Premium Rush
2012 · Directed by David Koepp
Original language: English
- crime
- action
- thriller
The story
In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.
What it’s like
Restless daytime Manhattan, shot handheld and kinetic, with the city's grid of traffic, crosswalks and yellow cabs rendered in bright sun and sudden shadow as a cyclist threads between buses. The palette leans on warm street light and hot asphalt, broken by flashes of gritty, saturated color, and the camera stays close to the rider, whipping through alleys and onto sidewalks, with frequent rewind-and-replay sequences that revisit the same intersection from new angles. The score is propulsive electronic percussion, the soundtrack full of brakes, horns and spinning wheels. Vibe: frantic, playful, sun-bleached urban thrill. It suits a Saturday afternoon when you want momentum over depth, or a fast-paced watch with friends. Pacing never lets up, and the emotional register stays light and breezy, with a cocky young courier shedding his bravado as he's pushed into a tight spot, and an antagonist whose menace grows more desperate. Intensity: moderate, with a few crashes, a scuffle and some threats; blood is minimal and the violence is brief rather than graphic. Made for viewers who want a lean, breathless chase with a sense of humor.
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