2001 91 minutes. Rated PG-13.
“Brakes are death.”
Premium Rush – Columbia
Premium Rush gives viewers an inside peek at the adrenalin-pumped world of Manhattan’s bike deliverers. With popping triceps and the endurance to qualify for a Ritalin script, the main characters ride (“Like Hell”) freely through the unpredictable city streets, earning cash along the way. The main character, Wilee, (played naturally by the always-dedicated-to-his-roles Joseph Gordon Levitt) rejects the usual shirt and tie monotonous existence, instead embracing the rush, the atypical lifestyle of pedaling through the dangerous streets for a living provide (at least for the time being, he adds by films end). Wilee’s kick-ass rider and love interest,Vanessa, is played by Dania Ramirez (X-Men : The Last Stand) Wilee also has strong competition from Manny (Wole Parks, of Vampire Diaries), who ( of course) has his eyes on Vanessa too. The two dual it out FX style in one crazy scene.
In the midst of delivering an envelope at a university, Wilee runs into a corrupt cop, Officer Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) (Boardwalk Empire’s self-flagellating oddball fed, Agent Nelson.) who wants the envelope. Officer Monday relentlessly chases him on his route to deliver this envelope, which contains a ticket that he needs to satisfy a debt to a Chinese loan shark. It turns out, the ticket was previously purchased by Nima (Jamie Chung), a young woman paying to get her son transported from China to reunite with her in New York. The Hawala scam guy she pays, Mr. Leung (Henry O.), hands her the envelope and instructs her to make sure it gets to a Sister Chen (Wai Ching Ho). Once Sister Chen has possession of the ticket, the call can be made and the kid is on the boat.
Introduced out of sequence (which usually throws me for a loop), with a digital clock to orient time sequence for viewers, the plot was cohesive in its execution and easy for me to follow (thank you, Mr. Koepp). Several slow freeze shots of Wilee staring, determining his next move, and his most viable route (including potential vehicular mishaps) kept me entertained. Absorbing, though a little disturbing, were the realistic depictions of the accident potential inherent in this activity. Ouch!
In terms of stand outs, Michael Shannon is a fascinating character actor. I hope he doesn’t get “too big,” as he brings a complexity to his characters that is hard to pinpoint. From what I’ve seen, there is typically something off about these characters, behaviorally speaking: (Revolutionary Road, Boardwalk Empire, Premium Rush) a psychosis, or maybe just damaged souls? In this role he is super greedy and crooked, and slightly insane. Perfection.
Premium Rush was a fun and unique adrenalin rush, though the whole hero-on-a-bike, sans brakes and gears, saving the day may be a bit hack. In terms of pure entertainment, it’s hardly disappointing. Also, Gleaming the Cube of the 1980s makes a great watch-alike (though with varying plot features)? Watch Like Hell!
