A Year in Netflix - "Premium Rush"

Let's just jump right into this.

There IS a story amongst all the bicycle riding.  I swear.  A day in the life of a NYC bicycle carrier.  Well, sort of.  A package of great importance must get from one area in New York to another area by 7 P.M.  The bike boy tries his best to maneuver through the mean streets of New York while also trying to stay clear of a dirty cop who wants that package for himself.  That's basically it.

I really had no interest in seeing this movie.  There were really only 2 reasons I put this in my Netflix Queue at all.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon.  Good ol' Joe (500 Days of Summer, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper) plays the bike messenger.  And he's good at his job.  Because he loves his job.  He weaves through the city streets like a machine (there are instances where he sees a choice and the outcome before he makes the decision, which leads me to believe he is a robot) and has crazy moves like jumping over gates, hopping on cars, somehow ducking under trucks.  ALL WHILE ON HIS BIKE.  I love Mr. Gordon-Levitt in everything he is in.  Even this.  Yes, it's ridiculous.  Yes, it's silly.  Yes, there is barely a story.  But, damn it, Joe is so watchable.  He is a fantastic actor.  And let's not forget about Michael Shannon.  Michael Shannon!  Fucking Zod!  (Michael Shannon plays Zod in the upcoming Superman movie "Man of Steel")  Words can't even begin to tell you how high I hold this man.  He is AMAZING.  I think it's unforgivable that he was looked over for Best Actor for his role in Take Shelter.  He wasn't even nominated.  For shame, Academy.  He was a powerhouse in that flick.  But this isn't about Take Shelter.  It's about Premium Rush.  And he is really good in this.  He plays the dirty cop who is after the package.  But he isn't a villain, which was surprising to me.  He's just a guy who is in way over his head in gambling debt.  You kind of feel for him at one point.  Well, I certainly did.

I also think David Koepp deserves some credit.  He's the director and one of the writers.  Honestly, going into this flick, I thought to myself, "Ok, David.  WOW me.  You've got a lot of making up to do for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!"  (I won't go into that here.)  And while this movie isn't great, it is still A LOT of fun.  Not the kind of "fun" Michael Bay thinks he is making with the Transformers movies.  You actually are having a good time watching this movie.  It's mostly told in real time, showing us where everyone is at one point and showing us how they get there.  I wonder if they thought of calling this "Google Maps: the Movie" at one point?  It does play with flashbacks a few times, but only to serve the story.  Feeding us info as we need it.  And the action is very well done.  I've never been more concerned for bike riders and I hate those hipster dicks.

All in all, Premium Rush was a surprisingly enjoyable movie.  A bit silly at times with a bare bones story, but still fun.  B.