Tucker Time: Movie Review: Crank

We'll turn it over to another buddy whose movie reviews I always find interesting--though he tends to walk out of movies far more frequently than I do (so far, never)... presenting, Lyle Tucker, and his review of the movie:

Crank
with Jason Stratham, Amy Smart, Jose Pablo Cantillo,
Efren Ramirez and Dwight Yoakam.

Take your Advil along - you'll probably need it. This is a
LOUD and extremely *jerky* movie - rarely does the
camera sit still long enough to allow you to catch your
bearings - it is an hour-and-a-half-hour long MTV-cut,
cinema verite, shaky-as-hell steady-cam assault on the
eyes and ears. That being said, it's really not too bad.
Still, I'd seriously consider taking some headache meds
before checking it out.

If you've seen the commercials you know that our "hero"
Chev Chelios is given something called a Beijing Cocktail
which will kill him in an hour, less if he doesn't stop moving
(yes, consider this SPEED but with a human instead of a
bus) - okay, actually, if his adrenaline level drops. Ostensibly,
then, our hero, that dependable old chestnut known as the
Retiring Hitman, has an hour with which to exact his revenge.
It turns out to be longer than that, thanks to external and in-
ternal circumstances, but suffice it to say that the action is
indeed CRANKed up to virtual non-stop action.

Stratham is more than up to this kind of task. He pretty much
carries the movie, but is ably assisted by Amy Smart and Efren
Ramirez (most popularly known as "Pedro" from Napoleon
Dynamite). Jose Pablo Cantillo plays Statham's main nemesis
and does a fine job convincing you he's an on-the-edge psycho
street punk. And it's always good to see Dwight Yoakam in a
minor but enjoyable part (whom I first caught on-screen in the
lamentably unknown, Minus Man - with Owen Wilson, Brian Cox
and Mercedes Ruehl).

I *almost* walked out on this. It took the movie awhile to
find its legs, or more accurately, its humor - but, once it
did, it became one hellaciously funny ride, a dark comedy
that at times enters territory few movies have in the past
(let me just say that the scene which takes place in China-
town will most likely rank up there with Meg Ryan's fake
orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally). The ending
of the movie is pitch perfect, wrapping the action up in a
satisfying and logical manner. Despite the headache I
was sporting, I was glad I didn't walk out.

Make no mistake, this is an adult film for those who like
their action gritty and graphic - don't be bringing the kiddies
along to this one.