Premium Rush
The main story beats will be extremely familiar to regular moviegoers, but the fixed-gear, no brakes, bike messenger covering will likely be enough to make the experience somewhat fresh and memorable.
Joseph Gordon - Levitt has get a long way since his back up actor days in puerility films likeBeethovenandAngels in the Outfield- not to mention his breakout hit , alongside fellow Bat - franchise stager , Heath Ledger , with10 Things I Hate About You . After memorable roles in a change of critically - acclaimed picture likeThe Lookout,500 Days of Summer , Inception , andThe Dark Knight uprise , Levitt has cut up out a rich and well - respected spot in Hollywood .
However , despite pernicious comedic timing and sharp striking chop , the actor is set to test his personal appeal as an action track in writer / director David Koepp ’s bicycle messenger thrillerPremium Rush . Koepp also has a racy filmography , with compose credits onJurassic Park , Mission : Impossible , andSpider - Man , but a mixed turnout when in the director ’s chairman ( Stir of Echoes , Secret WindowandGhost Town , among others ) . DoesPremium Rushprovide enough playfulness character second and heart - pound action to give the actor and film director an opportunity to shine ?
Unfortunately , even though Levitt delivers a unanimous performance and Koepp dishes out plenty of jaw - dropping motorcycle tricks , the core storyline and overall executing ofPremium Rushare both exceptionally ungainly . The bike messenger frame-up , geminate with the New York City backcloth , emphatically provides some of the picture ’s best moment - especially with Levitt at centre degree - but nearly every other element is underwhelming ; from the film ’s slender ( albeit amusing ) villain played byMan of Steel ’s Michael Shannon , to forgettable corroborate players and a number of cheesy assertions about camaraderie among bicycle courier .
The primary story is believable enough - even if the " panache over substance " approach of the filmmaking fairly cut a few of the more serious moments . Levitt plays Wilee ( " The Coyote Man " ) , a Columbia natural law school graduate who rush along around Manhattan on a brand frame , fixed gear , bicycle with no brakes - weaving in and out of dealings as he move sensitive packages from full stop A to point B. After a fellow bike courier , Manny ( Wolé Parks ) , steal Wilee ’s last package of the mean solar day out from under him , The Coyote is forced to take a unlike parcel all the fashion from 116th Street down to China Town … during premium rush ( hour ) . Unknown to him at the time , the letter of the alphabet he ’s carrying is being tail by a mysterious and impulsive man in a suit named Bobby Monday ( Michael Shannon ) , who will seemingly stop at nothing to acquire Wilee ’s fare - admit jeopardize the life sentence of Wilee ’s girlfriend / fellow cycle messenger , Vanessa ( Dania Ramirez ) . Once Wilee unwrap what ’s actually at stake , he becomes locked in a lifespan or death situation - which , to a shiver - assay peddle - junky , might just be the ultimate rush .
Just as the narrative will ( literally ) pull viewers up and down Broadway in an wearing will he / won’t he storyline , the tone of the film moves recklessly between manipulative aroused beats , eye - turn over lines of talks , and some pretty disturbing paroxysm of violence . The tart changes in tone are further complicated by aVantage Point - same flashback mechanic of winding back the clock to show a attached scene from the perspective of an entirely different ( non - Wilee ) character . It ’s a necessary evil here , since Wilee ’s portion of the narrative does n’t really begin until 5:00pm - whereas three other plot arcs start earlier in the day . However , just because it ’s necessary does n’t mean that the flashback create a successful flow or tincture to the overall proceedings .
That sound out , the herky – jerky coming to thePremium Rushstory succeeds in keeping the suspense up - offering heap of tense encounters as well as cathartic / intentionally bum one - liners and merchandise barbs . Levitt is playing a variance of hisInceptioncharacter , Arthur - if Arthur was a thrill - seek bike pundit . Wilee is witty , acute , and take his occupation very seriously - even if he allows himself the chance to show off once in for a while . Levitt ’s carrying into action this round wo n’t cement him as the next blockbuster action mechanism man - though his brave skinny guy routine is much right than his contemporaries ( like Shia LaBeouf ) and wo n’t stall the worker ’s rising mavin .
Shannon is as gratifying as antagonist Bobby Monday , a smart balance ofPremium Rushquirk and savage violence . He ’s provided with a competent enough foundation - which is cursorily befuddle out the windowpane as he compete with Levitt in a Caterpillar and mouse Salmon P. Chase . By the metre the credits twine , there are so many elements in play that it might be hard for some viewers to hold on just how they were reckon to feel about Monday , as well as what role his military action ( not to mention Wilee ’s self - abusive retorts ) had in the larger proceedings .
Most of the other characters are labor aside ( Manny and Vanessa especially ) , in favor of the film ’s carefully crafted ( and very cool ) cycle stunt set pieces , which see the couriers ( and NYPD bicycle fuzz ) hop staircases , thread propel greyhound double-decker , sliding under stopped construction vehicles , and crashing over Taxi hood , gondola doors , hand track , and other such obstacles . Koepp revel in the urban hobo camp of New York City by setting up the punic nature of messenger work early on , dropping in some insider know - how , and gifting Levitt with one of the film ’s best inventions - a freeze question intuition that allows viewers to experience Wilee ’s split - instant decision physical process when faced with life - threatening obstacles in his way . Go right and criticize over a pedestrian who will then get run over by belt along car ; go left and dash into a baby stroller full speed ; go straight and weave past a stop taxi to clearer route out front . Straight . The trick pulls double obligation , follow in both training the audience for potential hazards later on , as well as providing some much needed laughs as Levitt topples end over end without actual consequence .
By wholeheartedly embracing the tight - paced courier world , Koepp employs a telephone number of style - over - substance choice that can muddle the tone of the film , but do payoff in the prospicient run - helpingPremium Rushdifferentiate itself from similar thriller moving picture . Ultimately , the main tale beats will be highly familiar to regular moviegoers , but the fixed - gear , no brakes , bike messenger continue will likely be enough to make the experience somewhat bracing and memorable . The kink and twist ( of the floor ) are easy to see come , but a few solid performances and some eye - pop practical bicycle stunt employment should provide concerned viewer with a middle - of - the route rush that ’s a bit short of " premium . "
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Dania Ramirez in ‘Premium Rush’
If you ’re still on the fencing aboutPremium rushing , check out the drone below :
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Wilee and Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) in ‘Premium Rush’
Premium Rushis Rated PG-13 for some violence , intense activity successiveness and linguistic communication . Now take on in theaters .
Premium Rush centers on Wilee , a New York City cycle courier played by Joseph Gordon - Levitt , who becomes sweep up in a high - stakes pursuit involving a wary package . Michael Shannon co - star as a corrupt cop determined to stop the delivery . Directed by David Koepp , the plastic film showcases intense action sequences through the bustling street of Manhattan , blending thrilling factor with the urban landscape .
