Premium Rush

Suspense thrillers are usually something I can sink my teeth into. One of the best of this genre has got to be "Speed" '95 with Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, and Sandra Bullock. It kept you riveted from minute one to last. Well, I have to  say, "Premium Rush" pretty much does the same.

In Manhattan, a bike messenger, Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) picks up an envelope from a young woman named Nima (Jamie Chung) to be delivered that attracts the interest of a corrupt cop, Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) who then pursues the cyclist throughout the city.
Because he needed the job from his dispatcher, Raj (Aasif Mandvi) incredibly bad for the money, Wilee soon realizes that this isn't just any package he's carrying and he's gonna have to ride like hell, as the selling slogan indicates, to avoid being killed in the process.

Others to round out the cast are Dania Ramirez as Vanessa, Wilee's girlfriend and 'fellow' rider, Wole Parks as Manny, Wilee's co-worker rider, Lauren Ashley Carter as Phoebe, Christopher Place as Bike Cop, Hoon Lee as Floor Manager, Henry O as Mr. Leung, Lyman Chen as 2nd Floor Manager, Jimmy P. Wong as Enormous Asian Man, and Wai Ching Ho as Sister Chen.

This was grittingly directed by David Koepp ("The Trigger Effect" '96, "Stir of Echoes" '99, "Suspense" (TV movie) '03, "Secret Window" '04, "Ghost Town" '08). With the exception of "Ghost Town", his work has mostly been in the same genre, and it's a genre he's most familiar with, because "Ghost Town" definitely needed help. This was written by Koepp and John Kamps and with exception of a few inconsistencies, they kept you right where they wanted you. But I have to say that even though Levitt and Shannon pulled off their roles well, the real stars here are the cinematographer, Mitchell Amundsen and editors, Jill Savitt, ace. and Derek Ambrosi equally. The shots and how they were cut was simply incredible which also says a ton for Koepp.

If you like action and suspense from practically minute one to the last, this is the film for you, because after this ride, you'll only be ready for more.

Out of 4 stars: 3.5                   Rated: PG-13                       91mins.