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I know I'm
kind of behind the times on DVD reviews, but the way I look at it these
older DVD's I review are ones that you may have passed up the first time
through. This is an example of how reviews are supposed to work. I had
no interest in seeing this movie until I read a few reviews that praised
it. Boy were they right.
Joey
Gazelle (Paul Walker) is a low level mob flunky who is told to dispose
of a gun used for killing some dirty cops. Joey however, hides the gun
in the drywall of his basement instead of tossing them in the river.
When Joey's 10 year-old son (Alex Neuberger) and his best friend, Oleg
(Cameron Bright), witness Joey hiding the gun, Oleg steals the gun -- a
snub-nosed .38 -- and shoots his abusive stepfather (Karel Roden) with
it. Things would be bad enough if the stepfather didn't happen to be the
nephew of a psychotic Russian mob boss (John Noble)... who happens to be
in business with Joey's crew on a gasoline scam. But now Joey's also got
the surviving dirty cop (Chazz Palminteri) on his case... and that hot
.38 is out there on the street, changing hands in an underworld of
freaks, pimps, hookers and pedophiles, as well as Oleg, who can connect
Joey to the gun. And even if Joey can make it through the night, he's
still got to answer to his wife (Vera Farmiga)...
With a
hotel room shootout reminiscent of The Matrix, this movie hits the
ground running and just doesn't let up. Brutally violent, twisted, wild
and crazy are just a few words that I would use to describe this movie.
The tension just starts and builds and builds until I was sitting there
almost vibrating throughout the whole movie. With an excellent
conclusion that literally had me shaking out the tension, Running Scared
has earned a spot as one of my new favorites.
Everybody
in this movie is great. Walker just keeps the excitement and intensity
needed to play this character. Cameron Bright, while still creepy as
hell most of the time plays his part perfectly. There was even a scene
where he smiles and it just lights up his entire face. Now I can think
of him as a real person instead of Damien personified. Vera Farmiga, who
I have never even heard of, plays Joey's wife with terrific ability. She
especially shines in the children's studio sequence. Which by the way,
is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in my life. Alex
Neuberger plays Nick, Joey's son. And even though he is overshadowed by
Bright, he still performs admirably.
This movie
is first and foremost just a wild ride. Get in, strap in and hold on.
Barf bags are optional for those with weak stomachs. While not gory like
cheese horror, it is ultraviolent in the way that A Clockwork Orange
was. I really can't praise this film enough. Wayne Kramer is going to be
a director I am going to be keeping my eye on in the future.
The DVD is
severely lacking in the extras dept. You get 2 commentaries (which I
haven't listened to as of this writing) and a making of featurette. Oh
and storyboards for two scenes.
While not
for everybody, if you want a wild ride. Pick it up. If not, go see Open
Season, lol. I just wish it had a little more humor in it. I believe
that if it did, this movie would have been an instant cult classic.
Until
Cameron Bright is in the next Children of the Corn,
keep
reading.
Mitch
Emerson
Best Lines:
Pimp
Lester: [pointing gun at Oleg] say hello to my little friend!
Joey
Gazelle: That's real f**king original. what are you, a f**king
cartoon?
Pimp
Lester: I'm a mack-daddy pimp!
Oleg
Yugorsky: I'm sorry.
Ivan
Yugorsky: It's okay. We're cool.
Oleg
Yugorsky: I'm sorry I missed.
Tommy
"Tombs" Perello: One Nike gym bag, sixty bucks. One Nokia cell
phone, hundred bucks. one ounce semtex, five hundred bucks. gettin' rid
of a dirty cop...
Tommy
"Tombs" Perello: [laughs]
Tommy
"Tombs" Perello: ... f**kin' priceless!
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