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Directed by: Wayne Kramer Starring: Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Chazz Palminteri IMDb posted:Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is a low level mob flunkie whose role is to dispose of "hot" guns from mob killings. We soon find out that Joey has been hiding these guns 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 some guns from a botched drug deal, Oleg steals one of the guns -- a snub-nosed .38 (used to kill a dirty cop) -- 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) from the botched drug deal on his case... and that hot .38 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)... I wanted to wait a couple days before I reviewed this because I was so shocked by what I had seen. Now that I've had a couple days to process what I saw...well...I'm still not exactly sure what to say. I hate letting other critics speak for me but Roger Ebert summarizes my thoughts exactly: Roger Ebert posted:Speaking of movies that go over the top, "Running Scared" goes so far over the top, it circumnavigates the top and doubles back on itself; it's the Mobius Strip of over-the-topness. I am in awe. It throws in everything but the kitchen sink. Then it throws in the kitchen sink, too, and the combo washer-dryer in the laundry room, while the hero and his wife are having sex on top of it. This movie is just insane. It has some of the weirdest, creepiest, most intense poo poo I've seen in years. Paul Walker was definitely better than usually, and he gets help from a more than qualified supporting cast, including the much accomplished Chazz Palminteri, and the rising child star Cameron Bright (this kid can really act). It doesn't just push the envelope, it loving tears it to shreds. It was funny, gory, action-packed, sadistic, slimy, and entertaining as hell. My only gripes are plot-related: the ending was weak and the twist was unncessary, but no movies are without their flaws (though alot of people though the ending was appropriate...oh well, agree to disagree). See this movie. Please. RATING: 4.5 PROS: Gritty, edgy, intense, creepy, dark, over the top thriller CONS: Weak ending ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://imdb.com/title/tt0404390/ Vernacular fucked around with this message at 07:48 on Feb 28, 2006 |
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Feb 28, 2006 07:45
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| # ? Apr 24, 2024 03:45 |
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After seeing this movie, I really didn't know what to think. I mean I just can't decide on whether or not I liked it. While the action itself, as well as the gore, kept me fairly entertained I couldn't help but laugh at a lot of the scenes that came up. I don't recall it being listed as a comedy, and it didn't seem like the type of action movie that you're supposed to laugh at. You know the ones I mean - witty one-liners and all, Overall it seems that they decided to bring in girls with Paul Walker, and bring in guys with mounds of violence, throw the two together and hope for the best. I mean I guess I was entertained, and thats what a movie is supposed to do. It does use the word 'gently caress' a lot, so thats usually quality right there. What really got me bitter was the ending, not the twist so much, but the actual ending. Right there was something that I hate in Hollywood movies. RATING: 2.5 PROS: Plenty of good ol' violence, some full-frontal CONS: The ending, Paul Walker, misplaced humour
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Mar 1, 2006 08:22
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I thought it was a pretty entertaining movie. Everything was either OK, and didn't detract from the movie, or better and made the movie enjoyable. All the characters were definitely larger than life and in a movie such as this that works out very well. Paul Walker performance as someone absolutely terrified for his life was convincing and entertaining. It was good to see him in a movie that might get him some credibility after the absolute disaster of 2 Fast 2 Furious. The weakest part of the movie was definitely the ending. It was just such a strong effort to give a tear-jerking then super-happy ending that it felt very out of place, forced and tacked on. But, aside from that, the movie was quite good. Something of note is that the movie is really graphic, brutal and disturbing. The violence is very intense, another scene involves something that is, quite honestly, borderline hardcore pornography and there is a very disturbing segment where child molestation is seriously hinted at. There's probably other terrible things as well that I simply forgot as well. Needless to say, you're not going to want to let your kids see this movie as it highly deserves it's 18A rating. All in all it's great entertainment but don't go expecting a great movie. Rating: 3.5/5 doctor 7 fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Mar 6, 2006 |
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Mar 4, 2006 23:08
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This movie really reminded me of a Quintin Tarantino movie, but just a class or two below. you could tell the director aimed to have a movie that was fun, and just flat out loving crazy. When you watch the movie some scenes will just have you scratching your head wondering what the gently caress is going on. I expected something like Fast and the Furious when i went, with Paul Walker shooting up people, and there being a mild amount of cursing. Instead you get a really intense wacky movie. I think early on they really tried to overdo it with the odd camera angles and slomo and rewind and all that poo poo. Character development wasnt really great, they dont really let you get to know any of the characters, but if you want to see a good entertaining movie that you cant take too serious, then Running Scared is the movie for you. 4/5
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Mar 5, 2006 16:27
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Outstanding. Great fun, original, and the violence is so loving beautiful. Completely over the top. 4.5/5
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Mar 18, 2006 07:03
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I'm not quite sure if I would have liked the movie more without the twist or with the twist -- probably equally. There was a lot of violence, swearing and a decent amount of T&A (especially in the beginning) that definantely kept me entertained throughout. Paul Walker bleeding from the mouth at centre ice was a great scene. After watching the movie though, I don't know what to feel. It didn't have the effect where you think, "I just watched a decent movie." If it cut out some of the less interesting scenes and put in some character development, I would have enjoyed it more. 3.5/5
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May 22, 2006 09:17
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Overall I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It's a real gritty and dirty film, which I enjoyed. The pacing seemed a little off kilter at times, but it didn't harm the movie too much. I will agree that the ending was sort of weak. Pro's :Intense and gritty. The action sequences were well done, and a little over the top with gore. Con's : Quirky pacing and a tacky ending 4/5
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May 23, 2006 06:52
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| # ? Apr 24, 2024 03:45 |
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I really liked this movie despite an incredibly lame and cliché ending. Honnestly, it would have been even better without the 15 last minutes. The movie could have simply stopped after the hockey arena massacre and I would have been fully satisfied. Overall, very entertaining and pretty intense. A good watch. 4.5
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Oct 1, 2006 17:18
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