THE STORY: Chev Chelios is about to begin his morning with an unexpected wake-up call. Groggy, practically unable to move and with a heart that’s barely beating, he hears the voice of thug Ricky Verona, who reveals Chev has been poisoned in his sleep and only has an hour to live.
As it turns out, Chev is a hit man who freelances for a major West Coast syndicate. A run of the mill job the night before instead went awry: he let his target slip away in an effort to quit professional killing and start a new life with his girlfriend Eve.
Now, Chev must keep moving to stay alive: the only way to prolong the poison from stopping his heart is to keep his adrenaline flowing. As the clock ticks, Chelios cuts a swath through the streets of Los Angeles, wreaking havoc on those who dare stand in his way. He must rescue Eve from danger, stay two steps ahead of his nemeses and search for an antidote to save his own life.
THE REVIEW: Jason Statham has the kind of intensity that has been missing from the usual Hollywood leading man. Thanks to Mr. Statham, Crank is tension personified with so much action that you forget you are in a theater watching a movie. The massive urgency to finish what was started and the tension to get there makes it impossible to go to the bathroom. You will be on the edge of your seat—but Crank never lets you leave.
Not only does the movie push the limit of excess—Statham’s marathon had me tapping my foot in anticipation. It’s almost impossible sit listless while your brain is going full speed with the onscreen action.
Crank is reminiscent of Speed—except there isn’t much time for the characters to talk everything out and sort through the meaning of life. This is a mindless action movie that doesn’t care to contemplate anything other than reaching the finish line with everything on the line. The other difference, Statham’s character Chelios would never be the kind of character you would cheer for if it weren’t for us connecting with him emotionally and willing him to stay alive long enough to bring us to the maximum climax. We need the climax as much as Chelios does. His need is our need and the intensity makes sure of our engagement.
One of the most interesting aspects of Crank is to watch Chelios keep his adrenaline pumping. Just when you think its going to slow down and end, Chelios comes up with new ways to keep it flowing and revving up the movie at the same time.
FRANKLY: Statham is an action monster. There is no one who is better at delivering such a manic pace. Crank doesn’t require a lot of intellect. Crank is action cranked up to eleven. Critics get use to complaining about action movies because they spend so much time spinning their wheels—finally someone got an action movie right. Crank is the action movie of the year!
+ Charlie Craine
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