the contents.

 

Review

With Premium Rush, David Koepp has managed to deliver (if you’ll excuse the pun) a fast paced and exhilarating piece of pulp cinema, perfect for a Friday night or Sunday afternoon at the movies. Told in almost real time (save for some back story flash backs and exposition) the film rattles along, tightly paced and with a running time of under ninety minutes, never outstays its welcome.

Koepp understands that this sort of film is primarily about the action that takes place. Yes we must like and care about (or in the case of the villain very much dislike) the characters and what happens in the film, but it is how they do things that is most important, not why.

By maintaining a simplistic plot and paired down script, David Koepp and John Kamps have given Premium Rush the opportunity to focus on really presenting a heightened sense of what it is like to be a cycle courier in New York, whether it be the dare devil antics, the very real danger of being taken out by a transit bus or a careless cab fare or the one-upmanship and bravado between couriers competing to be the fastest.

Whilst not always entirely realistic, the cycling scenes (and there are very few moments where this is not the focus) always provide a real sense of exhilaration and danger. One of Rush’s key visual cues is the representation of Wilee’s decision making when faced with a ‘life or death’ split-second choice and the potential consequences – planning his route around various obstacles.

The cycling that takes place in Rush is a joy to watch. Wilee’s approach to cycling is that of a shark, never stopping, always moving forward and it makes for a truly exciting experience. The sense of danger is ever present – translating in to reality as Gordon-Levitt crashed in to a cab whilst filming – smashing the windscreen and suffering a gashed arm that required thirty-one stitches. Like his character Wilee, Levitt saw this as an occupational hazard, blowing off the injury as ‘f*cking cool!’

Cyclists are likely to be conflicted by how they are portrayed in this film. Still the bane of pedestrians, the police and tother road users all the common stereotypes are there. However, these bikers are heroic daredevils, thrill seekers that the audience is truly in awe of. In some respects this film does for cycling, what District 13 did for Free Running.

In terms of the performances, our actors are given very little work with in terms of character development as each is little more than an archetype; the rebel, the girl friend, the offensive boss, the rival, the dirty cop. Each actor however, does well in their respective roles. Michael Shannon in particular is brings a manic, sleazy quality to dirty cop Bobby Monday clearly having fun with the role, but able to go from wild-eyed to genuinely threatening at the drop of a hat.

 With regards to the cast the film lives and dies by its lead, if we’re not invested in our protagonist, the life or death situations carry little meaning. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is proving to be the go to guy who brings an unorthodox presence to action roles. Having impressed in Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and the upcoming Looper, Gordon-Levitt has continued this in Rush with another charismatic performance. Levitt’s Wilee is a wiry, muscular presence. Never still, always on the move, he is the living embodiment of his ‘no brakes’ philosophy.

Like the 1986 Kevin Bacon movie Quicksilver thiis film presents the life of a cycle courier as the protagonists’ alternative to a life stuck in the corporate world, bound by a suit and the rules that that entails. To be honest the life presented is certainly an attractive one. Aside from the risk of death (either by cab driver or dirty cop) – the thrill of speeding, of taking control and only being concerned with the job in hand presents a notion of freedom  that is both enticing and intoxicating.

The film’s only real weaknesses are the very things that allow this film to be a success. The thin plot, lack of character development and a script that whilst zippy still falls in to cliché at times, leaves us with a film that is ultimately a bit like a cycle courier, in turns infuriating and spectacularly impressive. However, once it’s gone past you, the memory soon fades.

Premium Rush was never going to trouble the Oscar panel and is unlikely to make many ‘film of the year’ lists, but is the perfect choice for a date movie or anyone looking for a fun, hip slice of acion.

‘Fixed Wheel, Steel Frame, No Brakes’ I’m off to get a bike!

 

My Rating: 8 out of 10                                                                                                                                                                             Kevin Williams

 

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