Chinese Whispers - Premium Rush

Again, this review has been hiding away since I saw it in the cinema two years ago. So since this film features one adrenaline-filled chase after another, you gotta enjoy the irony of how slow I have been with this.

On Yer Bike

Now my love for Joseph Gordon-Levitt is well-known in my circle of friends.  Despite starring in the much-loved Shakespeare adaptation 10 Things I Hate About You, my attention was first caught by JGL after watching Brick, a film that rests comfortably within my Top Ten Films.  From having his heart broken in (500) Days of Summer, to being recognised by Christopher Nolan and starring in both The Dark Knight Rises and Inception, I am so proud that I have seen him grow into the leading man I knew he would become.

Like most revered leading men in today's acting industry, like Leo DiCaprio and (out of nowhere) Matthew McConaughney, JGL picks his roles very carefully, holding the script's integrity as paramount, as well as the chance to test his range and skill.

In Premium Rush, JGL takes a step away from thought-provoking dramas and romantic comedies to star as Wilee (like the Coyote) a bike messenger from Manhattan.  One particular delivery requires Wiley to deliver an envelope across the city that controls the fate of a large sum of money.  However he is pursued by corrupt police officer, maniacally played by Michael Shannon, who wants the envelope's money for his own crippling gambling debts.  Pretty much 16 Blocks with bicycles.

Now whilst the film begins strongly, introducing the characters and the premise well, it's not long before things start to fall apart.  This is mainly due to the protagonist and his friends being bike messengers and cyclists.  Any person who has ever driven a car will know how annoying cyclists can be, and Premium Rush surely proves this.  All the cyclists come across as cocky arseholes who think they run the streets, probably to make them appear cool and streetwise but they just across as arrogant know-it-alls. Wilee appears earnest enough in the beginning, headstrong and determined; but by the end, he is just one of the dumb gearheads.  I mean his name rhymes with 'Wheelie', for God's sake.

The film moves along with a quick pace and there are two pretty exciting chase sequences early on starts giving hope to the rest, but then the film begins to think it's Pulp Fiction and we are transported to earlier that day, shown a 10 minute long scene which could have been significantly shorter, and then transported back, completely breaking the film's momentum.

The film is ambitious, which is good to see but it ultimately fails in creating an interesting flowing narrative.  Michael Shannon comes across as such a larger-than-life character, he starts becoming a villainous caricature. However, he plays 'the imposing bad guy' so well and he is one of my favourite screen presences so I'm just glad he's starring in more mainstream films.

Despite it's flaws, I'll give Premium Rush credit; this was the first time I had been excited by a bike chase.  And there are a lot of them.  Good hint for future directors; not as expensive as car chases, but still just as exhilarating.  It has encouraging moments but is let down all too often.  

But not by JGL.  

'Cause he's awesome.  

There, I said it.

Rating - 5/10

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

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