Cinematography:
Adam BiddleComposer:
Paul HaslingerCast:
Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Efren Ramirez, Dwight Yoakam, Edi Gathegi, Reno Wilson, Glenn Howerton, Valarie Rae Miller (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Freelance hitman Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) wakes up with a big problem; a DVD left in his apartment by smalltime gangster Ricky Vanero (Jose Pablo Cantillo) tells him that he has only one hour to live. While Chev was asleep, Vanero injected him with a deadly synthetic drug from China--known as the Beijing Cocktail--as payback for Chev's last hit. Now, Chev's only hope to stay alive is to keep his adrenalin pumping. Dead set on revenge against Vanero, Chev also has to keep his girlfriend, Eve (Amy Smart), out of the mob's hands. To complicate matters, naive, sweet Eve has no idea that her charming British boyfriend is a hitman. Even worse, Chev's boss, Carlito (Carlos Sanz) has no intention of helping his favorite freelancer. Luckily, Chev's friend Doc Miles (Dwight Yoakam) can offer some temporary lifesaving advice; his drugged pal has to keep moving. Downing cans of Red Bull and popping over-the-counter energy pills, Chev is a crazed man on a mission. He has to exact revenge on Vanero, save his girlfriend, and find an antidote, all while keeping his slowing heart pumping. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (9)
I'll say right now that if it weren't for the phone ending, Crank would get a Boo! Why so ruthless, you ask? The film has a great idea, it's based on a really original idea (which is to be damn appreciated), but why on earth is it filmed in such a... Hmm... Neutered way? I like Statham, I trust him in badass roles, but I had a huge problem with him here. He kept one expression throughout the film that annoyed me to no end... The way he tried to look pissed off at all costs was awkward. Normally, I have nothing against vulgarity and violence, but it has to be appropriate and there has to be a reason for it. But there was no reason for 90% of all the shooting, fucking in the street, erections and the like. Crank is a B-movie that can't be denied its momentum and swing - it gets going at the beginning and stops after an hour and a half - but it's terribly empty and can (and did) get severely boring after half an hour.
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Crank is an adrenaline rush like we haven’t seen in a long time. The action here is really non-stop and the ideas of the director duo Neveldine/Taylor know no bounds. All the elements they use in the film are maximized, and Jason Statham, in the role that suits him best, is a great powerhouse of the whole movie. In some places, however, the plot is exaggerated and illogical but it's worth it for the entertainment... The camera shakes, the sirens blare, and Chev Chelios settles his last bill.
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A visually overstuffed directorial debut that lacks a more distinctive narrative style and drowns its original theme in plagiarized action sequences that surprise no one. Statham is once again cool, but slowly but surely his single expression starts to become an awkward pose that becomes annoying towards the end. The film is pulled out of absolute mediocrity by a few wonderfully incorrect black-humor gems (the bird in the cage, sex by the mailbox), but why not admit it: (spoiler!) classic clips die just like the hero of the film - he tries his best, but he’s on his way underground just like everyone else.
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Crank has a huge advantage in its frantic pace, thanks to which many flaws will whizz past you. It's a movie obviously tailored to Jason Statham, and although it's a debut, even for a small budget, the filmmakers really do amazing things within the ninety-minute running time. Everything is supposed to be terribly "cool"; but while sometimes it is really cool, it's often trying to be so "cool" that it's ridiculous. The creators definitely have great ideas (they probably (used to) play GTA quite a lot) and it’s clear that even within the B-movie category, there can still be originality.
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A revelation. A brilliantly crazy and absurd affair with divine action and tons of one-liners. Crank will make you laugh, charge you with energy, and never break a sweat the entire time. Jason Statham as Chev Chelios has found his perfect role, and whether it revolves around his girlfriend or slimy villains, I can't believe what the script can come up with. And the wild action, taken to unimaginable extremes, is the reason why I recommended this little treat to even action-hungry viewers. It sent shivers down my spine, and I happily smiled that someone served me scenes on a silver platter that I've always wanted to see. The fact that Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor clearly went crazy before shooting the second installment is a different story, albeit a very sad one even so many years later.
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