Premium Rush (2012) User Reviews

How to (possibly psychotically) navigate NYC streets - and Michael Shannon's gaze

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 25 August 2012]

Premium Rush is a commercial film that sticks to being a 'B' movie with some A-movie assets - chiefly the actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon as the hero and opposition - and David Koepp does a very good job balancing those elements. It could have been just a straight to video title, but it's smart about being a little movie (that is, not quite as on the radar as a big summer tentpole), and has a script that can hold its story and juggle a few elements with more than just competency, that you can go for the ride without being insulted. And yes, it isn't just hyperbole saying it's a 'ride'; here, as in some TV shows (only here with better visual intentions than just quick- adrenaline-fixes), we see with big visual effects the scenarios our hero Wiley (yes, perhaps ironically named as he is really the Roadrunner) navigates the streets, his main route, and then when he's at a cross- walk and cars coming on all sides which of three paths he could take and if he'll die or not or kill others.

Sure, most of us (those of us walking or driving in a city, such as New York) don't like bike messengers, but it's in abstract or in the all-too personal. Koepp's cleverness is to look at a bike messenger on the street and go 'hmm, how about a movie about him and what he has to do, and then what if we throw in a crooked cop and a mob element and a woman wanting to reunite with her kid?' A lot of these elements on their own (and perhaps still the woman with the kid) could be under-cooked or just not very interesting. Altogether, they amount to something, rather that the elements can connect through Michael Shannon's cop Detective Monday (or "Officer Ackerman") who sets a lot of this into motion through his comically inept gambling addiction and inability to get money together - or a ticket from a bike messenger.

Some of this may just seem like 'screenwriting 101', with pieces like the woman with the son and the hero's conflicts (love interest, side- opponent in another bike messenger, the latter I didn't care for as it was too weak on its own and in the movie), but hey, in a first-level class there can be good work done! It's not even a 'turn off your brain' kind of suspense thriller either; Koepp has enough experience to inject, along with his co-writer, really funny or witty dialog, solid (albeit 'movie') character dynamics as people ride on their bikes and can speak on their blue-tooth phones. It's so good when watching the actors bicycling along, and some stunt doubles but who knows when they really use them it's so well integrated, it almost slows the movie down when they have to stop to fill in the spots of the story's quasi- MacGuffin object in the envelope.

But mostly, it's the acting that carries it through. Gordon-Levitt is an appealing lead, likable but has a tough attitude when he needs to, and of course you got to go with him. But without Shannon, frankly, I don't know if the movie would have been as successful, at least to the level it's at now. He's such a convincingly kooky-looking villain, brutal, nasty, but cartoonish in a big way (listen to his laugh, or chuckle, and it's a touch of Chucky the doll or something!) Even in a supposedly marginal Hollywood thrill-ride, Shannon brings his A-game.

Scenery is on the menu, and Michael Shannon has a voracious appetite!

[TheMovieMark · 7/10 · 24 August 2012]

I'll be honest – when I first saw the trailer for Premium Rush I was a bit skeptical. I scoffed at the idea of a thriller built around the premise of a bike messenger delivering an important envelope on time. But you know what? This is one of those rare late summer releases that comes out of nowhere and entertains you way more than you could have expected.

There's no pretense here. No delusions of grandeur. No misguided Academy aspirations. Premium Rush is a film that recognizes the boundaries of its skin and is completely comfortable in it. It's simply a fun, fast, and intense 90-minute ride that's equal parts tension and comic relief.

Rather than potentially spoil any of the details, I'll let you watch the finer points of the plot unravel on screen. Multiple back-stories are told via time flashbacks, so some of the events might get lost in the translation if you're not paying close attention. What you need to know is that the essence of the film rests in following Joseph Gordon-Levitt's bike journey through the streets of Manhattan as he attempts to deliver his envelope with a scene-stealing Michael Shannon and an I-take-my-job-way-too-seriously bike cop hot on his tail.

You'll recoil and cringe as JGL weaves in and out of traffic, avoiding vehicles and pedestrians alike. You'll laugh as the aforementioned bike cop continually regroups and continues his quest. And you'll love to hate Mr. Shannon as he deftly demonstrates his character's impulse control issues.

I've always heard people say how good of an actor Michael Shannon is, but I've never really seen him in anything. I will definitely seek out more of his work after enjoying his performance in Premium Rush. His hypocritical diatribe on how disgusted he is by the lowering of today's standards had me laughing several minutes after he delivered it. I loved this guy!

I also enjoyed what I am branding the "alternate scenario cam" – whenever JGL finds himself in a tight situation, the camera shows him quickly calculating his possible routes and their potential outcomes, many of which end in hilarity and disaster for either Mr. Gordon-Levitt or an unsuspecting pedestrian.

Premium Rush keeps the pace tight and the audience engaged. The camera work forces us right in the middle of the traffic and the blaring car horns, allowing us to experience the tension both visibly and audibly.

The film's main drawback is its abundance of profanity and crass talk. The worst offenders are one f-bomb and more than 10 uses of G-d**n.

Premium Rush never takes itself too seriously, and neither should you. As long as you check your expectations at the theater door then I'm confident the majority of you will find that this film – much like its bike messenger protagonist- delivers.

I Want To RideMy Bicycle

[tony_cochrane · 7/10 · 21 September 2012]

I used to own a bike..then I bought a car..anyway. Basically guy on bike versus bad guy in car. With the whole love story slash you could a been somebody thrown in. I really enjoyed this movie. It's definitely leaving the brain at the door, but in a nice way. There are no major action scenes. Acting, storyline, action, ending..I literally can't fault any of this. The director kept it very realistic; with a hint of... dare I say eighties ..we can do it nostalgia.

For the movie buffs I'd say, Gleaming the cube mixed with Taxi (original french version..we all known US version was rubbish). Adrenalin sports guy takes on the system. Watch it.

Fun

[bennyhagen · 7/10 · 28 December 2012]

Though rather generic, Premium Rush provides an extraordinarily entertaining ride. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, though not having to much to do other then ride his bicycle still is a truly likable hero and Michael Shannon, who's screen time seems a bit out of proportion to me makes for an entertaining semi-psychopath. All this is skillfully delivered by director David Koepp who apparently knows how to write a screenplay too, finding breakneck pacing for the movie while twisting the plot with some timeshifts really makes the ride premium to some degree. If you are looking for some quality entertainment, look no further.

7/10

Fast and furious... On bikes

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 3 January 2013]

The movie is set around bicycle messenger/courier who chases and is chased around New York City due to an envelope containing a wanted item by people with different intentions. The events - not shown in chronological order, through various flash-forward and flash-back cuts - are intense, but not too realistic: New York is full of policemen, on foot/in cars/on bikes, and it is not likely to race and speed negligently for miles through dozens of blocks, causing accidents or incidents... Chases are, however, gripping to follow, and thanks to great performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Wilee and Michael Shannon as Bobby Monday, the movie goes beyond trivial cat and mouse play (only pity that Monday did not have the same vehicle than Wilee). Female performers, on the other hand, are not very catchy and romantic/sympathetic background is rather perfunctory.

The movie is definitely for you if you like fast races and thrill within a big city and/or you know NY well (joy of recognition).

A Fun Thrill Ride

[cadillac20 · 7/10 · 24 August 2012]

I've been looking forward to Premium Rush for a while, so it was a little disheartening to see so many negative comments about the film. That was before I looked at RT and saw the nearly 80% fresh. I am inclined to agree. While it does have some holes in it, Rush is a fun film filled with many edge of your seat moments. Seeing our biker hero Wilee zip in and out of traffic in NYC is a thrill ride that rarely lets up.

The plot is simplistic enough to carry the film. Wilee is a bike courier in New York who lives his life on the edge. His "fixie" modified bike, with no gears or breaks, guides him at high speeds as he almost constantly avoids injury and even death. On this particular day, Wilee gets an envelope to deliver that turns out to be quite valuable, enough for a corrupt NYC Detective to chase him throughout the city trying to get it. But this is all just set up for some of the best high speed action on screen in a while.

I suppose a lot has to be owed to the unique take on cycling in the city. It creates for some interesting and hairy situations, as well as some slick effects work, that aids in the adrenaline rush, which almost never seems to let up. Certainly there are some slow down moments for exposition, but they are few as the main focus here is the dangerous riding for our couriers. The actors aid in delivering entertaining performances, including Joseph Gordon Levitt as Wilee, who brings the kind of energy and talent that you'd expect from the actor. However, Michael Shannon is the true star here as the main antagonist, who does come off as both threatening and slimy. He seems to have fun in the role, and that translates to a good time every time he's on screen. The rest of the cast is decent, if unexceptional. This includes Dania Ramirez of Heroes fame who doesn't seem to have much to go on besides the girlfriend role.

What you will most certainly see this for is the action in the film, and it is definitely pretty crazy. I'd be interested in seeing a behind the scenes of the film, because there is a near constant edge of your seat feeling to what is taking place on screen. The best thing about it is that it doesn't feel unnatural. Sure, it's obviously not entirely realistic, but it never feels fake either. In my book, this kind of unique action and adventure in a film, along with a breathless pace, makes the film a worthwhile end of summer catch.

exciting action on NYC streets

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 26 August 2013]

Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a high risk bike messenger. Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) is a corrupted cop who's desperate for what Wilee is carrying. That's as simple as it gets. There isn't much more substance in the story.

The story is simplistic and reasonable. The involvement of the snakeheads allow a minimal semblance of substance in the writing. Make no mistake, this is about the action. And it's got great exciting NYC street racing action. David Koepp is the writer/director here. He's a prolific Hollywood writer and has directed a couple of good thrillers. In this one, he used all of his action skills.

A Cycling Riproaring Ride

[james1844 · 8/10 · 26 August 2012]

It's not a 10 star film but it is a fun ride with action that makes up for a few flaws in plot and the flow of storyline. The best issue in this film is almost constant action and wild biking through the New York streets. One of the elements that were new to the screen and highly workable were the sudden stop of action to follow the split-second decision making of a messenger/biker. Choices (usualy three) that have to be made in the moment. The bad guy in the film is nasty and very believable. So, if you're looking for a thrill ride and a fun film then go see it. Enjoy the earthy feel of the cameras that capture the life of a messenger on two wheels competing with trucks, cabs, and cops.

No need to rush out to see it but it's being pretty entertaining.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 13 September 2012]

This is by no means a great movie but it's good to watch when you have nothing else to do and just want to have a good time. It's entertainment and well made entertainment as well.

The movie is what it is. It doesn't pretend to be any more or less than it is and that's what I liked about the movie. It feels like an honest made movie, made with the best of intentions and it seemed that everybody involved had a great time while making it.

The movie is being very straightforward with its story and due to its fast pace there is no real room for any distractions. They threw in a couple of side-plots but it never works out as anything that distracts from the main story. It's truly part of the reason why this movie is a good and pretty entertaining watch.

Even if you don't really get what its main story is supposed to be all about, chances are you'll still really enjoy watching this film. The entertainment, the action, the characters and the pace keep the movie going at all times, so there truly is always something happening and there never really is a slow moment in it. The movie simply takes you on an entertaining ride and you just have to go along with it and take things as they happen in order to enjoy the movie.

Never really thought about it that way but after watching this movie I realized that Joseph Gordon-Levitt actually could turn out to be a pretty decent action star as well. He maybe doesn't have the right looks for it but still his charisma and acting abilities ensures he could pull off certain sequences great and convincingly. I truly believe that after this movie he shall receive more action orientated roles which shall give his career an even bigger boost, I predict.

Honestly, this is not a movie that will be on any of my top lists but it's a movie that simply serves its purpose and serves it well!

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Simple action movie takes us along for the ride

[LilyJayne · 5/10 · 26 August 2012]

Premium Rush is an action movie. A very simple one at that, but the cycling scenes are very well done. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is very believable as a New York City bike messenger; he looks the part along with his main squeeze Vanessa (Dania Ramirez). He's always up against an impossible route on the road or an impossible time limit to meet, but that's when you know a movie is good, isn't it? When you're willing to go for a ride through the hills and the valleys even when you know the outcome is straight ahead.

Michael Shannon plays the dirty cop complete with a manic frenzied attitude. He provides a decent amount of the comedy in the movie, but the jury is still out as to whether or not he was a good movie villain. A "good" movie villain would of course be a bad person, but one who is so evil that you're rooting for them to lose just as much as you're rooting the hero to win.

He's a dirty cop because he's using all the tricks in the book to get the envelope that our hero is carrying. A friend of his, Nime (Jamie Chung) has a family emergency and needs to get a special piece of paper to the right people in Chinatown. Once this is revealed, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character becomes much more humanized as he doesn't just risk his life for his job, but for his friend.

The direction for the movie is, for the most part, simple which matches the simplistic premise. It can get carried away with the slow-motion crashes, or highlighting the paths on the road which are most dangerous, almost as dangerous and not quite as dangerous. But Premium Rush succeeds in taking us along for the ride with one of the best actors of his generation.

Life in the Bike Lane

[patrickwigington · 8/10 · 25 August 2012]

An action movie about biking through the streets of Manhattan is certainly an interesting idea, and may seem a bit silly, but writer and director David Koepp manages to create a fun and exhilarating film around this premise. Premium Rush is the type of movie that gets better as it goes on, expanding on its characters and creating riveting and never tiresome chase scenes.

The story is a little over the top, but that hardly matters. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Wilee, a bike messenger who loves to ride through the streets of New York like a maniac, with no gears and no brakes. He has a girlfriend who also works for the same company, although on this particular day she is mad at him for not showing up to her college graduation. Near the end of the day, Wilee gets a package from his girl's roommate. This package is of some special importance because a dirty cop, played with exquisite menace and insanity by Michael Shannon, wants the package in order to pay off his immense gambling debt. So of course a chase across the city ensues throughout the remainder of the day.

One of the major benefits of this movie is that it is not told in strict chronological order. The first scene shows Wilee crashing and flying through the air, only for us to travel back in time to earlier that day. Once we meet Michael Shannon's character and have a nice chase, the movie again backs up for a bit, revealing what the dirty cop was doing earlier that day. This helps the movie to avoid being simple and tired. In fact, the movie has an energy that is on par with its bike riding characters, who seem to hardly ever tire of pedaling.

Koepp directs the movie with a flare for Manhattan, where the entire movie was shot. The film makes a big deal about life in the city, while minimizing the gaudier aspects of filming in the big apple. There is no sweeping shots of Time Square or the Empire State Building, and we don't even get a wide shot of the city until the very end. Instead, Koepp immerses us in the town, and by extension the characters that know it so well. At times the script falls into the realm of cheesiness, especially when it comes to some of the one liners, and the all encompassing pride that Wilee has in his work.

Premium Rush is an exiting action movie, and the best one out about bike riding. Michael Shannon's fantastic performance and the on location shooting make this movie an energetic and awesome ride.

thatguythatlikesmovies.blogspot.com

Interesting movie

[grantss · 7/10 · 11 August 2015]

Interesting movie.

Original setting - don't think I've ever seen a movie about bike couriers. Plot is decent, though does rely heavily on many chase scenes, which the world has already seen too many of. The fact that the chases always involve bikes (sometimes being chased by cars), does make it different, but the chase scenes do wear thin after a while.

Great performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, though that is to be expected.

Solid support from Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez, Aasif Mandvi (of The Daily Show fame) and Wole Parks.

The trip may not be new or intense but it is entertaining

[napierslogs · 6/10 · 24 August 2012]

Trade in a car for a bicycle, and you've got "Premium Rush" an action film with such the simplest, transparent twist on the classic formula that it should leave viewers bored within five minutes. It should, but it doesn't. It's the rhythm that the film has and carries with it for the entire 90-minute run time that makes it quite satisfactory.

Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a bike messenger, one of 1500 in New York City, who jumps pedestrians, dodges cabs, and out-chases cops. He does it because people in grey business suits make his balls shrivel up. Detective Monday (Michael Shannon) is a cop but one with impulse control issues, using more force than necessary, and a penchant for gambling with other people's money. He's a douche-bag except he really doesn't like that word.

Shortly after meeting Shannon's dirty cop, one of Wilee's compatriots starts telling us that Wilee is actually insane. That he zips between cars, causing accidents and barely escaping them himself because he has a death wish not because he has any cycling skills. Fellow messengers are supposed to look out for one another, but he can be forgiven since they both like the same girl. And I would also agree with him just with one minor concession: he has some skills, mostly death wish, but definitely all crazy with a hint of finesse and charisma. Somebody, however, should have told Michael Shannon that he wasn't supposed to be the crazy one in this movie. Evil, yes, but he should have toned down the insanity.

The story is mostly revealed as Gordon-Levitt cycles through the city, the rest of the story as it pertains to the supporting characters is told through flashback. The story itself is very pedestrian, but it's told in an interesting way as it always picks up when it's time to take a life and death trip down to Chinatown. The trip may not be new or intense but it is entertaining.

Adrenaline Rush

[p-stepien · 7/10 · 30 December 2012]

The life of bike courier in New York may not be a safe or highly revered line of work, but it offers exhilaration and some sense of divergence from the manic business culture of the city. For Wiley (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) riding is breathing, masterful at his job, dismantling breaks as job risks and never backing away from driving over a red light. For his co-worker and former girl Vanessa (Dania Ramirez) the courier service is just a temporary employ, as she aims to finish college and start another line of work. This day is not like others, as friend Polo (Kym Perfetto) hires Wiley to deliver a special package within 2 hours. The fastest wheels on Manhattan suddenly finds himself in conflict with Marco (Sean Kennedy), a corrupt NYPD cop...

An adrenaline ride, which somehow manages to stay on track despite a pot of plot holes script. With the throes of disregard for narrative logic, not helped by pseudo-twists introduced in the misguided form of flashbacks, "Premium Rush" sells itself aptly supplying the bare necessities of an action flick. Somewhere, despite the script flaws, chases across New York streets have seldom been as enrapturing and fit for the most rapacious action aficionados. The whole premise makes the movie, albeit the concept of a courier making an on-time delivery may not seem novelty. Thankfully "Premium Rush" doesn't pretend and delivers exactly what is promised - a simple story full of fast action and with enough charm, comedy and suspense to survive the whole 90 minutes. The main tension is built fro the bone crunching frailty of being a biker on the vicious streets of the taxi controlled city with the unventured capabilities such a mode of transportation offers. David Koepp simultaneously brings in enough breathing room in between chase sequences that interest never wavers, always intense, but never repetitive.

Premium Rush is a fast paced thrill ride

[tr91 · 8/10 · 9 October 2013]

I have just watched 'Premium Rush' and I have to say I'm very impressed with it. This isn't your huge blockbuster but it is something different and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I liked the plot and it was very clever how we saw flashbacks of various things, twists and turns, going in back in time and seeing a different perspective. This really linked the film together nicely.

The action is just thrilling and something different. The chases are fast paced and frantic, it is absolute chaos on the roads. There is some great stunts, its far fetched but its crazily fast. Definitely a film for all the adrenaline junkies out there.

One part of the film that I really liked was, when Wilee was in danger of potentially crashing the bicycle, we see how his mind works. We see 3 potential routes he can take to avoid injury so he can decide the best way to go. Some of these parts are cleverly thought out and also quite funny in parts.

The acting was up to scratch, there was a few characters who added something different. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Dania Ramirez played a very likable pair.

Overall this is a good action thriller type film, suspense builds and the movie is just fast paced. I really enjoyed it, much better than expected. Would recommend it to anyone and I would certainly watch it again. 85 minutes of carnage.

9/10.

Very enjoyable

[callanvass · 7/10 · 1 February 2014]

(Credit IMDb) Wilee is one of 1,500 bike couriers in Manhattan who rides on the edge by having a bike with no brakes. On this day, Wilee has a delivery that is so valuable that a corrupt NYC Detective, who needs the money, begins to chase Wilee throughout the city to get it before the envelope is delivered.

I love anything to do with action films. I'm what you call an adrenaline junkie. I have the ability to enjoy anything, as long as it's entertaining. I do love it when something creative comes along and Premium Rush is bursting with creativity. Some of the action scenes and stunts when it comes to Joseph Gordon-Levitt astounded me. If you're looking for something to get your adrenaline going, this will do the job easily. Levitt is one of the best actors going today. I really liked Michael Shannon's tenacity in this movie, doing anything in his power to make sure he gets Levitt. He was a great villain. Overall, action fans should love it. Even film snobs will probably find things to like about it

7.5/10

Quite a good little action flick

[zetes · 8/10 · 26 August 2012]

Now this is how to make an action flick! A small one, mind you, but it's one of the most fun pictures to come out this summer. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as a bicycle messenger in Manhattan who lands the unfortunate job of delivering a small slip of paper worth a ton of money. Corrupt cop Michael Shannon, trying to pay off a Chinatown gambling debt, gets wind of the item and attempts to relieve JGL of it. Unfortunately for Shannon, JGL is a pretty darn fast rider and great with stunts, and soon he has the help of his girlfriend (Dania Ramirez), who is also a bicycle messenger. It's just a simple chase movie, but it's perfectly edited and paced, with well-timed jumps back in time to explain the situation. The actors are all fine (I also really liked JGL's professional and romantic rival, Wole Parks), but Shannon really steals the show. This is the perfect place for his style of menace. Well worth your time.

Premium Rush...2 out of 4 Skittles

[FilmStallion · 5/10 · 6 September 2012]

Despite that Premium Rush is tagged with possibly the cheesiest movie title in the history of cinema (very close race with the meathead crap fest The Fast and The Furious), there was still hope that a film with a leading cast including new Hollywood titans Joseph Gordon Levitt (Inception, (500) Days of Summer, The Dark Knight Rises, 50/50) and Michael Shannon (Take Shelter, Boardwalk Empire) might overcome its generic first appearance and prove to be something more. Sadly…that isn't the case. Premium Rush is filled with clichés and plays about as deep as poetry written by the cast of The Jersey Shore.

The flick has some descent action scenes, but for the most part it's all flash…no substance. The characters and story are developed to the bare minimum. Writer/Director David Koepp (Ghost Town, Secret Window) attempts to bring a highly stylized approach to the film with a handful of jump cuts going back and forth through time, but it ends up feeling completely unnecessary and actually slows down what little of a plot there is. If the goal was to make the bike messenger industry come off like a bunch of pretentious & pompous dillholes, then Premium Rush achieved its goal.

If you would like to mindlessly watch people on bikes spouting out cheesy lines as they weave through NYC traffic while being chased by other people on bikes and cars for 90 minutes… then you might enjoy Premium Rush. If this doesn't sound like a good time, then I highly recommend steering clear of this road rash of a film.

For more quick reviews check out www.FilmStallion.com

Perfect Cyclist Movie

[shreekara-1995 · 7/10 · 6 May 2014]

If your Internet or Postal fails to work then here is an alternative to send something important to your beloved ones, moreover you can trust them, they deliver your thing no matter even if lot of danger they have to face they are – Message guys, who pedal all around the city crossing every danger and safely deliver your message. Yes, this is what the story of 2012 thriller movie Premium Rush revolve around, good concept, this could be the 'Step Up movie of cycling', the making of this movie is brilliant and those on screen people had done fantastic job, great performance, daredevil cycle riding without breaks and classy bicycle stunts are done great, 'take off that break, coz Breaks are Death', this single phrase shows the sever cyclist in this movie, worth to watch for every crazy Cycling Freak.

Bike messenger with a death wish seeks fulfillment.

[jaywensley2004 · 7/10 · 21 October 2013]

Could a plot get any thinner? And yet this movie works for the exact reason it exists: Its just fun. Told almost in real time, this movie is pretty much a cartoon chase. Wilee's name is pretty obvious, and in case the viewer misses the joke, one character literally spells it out. It is excellently filmed, giving the viewer a bike messenger's view of Manhattan while delivering a giddy, vertiginous ride. Lots of thrills, at least a couple of rousing, heroic moments and some well-earned laughs. Doesn't deserve to be on anybody's top ten list of 2012 films, but its definitely a fun way to enjoy the time it takes to down a tub of popcorn and a large drink.

Interesting premise, very good action choreography

[kosie42 · 7/10 · 21 October 2012]

just came from watching Premium Rush. the story use an unusual subject to that work in this movie, and carry us into a world of bike messengers.

No sweat for Gordon-Levitt in the acting department as this movies centers around the exhilarating cycling scenes. Action Photography is excellent, and almost non-stop. And Gordon\-Levit live up to the expectations of the scenes.

Koepp and his team deliver good action scenes, great choreography and milieu(that's the 7th star of this rating) complimented with NY(or is it Manhattan?) setting that fits the story. The city and traffic enhance the action scenes.

Michael Shannon really turn out a creepy performance and give substance to the routine nature of story and action.

The movie come to a satisfying conclusion in my opinion. Not too corny and is to be expected.

A rush of adrenaline keeps this movie exciting

[blott2319-1 · 8/10 · 21 September 2020]

Premium Rush is a fairly straightforward movie about a bicycle messenger in New York City who has to deliver a letter while on the run from some others who want it. The movie is told in a non-linear fashion, often filling in the gaps from the past after the story is established. I found almost the entire movie to be thrilling because they never let things slow down, and the stakes are high. There are a lot of little subplots that are addressed along the way, and I never had a hard time following what was going on. I enjoyed the stylized way they illustrated the decision-making process that these messengers have to make in a matter of seconds. It all worked to put you in the mind of the hero. I also appreciated that they addressed the competitive nature of the job, and how it takes a certain personality to enjoy this kind of work. There were still some cheesy elements to the characters, particularly the "no brakes" stuff, but it didn't hurt the film for me.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is perfect in the lead role. He has a light-hearted and carefree nature, but also is convincing when he starts to get annoyed and takes things seriously. The true joy of Premium Rush, however, is the delightfully unhinged performance from Michael Shannon. His impatience and mounting frustration are great, and he does it all with a solid New York accent that plays against his usual type. The plot does spin its wheels at times, because the people are literally going in circles. I never lost interest in the story, though. There is a driving momentum to everything that happens, because you can always sense the ticking clock counting down to the delivery deadline. I had a big problem with the final climactic moment, though. That felt horribly out-of-place with the rest of the story, and out-of-character for many of the people we'd met up to that point. I was chuckling at the absurdity of it, and trying not to let it affect my opinion of the film as a whole. I still enjoyed Premium Rush, but it could have been a bit better.

A Thrill Ride!

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 15 April 2015]

'Premium Rush' is indeed A Thrill Ride! Its furiously paced, crisply written, correctly directed & also well-acted. In short, a good watch!

'Premium Rush' Synopsis: In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city.

'Premium Rush' works almost throughout. The story moves on a furious pace, although I must say, the pace slightly slows down in its second-hour. But, things get back on track with a lifting climax. The best aspect about 'Premium Rush' is its brisk pace, that never allows you to slow down.

David Koepp & John Kamps's Screenplay is indeed well-done, delivering an engaging tale. David Koepp's Direction, on the other-hand, is perfect. Cinematography captures all the madness with zeal. Editing is superiorly done, as well.

Performance-Wise: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the right guy for the part & he shines. Michael Shannon is the show-stopper, though. He nails it as the antagonist. Dania Ramirez is effective. Jamie Chung is very sincere.

On the whole, 'Premium Rush' has merits.

Worth watching

[davyd-02237 · 7/10 · 25 May 2020]

Although the underlying issue of the delivery is so that a Chinese girl can get her son into the USA illegally....add to that you have a corrupt cop who likes to kill people and threaten people....end to end action which is a bit different. Having watched this in lockdown it is very different although the language isn't as bad as some but its a pity the underlying story is as it is.....bike chases are done very well and make for a most interesting film in parts and it comes with a very different ending to many films....be on the look out as worth watching, perhaps even more than once.

A gem that flew under the radar

[TheCasualReviewer · 8/10 · 16 December 2019]

This film is so good at doing what it's set out to do. An hour and a half of an incredibly fast New York biker in this incredibly fast-paced film that keeps your attention so easily through the entire run-time.



SYNOPSIS: Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is the quickest bike messenger in New York, nearly pushing death without breaks on every ride. It's when he gets one particular message to send that truly puts his life on the line.

DIRECTION: David Koepp does a great job on this film. By no means will I try to insinuate that not other director could've properly directed this film and I actually believe there are a couple other directors that could've directed this film a bit better. I'm thinking someone like the Safdie brothers. However, there is a certain style to this film that carries it past just simply going from Act 1 to Act 2 to Act 3. Not that the premise of the film is complex in any sense of the word, but sometimes it's refreshing to watch a film that knows what it is, what it sets out to be and successfully completing that in a successful and satisfying way. At not point in this film am I bored, even with bike chases... Yes, there are literal bike chases that are shot extremely well. It's also very refreshing that there are chase scenes that don't have to do with cars going left and then right and then left and then right. Solid solid direction here.

WRITING: Normally, I say that writing is the most important aspect of a film for me. For me, it doesn't matter the acting performances or how amazing the direction is, if the dialogue is not interesting, if the story has plot holes or doesn't successfully accomplish what it sets out to accomplish then it will not be a good film for me. However, in this film I do not particularly think the writing is all that good and I'm sure a bike messenger in New York enduring what they endure in this film (assuming it's somewhat accurate) would be sharing far more expletives with far more pedestrians and bikers alike. I mean, I'm almost positive that Colin Ferrell's character in Phonebooth drops an F-bomb every other word and the entire film is set IN A PHONEBOOTH. Anyway, the writing was good enough to keep me moving along and the scenes with Michael Shannon are enough for me to set aside any small writing holes this film presents.

ACTING: My primary focus for the acting of this film is going to be set on Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon, just because they're the two most well known actors in the film. Gordon-Levitt is not doing anything extra in this film. Again, this film is a simple film that delivers very well on the pace and direction. With that being said... MICHAEL SHANNON. One of my favorite actors working today. Putting his name in all caps might get you thinking I'm saying this is one of his best performances. That's not what I'm saying here. He is by far the most fun to watch in the film though. I mean, he's so good at being menacing. If you want to get him at a more grounded messed up kind of villain you should go watch The Shape of Water (2017), The Iceman (2012) and he's even a bit manipulative in Knives Out (2019), but it's just so fun to watch him play a slightly cartoon version of a villain. I say slightly, because it's not like he's overly eccentric and going crazy with his role, it's grounded enough where you sit there thinking "if there was a cartoon-type cynic in the real world, this is probably about how cartoonish they'd be." That's really just how good of an actor he is. It's a wonderful thing, truly.

CONCLUSION: In the end, I really do love this film. It's not perfect and it is a really safe movie to make and for that reason I can't give it more than 4 starts. If you want to check out a fast-paces movie that you'll be interested in from beginning to end and will know everything going on very clearly, I think this is a perfect film for you. If none of that interests you, but you are a fan of Shannon's acting, DEFINITELY give this one a shot.