RUNNING SCARED

Country: United States
Release Year: 2006
Genre: Action / Suspense / Crime / Gunplay / Thriller
Language Format: English
Running Time: 122 minutes

[Cast]
Paul Walker
Cameron Bright
Vera Farmiga
Karel Roden
Ivana Milicevic
Johnny Messner
Chazz Palminteri
Alex Neuberger
Michael Cudlitz
John Noble

[Writer / Director]
Wayne Kramer

From the moment that I saw the trailer for RUNNING SCARED (2006) late last year, I knew it was going to be something special. Now you might ask what did I see in the trailer that got me to want to see this Hollywood flick? Well...It was the Hong Kong style action, and gunplay. I love gritty crime action suspense flicks and this one looked pretty damn cool!!!

Now I know what some of you may think...I am cautious as well in watching Hollywood flicks that has an Asian Cinema influence. But not to worry because...

...luckily for us action fans...this RUNNING SCARED, delivered!!!

I have no idea who and where director Wayne Kramer came from...and I don't care!
As long as he keeps making movies like RUNNING SCARED, he's welcome to stay here in Tinseltown. Who ever he is, I anticipate his future projects because his masterful storytelling in RUNNING SCARED is absolutely brilliant!!!

From the intense opening scene he quickly grabs the viewers fickled attention, and holds it hostage for the next 122 minutes. If you are familiar with both Asian Cinema style action, and Tony Scott style of filmaking you'll quickly understand what type of movies the director Wayne Kramer has been watching, and studying for a while because it will definitely show as you watch this awesome flick!

The action scenes, and the gunplay is truly spectacular, and very graphic as the buckshots whizz past your ears. So does the bodies, and body parts, blood, and gore.
The pacing of the movie is flawless. The construct is no doubt well concieved.

You can definitely tell Mr. Kramer did his homework. The excellent use of overlaying flashbacks, slow motion, and obvious exaggerated action scenes is executed with absolute grace. Borrowing excellent ideas from asian cinema influence as well as crazy intoxicating cinema-style cinematography from acclaimed director Tony Scott MAN ON FIRE (2004)

But what good is the action scenes if it isn't backed up by a decent storyline? Well my friends let me tell you...

...the quality of the story, and the pace of the movie is excellent.

The MacGuffin here...is a snub nosed .38 This very distinct shiny piece is what will drive the whole movie, and all the characters in it. The movie starts by Joey played with psychotic authority by Paul Walker losing the aforementioned .38 revolver. A piece used to whack someone important that if found by either a rival mafia family, or the cops Joey will surely be done for.

That's pretty much the premise of the plot.

The whole movie revolves around that .38 as its passed from one crooked hand to the next. Almost all the time Joey has just missed it, and such. It's really a suspenseful cinematic experience!

It's a crazy paced movie because every gritty scene is marvelously shot. It's almost poetic like, in a sense that it completely grabs your attention. Paul Walker really surprised me with his performance here. Before seeing him in this flick, I just thought of him as a pretty boy in Hollywood. Now I know this dude can hold his own. He did an excellent performance in this flick. Hollywood Veteran Chazz Palminteri fits the bill as a dirty cop whose job is to make Jake's thug life a living hell!

Also worth mentioning is the awesome sub story this movie contains. It's almost as if it's a little bonuse-a little extra to the already complex, but absorbing storyline. An absolute crazy, gritty, whacked out, thrill-ride of a movie!!!

The soundtrack used in RUNNING SCARED is nothing short of amazing. It really helped stir the already crazy world Jake lives in, and the unique characters that revolves around it.

RUNNING SCARED is a visual l'imagerie for the eyes, ears, and nerves.
This is Hollywood at its best!!!
Don't miss this one fellas. Truly spectacular filmaking!!!