Who's
In It: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Efren Ramirez, Jose Cantillo, Jay Xcala,
Carlos Sanz, Keone Young Who Directed It: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Year
of release: 2006
Crank
(2006) Movie Review Reviewed by: Paul Heath
Get
me going to two new movies on two consecutive nights eh? First THE WICKER MAN
(pants), and now this. I was pumped for CRANK. I was really expecting great things
and I really really wanted to like it. I did, I did, I did!
Chev
Chelious (great name) has just one hour to live. He has been injected with some
kind of lethal Chinese cocktail, and the only way that he can slow the process
down is by keeping his adrenaline up. What would I do with just one hour left
to work. Well, I can think of a few things that could keep my adrenaline up, but
what would I do for the remaining 58 minutes. Ba-boom. Oh, and yes, the movie
does go there (to great effect by the way).
CRANK
is like SPEED on speed. Literally, it all kicks off from the opening frame and
is possibly the fastest, most action jam-packed, awesome, big stonking hard-on
of a movie of the year (only DISTRICT 13 can compete). I can't think of a more
enjoyable experience at the movies this year. I laughed until my cheek bones hurt.
There are some wonderful touches to the film. Firstly, the way that this thing
is shot. There is some great camera work here, especially in the opening scenes.
First time cinematographer Adam Biddle (who has worked camera on other flicks
like V FOR VENDETTA and AN AMERICAN HAUNTING) gives the film the feeling that
he is on the same drugs as Jason Statham's Chelios. The camera is all over the
place, but works so, so well here. The directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine
(who also make their debut) opt for some scenes to be speeded up, slowed down,
upside down, from Statham's POV and even hanging off the side of a helicopter.
It great and puts you in amongst the action.
This
is a very violent film, which is great to see as a lot of modern day actioners
pussy away from the violence. But for each part of the movie that contains the
nasty stuff, you can bet a one-liner or a huge gag is coming right away. "Do
I have c**t written on my forehead?" The highlight for the film is Statham's
very first on-screen sex scene which is like no other sex scene that you have
ever seen in any movie before. Hilarious, a little risqué, but genius!
The
man Jason Statham has never been better. Yep, better than THE TRANSPORTER (both
of them), and ten times better than anything else he's done (he also retains his
English accent and wit here too). As funny as he was in SNATCH.
This
is a Friday night lads movie that the girls will love too. I was standing and
applauding at the end and wanted to stay in my seat for the next screening. Am
I going over the top? Well, yes maybe, but the film does too, from start to finish.
But you'll dig the silliness.
Round
up your mates, down a six-pack before you venture out and enjoy the year's best
actioner. A blast.
