The plot thickens when Wilee is asked to make one last run of the day, a "premium rush," and at his old alma mater no less. It turns out he is making the cryptic pickup from Nima and she seems a bit nervous. On his way out, he is stopped by a determined man named Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) asking for the package, but they don’t call him "Wilee" for nothing and he is off and running. Wilee is starting to wonder just what all the fuss is about this envelope. Little does he realize how determined Monday is to get his hands on whatever is in that package and the man is willing to risk a very dangerous car chase just to get it. Poor Wilee didn’t realize what he signed up for when he accepted the rush job and he doesn’t know what sort of desperation he is dealing with in the case of Bobby Monday. Soon, he finds himself being chased by the police, to boot.
Premium Rush is an action movie filled with intense chase scenes, whether its bike vs. car, bike vs. bike, or man vs. bike. I really enjoyed David Koepp’s directing style, because it was not only very edgy, but also really geared towards the tech savvy generation. For instance, when Wilee surveys a dangerous traffic scene, he sees possible paths and outcomes, whether good or bad, in a very Matrix-type way. When he gets assigned a job, he consults his GPS on his phone and then the audience is treated to a map overlay detailing his route. It’s all very fresh and fun. Additionally, we get to see bits and pieces of the story, as told from different peoples’ points of view, at different times during the afternoon that the movie takes place. We may see the effect of something, only to later see what actions brought about those effects. It’s a fantastic storytelling tool.
The cast is great. Michael Shannon does slightly out of control, batsh*t crazy like no one else and this role is no exception. He is a fearsome man, just because he appears to be so unpredictable. Gordon-Levitt is wonderful as always and makes Wilee a character you truly root for during his grueling and dangerous cross-town adventure. Co-stars Dania Ramirez and Wole Parks are incredibly athletic and likeable and everyone really comes together to form an amalgam of believable and fun-to-watch characters.
As far as special features go, there are only two and they cover cast and crew interviews concerning the making of the film and the stunts behind the film. These were interesting and, if you skip them, at least watch the credits to see a bloodied and banged up Gordon-Levitt talk about the injuries he sustained while filming. It’s interesting stuff. As far as Blu-ray versus DVD, the film is super crisp in high-def and sounds great, especially in high-traffic areas where it sounds as though cars are whizzing by you. If you pay attention, you’ll even hear a little Sleigh Bells (NY noise-pop duo) in one of the club scenes, as they are performing live in the background.
We loved Premium Rush. It’s just a fun, exciting adventure and, while following the happenings of a bike messenger may not sound like the most exciting movie, trust me, it is. There’s action, danger, comedy and romance. What’s not to love?
