No Brakes, Single Speed, Can't Stop..

Director: David Koepp
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez
Running Time: 91 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Synopsis
What happens when you can't fax, e-mail, or mail something to someone else? In the major metropolitan city of New York there are hundreds of bike messengers who enjoy riding their bikes so much that they're getting paid for it. This movie is about one particular messenger, a former trick rider who after a horrific bike accident doesn't believe in brakes or gears. When he's asked to pick up a package from his old college, a dirty cop with a large gambling debt seems to have interest in the same package and is willing to go through any measure to retrieve it.


Review:

Movie Still © AceShowbiz.com

As someone who recently adapted to cycling for transportation and fitness, there was no stopping me from checking this one out. At first glance, I was going to avoid it thinking it was a  boring movie about a guy wearing spandex and riding his bicycle through the busy streets of Manhattan while ignoring traffic and laws around him. Well, I guess there's half truth there, he does wear cycling apparel and he does ride competitive with the traffic around him. What I didn't think of was the reason behind the title, "PREMIUM RUSH" as in rush delivery. Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is chosen by his girlfriend's roommate to pick up a package, well..an envelope, and deliver it as soon as possible to a snake head smuggler. What he didn't realize was just how taking this job would be hazardous to his life, when a NY police detective with a large gambling debt gets wind of what the package is worth.

Movie Still © AceShowbiz.com

It seems Joseph Gordon-Levitt has starred in many movies as of late, that's building his filmography up, I still remember his important childhood role in Angels in the Outfield, which must have been one of his first movies. He's definitely come a long way since then.

Certainly not a 10-star film, Premium Rush is however, an exhilarating thrill ride from beginning to end. It's probably one of the few movies that the thrills seem to get better as it goes on, it never loses the energy that most movies are guilty of doing. It is indeed the best action movie based on bicycling made in the past decade. This is a movie worthy of popping some 'corn and sitting back and enjoying.


(Buy it at Amazon.com)