There is no shortage of gimmicky, cliche-driven films being made today to try to capture a youthful niche segment of the market, STEP UP comes to mind. One could even classify Jason Statham as a star who has made his fame from such a specific gimmicky formula of action film, but we rarely fault him for that. Men love to watch him kick ass; women just love him. That brings me to an entirely different kind of young, new star… Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Is there nothing this talented, seemingly forever youthful actor can’t — or, shall I say won’t — do in film? No, not in the undignified sense, but this 31-year old phenom keeps surprising us. From his TV Days on 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN to the anti-romantic comedy with Zooey Deschanel, on to the jaw-dropping HESHER and fighting alongside The Dark Knight… JGL (as I will refer to him henceforth) is a man of many talents. His most current talent being on two wheels.
PREMIUM RUSH is co-written and directed by David Koepp (GHOST TOWN, STIR OF ECHOES). Koepp is most well-known for his writing chops, with screenplays such as JURASSIC PARK, CARLITO’S WAY, and SPIDER-MAN on his resume, it is safe to assume he understands a good story. So, why has he chosen to make a film which could be mistaken for a reboot of certain classic 1980s BMX films? The mistake would be to make such an assumption.
Yes, this movie is fun. Yes, this movie is action-packed. No, this movie does not break any significant new cinematic barriers, heralding in a new age of filmmaking. What PREMIUM RUSH does, is to successfully give two incredibly talented actors the whole of Manhattan as their playground. JGL is Wilee, an energetic bicycle messenger in Manhattan with what appears to be a full-on death wish. While some colleagues find him reckless — or, just outright crazy — others appreciate his style and bravado, choosing to ride on a steel frame with a single fixed gear and no brakes.
Everything is kosher with Wilee — except for a kink in his romantic relationship with Vanessa (Dania Ramirez), which plays a role, albeit minor — until he accepts a delivery that brings upon him the vengeance of Detective Robert Monday. Yes, even his name screams film noir, as the plot does in its own subtle ways, allow for such an influence. Monday is played by the outstanding Michael Shannon (TAKE SHELTER, BOARDWALK EMPIRE) with a control over his emotional escalation so intricately fine-tuned, his ability to go from normal to bat-shit crazy on the drop of a dime ranks highly amongst those such as the late, great Dennis Hopper.
The plot really is quite simple. Boy gets envelope. Dirty cop wants envelope. Boy says no. Dirty cop chases boy. All Hell breaks loose. Honestly, I take that back, because it’s only once you tell yourself that this is all there is to offer that you realize there’s more to the story. There’s some mystery, but ultimately… we just want Wilee to prevail and we want Monday to suffer. What happens in the 91-minute film from point-A to point-B is a wonderfully, often painfully composed ballet of mind-blowing bicycle antics and tricks combines with precisely choreographed action sequences, chase scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat and one poor bicycle cop that just simply can’t catch a break… well, other that those to his body parts.
PREMIUM RUSH is an adrenaline fix. Strap into your theater seats, hold on tight and let the ride take over. The colorful, vibrantly shot film puts you on the bike seat. Koepp includes moments when Wilee must analyze his route for options that won’t get him killed, slowing time and reality profoundly as he plots his course. This visual effect works well, perhaps a tad too often, but well. Within the film are sequences so well choreographed, and so playfully so, that its difficult not to find inspiration in Jackie Chan’s earlier American hits such as RUMBLE IN THE BRONX and FIRST STRIKE. Wilee is a guy just trying to do his job, but is unwittingly forced to flee and defend himself from bad guys.
Humor is not lost on Koepp, as he allows for the natural chemistry that is apparent between JGL and Shannon to mingle and produce a gleefully violent but symbiotic reaction. JGL brings his quirky, crooked smile and sarcasm toe-to-toe with Shannon’s darker, more menacing, yet slightly bumbling boyish brutality, resulting in an ever-so-gently concocted over-the-top brew of humor to what unfolds on-screen. Those who enjoyed — no, appreciated — SHOOT ‘EM UP (2007) will no doubt find a similar appreciation for PREMIUM RIDE, due in great part to Michael Shannon as the flawed, ticking time bomb of a corrupt cop and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s cocky, but good-hearted and capable bicycle messenger.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
