Sorry but I can't look at any movie about a bike messenger without comparing it to Gleaming the Cube, and that includes Premium Rush, the new thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Written and directed by superstar scribe David Koepp(
War of the Worlds,
Spider-Man), the film in a fast paced actioner featuring JGL as an adrenaline junkie courier who picks up a mysterious package at Columbia University, only to be pursued around town by a crooked cop played by Michael Shannon(
Revolutionary Road) who desperately wants to get his hands on it. Jamie Chung(
Sorority Row) co-stars as JGL's ex-girlfriend, along with Dania Ramirez(
Heroes) and Aasif Mandvi(
The Daily Show).
Yeah, this looks like a throwaway film for both JGL and Shannon, but it could still be a decent ride, although the January 2012 release date(usually a dumping ground) doesn't fill me with confidence. As great as a writer that Koepp has proven to be, his track record is sorta iffy behind the camera.
Stir of Echoes was ok at the time, but
Ghost Town and
Secret Window are pretty horrible. I reference Secret Window all the time as evidence of Johnny Depp's inability to play regular people.
Check out the trailer for Premium Rush below....
