*Pimp Lester: [pointing gun at Oleg] Say hello to my little friend!

Joey Gazelle: That's real fucking original. What are you, a fucking cartoon?!

Pimp Lester: I'm a Mac Daddy pimp!



Running Scared
Starring Paul Walker, Cameron Bright, Vera Farmiga
Written and Directed by Wayne Kramer


THE CASE: A crime thriller involving a mob-hand who ends up in the most psychotic and unusual situations after an abused 10 year old Russian boy uses a gun that he was suppose to dispose of to kill his adopted father -- setting off a race to find the gun before the cops or the mob find the gun and them first.


THE GOOD: Running Scared is a highly original film. Based on the ad campaign and the poster and cover art, you probably are thinking it is just another one of those gangster flicks with a lot of senseless violence and Tarantinoesque dialogue -- but if you thought that, then you thought wrong. It is ultra-violent, but unlike those other kinds of films I mentioned, it can back it up with some complexity. The film is like Alice in Wonderland (pay attention to the end title sequence), except that Wonderland is the underbelly of New Jersey and Alice is a creepy looking Russian kid played by the creepy looking, beyond-his-years, Cameron Bright. Paul Walker, who is not known for his acting chops, surprisingly under the direction of writer/director Wayne Kramer (The Cooler) -- punches out probably the best performance of his career so far (although he probably had more fun on the set of Into the Blue with Miss Alba). I have always thought Wayne Kramer was a talented director, but now I can add creative to that thought. The scenarios in Running Scared have never been captured before and one really cool scene taking place in a neon black-light hockey rink is not to be missed.


THE BAD: The only complaint I have for this film is that it is a little too avant-garde for its genre. Yes, I know I stated above that I thought this was a good thing -- but you still have to be aware of your audience. I’ll say it again, I think Wayne Kramer did a bang-up job -- but at times I think he just got a little too carried away with his creativity and forgot to think of the big picture.


THE LAW: Check out Running Scared on DVD, making sure you watch the “Making Of Featurette” and you will enjoy this film even more than you will while watching it.