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The Running Man – Review
The Running Man – Budget of $110 million – 2 hours and 13 minutes
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Ben asks his old boss, Richard, to remove him from the blacklist. Ben can’t find work with the scarlet letter on his record, and his daughter, Cathy, is sick. He needs money for her medical care. He brings Cathy with him to prove his point. However, Richard won’t change his mind because Ben spoke to union leaders about his working conditions. Every other man on his crew lost the ability to have children except him. Ben will remain on the list.
Ben watches game shows with Cathy until his wife, Sheila, returns home. She wants to spend time with Cathy, but changes her mind after feeling Cathy’s fever. They can’t afford medicine to fix Cathy’s ailment. They only have money to alleviate the symptoms. He hates that she has to flirt with wealthy men for tips, especially after one client killed her co-worker. He gets an idea. He will go to the network building and be a contestant on one of their shows. Sheila rejects the idea because she fears he will try out for The Running Man. No contestant has made it home on that show. Ben assures her he would never try out for that game before leaving.
Ben walks through the gates of the network building. They pull up his work history and tell him to go to elevator 26. Hopeful contestants, Jenni and Tim, greet Ben. The Network showrunners perform physical and psychological tests on the contestants. They label him the angriest man they have ever met. After the test, the contestants get their show assignments. To Ben’s surprise, they picked him to be on the Running Man. Ben tries to force them to change, but they refuse.
Ben meets with the Network owner, producer Dan. Dan shows Ben the lucrative contract. He gets a bonus for every day he remains alive and a $500 signing bonus. Ben signs the contract and assures Dan he will be the first contestant to go the distance. Ben meets with his family liaison, Agent Doug, before resting for the night. Ben calls Sheila and tells her the sad news. He promises to send the money no matter what.
Dan introduces Ben, Tim, and Jenni to the show’s hosts, Bobby T. Bobby gives a quick hello before running on the stage. Ben rages at the false narrative Bobby spins to make the fans hate him. Bobby says that Ben is a criminal who sold secrets to a foreign government. He states that Sheila is a call girl, and Ben is abandoning his daughter. Security guards hold Ben back as he rages. Then, Bobby gives the rules. The runners will have a 12-hour head start. The further they go, the more money they will make. They have to film themselves every day for 10 minutes and drop it in a mailbox. If they don’t, they won’t get the money, but the hunters will still come after them. They have to last 30 days. Ultimately, they will receive $1 billion. Bobby T reminds the audience that when the game goes live, they can report a runner’s location for money. The three runners step into pods, and the game begins. Ben grabs his items and runs. Will he survive the Running Man and make it home to his family?
Based on The Running Man by Steven King, this film has a spectacular pace, wild stunts, and a fresh twist on a familiar plot (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). This film isn’t just about a man running for his life. It’s a searing indictment of media manipulation by corporations. Ben learns this lesson during his introduction. They display him to the audience as a lazy criminal who doesn’t want to work. However, his company blacklisted him from other jobs. It’s no different from the media portrayals of reality stars today. The director uses different camera techniques to capture Ben’s runs. It could be a steady drone camera shot, a GoPro-style shot, a handheld camera shot, or standard movie framing. These changes display an enticing view of Ben and his run. The soundtrack stays in step with Ben’s speed and gets you excited. The action slows with a purpose. It speaks to corruption, pollution, and screen addiction. The plot delivers these messages without getting too topic-heavy or self-righteous. This film is an exciting and violent ride.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
How about you do my job – Bobby T
Everything – Ben
I don’t have them – Jenni
You have what it takes to win the game – Dan
We can do it later – Tim
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Now You See Me: Now You Don’t – Review
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t – Budget of $90 million – 1 hour and 51 minutes
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The four horsemen – Atlas, Jack, Henley, and Merritt – return to the stage after 10 years apart in Bushwick, New York City. They bring an audience member, Roscoe, on stage and possess his body. In Bosco’s body, they find a man in the crowd who uses cryptocurrency to swindle people out of their pensions and retirement funds. They use their magic to steal his money, redistribute the wealth, exit Bosco’s body, and flee the scene. The cryptobro jumps on stage and realizes the four Horsemen were a hologram. Bosco escapes with his friends, June and Charlie, and laughs. They return to their hidden apartment and gloat about their trick. They did a good deed, hid in plain sight, and brought back the Horsemen. Bosco asks Charlie to turn off the Atlas hologram. However, it remains. It’s the real Atlas. He got a card from The Eye asking him to find the three magicians and run a new trick with them. Atlas can’t believe they stole their gimmick and claims copyright infringement. It takes some time, but June and Charlie convince Roscoe to join Atlas’s mission. The Eye wants Atlas to steal Veronica Vanderberg’s Heart Diamond for $500 million. She uses her business to launder money for the world’s worst criminals.
Veronica prepares to show off her family’s diamond for the first time in 25 years. She assembles outfits for a photoshoot when someone calls her. The scrambled voice tells Veronica that they want the diamond. If she doesn’t hand it over, they will expose her family’s dark secrets. Veronica tells the caller to do their worst. Veronica joins her party and sees Atlas. She assumes he was the threatening caller. She allows him to join the party and heads to her photoshoot. Later, Atlas makes a scene and performs a trick. He, Bosco, June, and Charlie steal the diamond. When they run away, Jack jumps with razor-sharp cards. Then, Henley joins them in battle. When cornering the Horsemen, the security guards start to play an air violin. Merritt jumps out and takes out the remaining guard. The original four Horsemen, Bosco, Charlie, and June, escape onto a boat and discuss what’s next. However, the Eye did not provide further instructions. Then, Charlie notices their playing cards combine to make a map of a French Château. Jack and Merritt don’t want to go because their last trick landed Dylan in a Russian prison. Atlas convinces them to perform one more trick.
They enter the dwelling and find a treasure trove of magical history. Thaddeus appears because the Eye sent him. Charlie looks around and realizes they are in Jasper Maskelyn’s home. He used his magic to do what was right, and he went against all odds. The team believes the Eye wants them to do the same thing. They will do everything in their power to shut down Veronica’s operation and find a new home for the diamond.
This third installment contains the sleight of hand fans love with razzle-dazzle fight scenes and an overarching story. The plot lets the audience know that the Horsemen have moved on with their lives. It fills in the gaps of where they were, what they were doing, and why they were apart so long. The opening credits warn that the film contains flashing sequences. So if this effect bothers you, you should sit this one out. Without giving away spoilers, this movie reminds you why this series has a cult following. The writers presented the new magicians with a quick backstory. This intro allows them to carve a place for themselves in the Horseman timeline. This picture globe hops and offers new tricks. The best scene is watching the elder and new magicians attempt to trick each other. Nothing will be as good as the first, but this installment was better than the second. It was funnier, bigger, and more magical. The edits were a bit jumpy, but it doesn’t lose its magic. It’s worth your time at the theaters, but you won’t buy the DVD.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
They’re my family – Bosco
Next time, you wear the pink wig – June
Bullet catch – Charlie
What’s the trick – Atlas
This is a private line, and you’re a bit tone deaf – Veronica
Can I address the infant in the room – Merritt
I can hold my breath for 8 minutes – Henley
Would you like to see a trick – Thaddeus
That’s disgusting – Jack
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Categories: Ariana Greenblatt, Colman Domingo, Daniel Ezra, Dave Franco, Dominic Sessa, Emilia Jones, glen powell, In The Theater, Isla Fisher, Jayme Lawson, jesse eisenberg, Josh Brolin, Justice Smith, Katy O'Brian, Lee Pace, Lizzy Caplan, Michael Cera, Morgan Freeman, movie, Now You See Me: Now You Don't, review, Rosamund Pike, Sean Hayes, The Running Man, William H. Macy, woody harrelson
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