Monday, December 15, 2003

Movies You Really Should Own (and Don't) Volume 3

Running Time
(1999, directed by Josh Becker)
available on DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment

I'm a Bruce Campbell fan.
Actually, I'm a Bruce Campbell whore. Let's face it, most Bruce fans get a little too enthusiastic about the man, and I'm no exception. I've met the man, I've spent time talking with the man, and I still can't get enough of him. Part of it is that he's one of the most accessible celebs on the planet. Another part is that he tends to be in a lot of quirky, original movies that geeks love...like Evil Dead, Bubba Ho-Tep and this.
Running Time attempts to do the same thing as Hitchcock's Rope...telling a story in one single shot. Actually, since it was shot on film, there are several hidden cuts (same as Rope), so the actors didn't have to perform the entire movie in one take. That wasn't accomplished until Russian Ark.
Running Time is a simple heist film, aside from the cinematic conceit. Different ground for The Bruce, sure. It's directed by Josh Becker, a childhood friend of Campbell and Sam Raimi, who's done quite a bit of TV direction. If nothing else, Campbell and Raimi do right by their friends. Anita Barone, the female lead, is yet another fellow Michigander. And, there's a quick cameo by Bridget Hoffman, the girl from the posters for Evil Dead.
From the opening credits and the black and white photography, you can tell it's an old school crime flick, and it doesn't really veer from formula. As expected, nothing goes right and things get really messy really quick. Chances are, you've seen a good deal of the moments in this movie in other films.
That doesn't lessen the impact at all, testement to Becker's directing. It's not Scorcese, mind you, but it's better than most trash that hits theaters any more. Becker does more with no money, a few actors and a steadi-cam than Michael Bay does with $100 million. If nothing else, it's great to see your hero The Bruce in something different and new.
Nothing much in the line of extras...a trailer and commentary with Becker and Campbell. But, as Bruce fans know, he's worth listening to for anecdotes, jokes and general great useless information.
Love The Bruce. Love this movie. This, I command!

No comments: