Running Scared Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Its Find The Gun, Or Death ..
If anything can go wrong, it will - and at the worst possible time
Ready. Aim. Run.
Every bullet leaves a trail
It's Not How Far You Go For The Truth. . . It's How Fast You Get There.
After a drug-op gone bad, Joey Gazelle is put in charge of disposing the gun that shot a dirty cop. But things goes wrong for Joey after the neighbor kid stole the gun and used it to shoot his abusive father. Now Joey has to find the kid and the gun before the police and the mob find them first.
| Paul Walker | Joey Gazelle |
| Cameron Bright | Oleg Yugorsky |
| Vera Farmiga | Teresa Gazelle |
| Chazz Palminteri | Detective Rydell |
| Karel Roden | Anzor Yugorsky |
| Johnny Messner | Tommy 'Tombs' Perello |
| Ivana Milicevic | Mila Yugorsky |
| Alex Neuberger | Nicky Gazelle |
| Michael Cudlitz | Sal "Gummy Bear" Franzone |
| Bruce Altman | Dez |
| Elizabeth Mitchell | Edele |
| Arthur J. Nascarella | Frankie Perello |
| John Noble | Ivan Yugorsky |
| Idalis DeLeon | Divina |
| David Warshofsky | Lester the Pimp |
| Wayne Kramer |
7.50 out of 10 (16596 votes)
Visitor Reviews
a lot of potential marginalized by weak plot
posted on 23 Aug 2009This movie had bundles of potential. The action sequences were fresh, the filming was unique for action movie, and the characters were colorful and offbeat. But the plot gets more cliche and unbelievable as it goes on and the main character lacks charisma and is poorly acted. Though his struggle is amusing as he runs around finding one dead end after another for something that is a simple mistake, his only reaction is to shout and go baliistic at anything that happens to cross his path.
The plot though intersting pushes the realm of believability too far too many times, the hooker with a heart of gold, the pimp that is willing to shoot an 8 year old in the middle of a diner, mobsters that are willing to assasinate DEA agents with cell phone bombs, gangsters that are brilliant enough to ferret out informants and crooked cops but don't notice an undercover agent in their midst, hokey player russian gangsters attacking people with hockey sticks, etc.......
with a bit more work on the plot and a little more action this would have been an excellent movie. but as it is, it is just another action flick with some interesting points.
Violent, Brutal, Dark, And Utterly Fantastic
posted on 16 Aug 2009While Watching This Movie I Was On The Edge Of My Seat All The Way Through, Either Because Of The Tension The Film Creates, Or When I Was Watching The Film's Brutal Shoot-outs And Violence. I Loved This Film, I Love Dark Gritty Films, I am A Guy Who Loves His Action, And This Film Did Not Let Me Down. I Found The Story Very Well Done And The Acting Was Spot On. There Were Somethings That Freaked Me Out In This Film, Like This Homeless Guy Who Steals The Kid's Gun At The Beginning Of The Film, And What Freaked Me Out The Most Was The Couple Who Abduct Kids, After Seeing What They Do You'll Be Glad To See Them Meet Their Bitter End, But All In All I Thought This Film Was Brilliantly Edited, The Violence Is Superb, The Action Is Very Good, The Suspense Is Great And The Acting Is Spot On Amazing. See This Film, If You Like Your Action And Your Violence This Film Will Not Disappoint, I Promise You. 10/10 All The Way.
I loved this movie!
posted on 12 Aug 2009I remember seeing a trailer for it back in October or November, and I figured "Oh jeez, Paul Walker, it's gotta suck". I work at the movie theater so I see the movies for free whenever I want and my manager said he saw it opening night and it was really good, so I decided to watch it after work. Man, was I impressed.The story was awesome. Not once was I bored with it. The plot always kept you guessing. The premise was not your usual mob movie, involving a really low-level mobster who gets rid of guns used in mob-murders (I didn't even know there was a job like that ha-ha). So his son's friend steals a gun recently used to kill a cop and shoots his step-father with it and runs out into the night. All Joey (Paul Walker) has to do is find the kid. Of course things aren't so simple. The gun changes owners, the sub-characters get mixed up in their own problems, and the mob is after Joey now too.My only complaint is the freaking dialog. Some of those lines are terribly comedic (they're not meant to be). The ending was a little out there, especially the restaurant scene (with the God-awful, overused "Say hello to my little friend" line).Overall this is a movie worth watching if you want a good story and don't mind some violence/cursing/nudity. Also, the whole scene where Chazz gets the gym bag with the cell phone in it; truly "priceless".
violent, powerful, interesting gang movie
posted on 10 Aug 2009Wayne Kramer's previous film 'The Cooler' was one of the best in the Las Vegas movies genre. Here Kramer takes another genre from the 70-80s era - the suburban (typically New Jersey) gangs movie and the result is another surprising gem. Actually we should not be surprised any longer, Kramer is by now a well establish name, we should wait with tremor each of his future movies and comparing him with Terentino is no longer flattery.The story line involves a New Jersey drug dealer getting in trouble after the gun used to kill unintentionally a undercover cop is stolen from his basement by the kid of the neighbors. A long night run starts, the gun will change many hands, and a full world of menacing figures, criminals at different degrees of evil and perversion will dance around at a devilish pace. Imagine Terentino put on some steroids if possible. Violence abounds, but there is also humanity in this film, first with the kids (especially Cameron Bright) then with the main character himself (Paul Walker) and his wife (Vera Fermiga). The evil gallery does not miss its well drawn characters, allowing superb roles for actors like Chuck Palminteri as a corrupt cop. An excellent portrait of the Russian immigrant family living a nightmarish American dream, funny and pathetic at once is brought to screen by Ivana Milicevici and Karel Roden. Not even a rather conventional end can really spoil the pleasure of seeing this violent, funny, interesting, and powerful movie.
Surprise!
posted on 08 Aug 2009As someone who finds the whole mob movie genre a little tired, Paul Walker a less than convincing actor, and the whole Tarintino blood bath stylized film a little gimmicky in the hands of imitators, Running Scared was a real shocker for me.The real trick to understanding, and maybe even enjoying, this movie is to not take it too seriously. Yes there are ridiculous moments in the plot, and coincidences become tedious, until it becomes obvious the audience is watching a fairy tale. Half way through, I looked at my sister and said, that little boy's gone down the rabbit hole and Paul Walker followed him. There's a fantastical element to the film reflected in its larger than life, stereotyped secondary characters and the set designs and costumes mixing with its gritty quality that results in an interesting disjoint. It's Alice in Wonderland, but instead of a Mad Hatter we have a pimp, and instead of Red and White Queens, we have a pedophile couple.I couldn't help but get excited, scene after scene, about the camera pans and cranes. It never stooped moving or pulling; it was like a roller coaster and the scene changes seemed to run on ball bearings, almost seamlessly.The real success here, though, is Paul Walker. He rises above his previous roles and gives the audience something altogether demanding. His lines come absolutely naturally, and his energy never wavers. It's a driving force in the film at times becoming just plain frightening. This is quite a feat, situations frighten me, rarely characters, and even rarer still is it the hero. Kramer, the writer/director, played with my expectations of all the characters, and I bought into it and loved him for it.Supporting cast Farmiga and Bright shone brightly as well. At one point Farmiga, playing Mrs. Gazelle, drops the f-bomb and, with well deserved irony, warmed my heart. Cameron Bright as Oleg doesn't just show potential, but real acting chops. His performance was reserved and mature. Brilliant.Nothing too profound here. There's no commentary and little reality at all. Expect an enjoyable, frightening, edgy ride.
It's better than Pulp Fiction
posted on 08 Aug 2009If you're a big fan of talking during your action/suspense films, go rent a Tarantino film and you'll get all the turgid overblown dialogue you'll ever want.The dialogue in Running Scared isn't half as pretentious. Sure, Wayne Kramer is stealing the same action formula you find in Pulp Fiction, but without the flashbacks and disjointed timelines Tarantino loves. Running Scared is a great action film without the pretension.In Pulp Fiction, Ving Rhames and Bruce Willis have an encounter with redneck rapists. It's a sordid, uncomfortable and excruciatingly long plot thread. In Running Scared, when Oleg is abducted by child molesters, the scene is totally bare bones. The plastic sheeting on the floors of the molesters' home speaks much more loudly than any dialogue in a Tarantino film.In Pulp Fiction we get a verbose view of the heroin subculture. Tarantino talks you right through the scene.When Oleg hides in a crack house, we barely see the faces, let alone hear the dialogue. Kramer focuses on images and emotions, and the dialogue is irrelevant.When the pimp pulls out the elusive snub-nosed 38, he spouts a tired line "Say hello to my little friend." Sure, it's unoriginal, but at least you don't have to sit through Samuel Jackson talking for five minutes about a Biblical reference.That kind of dialogue is irrelevant to me too. I'll be watching my Running Scared DVD long after I've smashed my Pulp Fiction DVD. I can't tolerate any movie that wastes my time with dialogue about coffee snobbery and cheeseburgers in France. If that blows your skirt up, stay away from Running Scared and keep drinking the Tarantino Kool-Aid.Tarantino tries to impress you with his cinematic genius, whereas Kramer has made a good action film in Running Scared, without the pretense and pomposity.
Garbage
posted on 08 Aug 2009I would recommend saving your 2 hours and not watching this film. Unless you are an unintelligent moron who just wants to see people getting shot. This was Hollywood at its worst. The story was all over the place and none of the Characters were like able or even believable. This movie was a joke asides from the High adrenalin shootouts this film is a waste of time. Paul Walker is garbage and the films ending could not be any worse. I am actually offended by people comparing this to the likes of Reservoir dogs and anything else of that magnitude. This was a low level action flick and it does not deliver. The slogan "It makes Kill Bill look like sesame street" is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. This movie is B grade at best. I don't even know why I bothered to write this much I will have forgotten this movie before I even submit this review.8/10 for film work and gore 4/10 for acting and plot
A Suspense Thriller That Keeps Us Running - for the Secrets
posted on 01 Aug 2009On the surface RUNNING SCARED is just another action flick with lots of expletives, violence, bloodshed, trauma, and car chases. But attempt to put the movie on 'slow forward' and this hundred miles an hour paced film has a fine sense of pacing and excellent experimental photography, AND a cast that is up to it. Writer/Director knows this genre well and offers up a polished little frightening film.
Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker, finally given a role in which he proves he indeed can act and carry a film!)lives with his wife (Vera Farmiga) and son (Alex Neuberger) and is an apparent mob flunky who hides weapons in his basement to protect the mob. But when one certain pistol, used in severely wounding a cop, is recovered by the next door neighbor's kid Oleg (Cameron Bright) and is used against his abusive Russian father Anzor (Karel Roden, a terrific character actor as well as fine eye candy), the chase begins: Joey must recover the gun at all costs and it is this wild crash of violent events involving mobs, bad cops (Chaz Palminteri), hookers and child molesters that frames the course of the film. And to top it off there is a fine surprise ending.
Paul Walker is excellent and it is good to see a film that is a worthy challenge for his talent as an actor. The entire cast of supporting actors, while they do little but be violent, is fine and the cinematography by Jim Whitaker is creative (at times a bit too creative bordering on kitsch!) and musical score my Mark Isham complete the compelling atmosphere of this surprisingly exciting film. Grady Harp, June 06
Unexpectedly Impressive
posted on 31 Jul 2009Some friend told me Vera Fermiga looks sexy in this movie, so I watched it. Usually that's not what I would do, but after a high dose of gravely serious themes, sometimes you want to take a break, and I am not into comedy anyway, so... And who expects anything impressive to come from Paul Walker anyway!But, this movie turned out to be quite good. Needless to say Vera looks sexy! But apart from that, this is a movie that makes you think about a lot of things while making sure the promise of entertainment never falls short. Unlike many movies that stay a little inaccessible due to obscure humour or gestures, (for example, Lock Stock and Two Smocking Barrels or Layer Cake; i saw them and understood them but they never felt funny) Running Scared is a movie that makes you feel the heat of living on the edge. Even if gun-running does not interest you at all, you will feel like it's your life, your family on the line every moment. That's what a quality film is about; to make the viewer feel like "It Could Happen to Me". The boy Cameron Bright deserves some special credit. Who would better portray the grim-faced, neglected boy with a lot of grudge, inhibitions and hesitations? I am giving it a 6, not anything higher, because of the totally predictable typical end twist, but believe me folks, it's a good movie. Recommended for just about anybody.
Running Wild, Bloody & Fun
posted on 31 Jul 2009I had no real expectations for RUNNING SCARED. I liked the performances in Kramer's first film, THE COOLER, but thought the script was a mess and he was too in love with his film school tricks - wow - look at the neon in the windshield!! But I feel he has done a great job nailing a specific genre - the violent 70's crime saga - and aside from a few holes in the script and a weak lead, this movie delivers. Now, I know Paul Walker has fans and he really tries in this one, but I'm sorry - look into his eyes - there IS NO ONE HOME. He is a bland leading man with chiseled good looks - and just because he cuts his hair short and has stubble, he can't fake it - especially since he is surrounded by terrific actors in almost every other single role - Vera Famrmiga as his wife is fantastic - tough, sexy and desperate - Johnny Messner, Chaz Palminteri and especially the young kid, Cameron Bright who plays Oleg all give outstanding performances. The blood is over the top, Kramer again plays around with the camera a little bit too much, but it all works in the pulpy mess that is Running Scared.
NEVER neglect them!
posted on 29 Jul 2009Great movie, action-packed adventure. Like Lemony Snicket's series of Unfortunate events, they put what was probably meant for the introducing credits at the end of the movie. Though this time around, they did it right, otherwise, it might have ruined the movie for some viewers a little bit.The plot was carried out perfectly. This is like a roller-coaster ride that keeps you at the edge of your seat for every SECOND of the movie, and by the end you are thirsting for more, just quite dissatisfied that it has ended so briefly. I've gotta say, I was taken aback by the ratings viewers have put on for this movie, it definitely deserves to be one of IMDb's top 250 movies.The director was very clever in tricking the audience into each emotional viewpoint that eventually leads to the final twist of the story. Fortunately, each character gains their redemption along the way before this final twist is reached.My favorite line in this movie is Farmiga's description for young Mr. Bright's character: "this pale little kid, who never smiles." Well, along those lines, I can't quite remember. This line really pays off when we are awarded with the honey-melting reaction from Bright in the diner when he's sitting with Walker.You will really love the development between each character, how they become to understand each other, and all this brought by Neuberger and Bright's unconventional devotion to another out of their purity, their simple innocence.Bravo to the amazing director, Kramer, who created this masterpiece of movie. He has made a thrilling movie while incorporating his obvious love in life into it-the kids, the little children, you must always love them and cherish them. They are the important ones in this world. NEVER NEGLECT THEM!
Destined to be a Cult Classic
posted on 17 Jul 2009This movie is quite a spectacle. To call it a great film, i don't know, is perhaps pushing it. But to call it one of the most entertaining movies i've ever seen, is an understatement. Running Scared is destined to be a cult classic. There are those out there who love this movie. There are those out there who hate this movie. And then there are a lot more out there who haven't even seen or heard of this movie. This is the first true cult classic in a long time.This takes us back to the old days when movies were movies. The 70s and the 80s when movies could just be balls to the wall without any regard for decency. When a skilled filmmaker is allowed to work freely, the film will benefit. This is an insane movie. I don't even dare describe the plot. I would like to say though that Paul Walker redeemed himself with this movie. I always kinda hated him, but after seeing him in this i can give him some credit, because he is intense.i want to bring up the Tarantino comparisons. people who criticize this film call it "imitation Tarantino." why does every violent crime movie since reservoir dogs have to be copying Tarantino? cant it be "imitation woo?" or couldn't it be possible that more than one director has a flair for violent, enthralling crime movies (scorcese)?So check out Running Scared, watch it with some friends. It'll blow your mind. It's brutal, bloody, violent and vulgar, so beware. But believe me, in ten years people will be asking you, "hey, you ever heard of running scared?"
It's a sick and twisted world out there...
posted on 17 Jul 2009First off : don't let them fool you. Especially Mr. Tarantino and his recommendation. This is NO fun ride, no bloodgutspillbangbang romp. It is not comparable to Master Tarantino at all. There is no excessive celebration of violence like in Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction. The hallmarks for Running Scared are more like A History of Violence or Bad Lieutenant. This is the examination of an everlasting spiral of violence, from every day bullying down to the utmost sadistic kinds of torture and murder. Joey Gazelle's run through the night leads through an assortment of crimes and/or sins. This explains the slightly confused storyline : a collection of violent snapshots that confront the viewers with their own reaction to them. Main Question behind this "Sick, sad world"-scenario is "Can violence be justified?". The protagonist himself is not a small timer in crime, he is a killing machine. So it is up to the audience to judge his actions. And these are not for the feeble-minded. Imagine Sin City without the graphic novel-element. This is realistic violence without a safety net. And it is systematically abolishing any taboos a movie goer wants to have. Innocent deaths en galore, women and children included, like uncensored newspaper articles burned directly into the eye. And like in se7en this is not a bad idea nor a bad attempt. But does it succeed? Not fully. Paul Walker does a good job for an action flick, but cannot develop the possible depth of the scenario. The plot holes work for the construction of a "violence museum" but defy the simple laws of logic (even for an action movie). And, maybe most important, the bottom line of the movie sticks to arbitrary law and pathetic patriotism more than once. Therefore the moral of the fable is slightly sour. Similar to The Game, another ending could have turned the whole movie into a successful statement (if you watch the movie, you'll surely see what I mean, but I don't wanna spoil a thing). But still director and writer Wayne Kramer is more than a bit promising and I hope that he is about to dive deeper into the topic. I believe he could be the man to top off Old Boy, Hana-Bi and similar brilliant violent meditations about life. For now we have one of the most disturbing and cynic action thrillers of 2006.
Unexpected Guilty Pleasure
posted on 15 Jul 2009The trailer for this film on British Television did nothing a trailer should do. Like that person giving you the eye across a smoky bar, a trailer is meant to tempt and tease you into checking out what's on offer, telling you something, but showing you nothing. But if you took a chance on what you saw of this trailer, and managed to motivate yourself to make the pilgrimage to the local flea pit, then like me you would not have been disappointed.From writer, director Wayne Kramer, who previously directed the very enjoyable, and "cool" film The Cooler, Running Scared is a funny, violent and warped story that is pitch black entertainment, which revels in its 18 certificate. Paul Walker plays Joey, a likable foul mouth lump who works for the mob, dumping the burners of his employees after a hard days "negotiating" It all goes the way of the pear when during a business lunch they are interrupted by rival traders who are strapped with a lot more than a PDA. The resulting mess resembled a Jackson Pollock, and Joey is again asked to get rid of the gun. The situation gets even more sticky as said gun is taken by Oleg (Cameron Bright), best friend of Joey's son Nicky (Alex Neuberger) and before you can say "NRA" Oleg is on the lam with the hot gun and everyone but Roscoe P. Coldchain looking for him.The plot moves sharply, twisting left and right as we are introduced to some seriously disturbing new characters that relate back to the missing six shooter. Scenes are memorable with great tension as Joey's night goes from bad to worse, and at just over two hours, the movie flies by. This film is not for the faint of heart or queasy. Graphic violence and salty language are just some of the guilty pleasures on offer. The film is gritty and photographed with great tone and skill by Jim Whitaker, and the sound department deserve recognition for delivering a punchy and crisp audio delight. Excellent performances throughout and plenty of surprises, Running Scared is a welcome addition to the action thriller genre.I
The best, worst movie I've seen in a while...
posted on 13 Jul 2009WARNING Spoiler ALERT! Seeing the first six minutes of the film will truly mislead you. You will be lead to believe that this film is a shoot em up, John Woo type film with no real plot. This is half true.The movie spends most of its time following Paul Walker through the incredibly dangerous streets of New Jersey. As he, the kid he's chasing, and the subsequent gun bounce from one array of character to the next. From a phantom like crack head, to a couple straight out of an SVU episode who abduct children to make kiddie porn. I wish I was making this up, but I'm not.The movie was so contrived it became comical. I'm guessing this was what director Wayne Kramer was aiming for. For example, when he has a Russian (who just happens to have ties with the mob, and who also just happens to live next door to Paul Walker) get shot in his back through the eyes of his John Wayne tattoo. Or when you can't help but laugh when Oleg (Cameron Bright), gets thrown from one unlikely situation to the next.If you're looking for an original story, with good character development this film is not for you. Instead of feeling anything for most these characters, you'll just enjoy seeing them bounce from one preposterous dilemma to the next. What make me not hate this movie is that it succeeds in being bad, but in a different way. It kept me laughing where others would have had me running for the exits. But in the end I'm laughing at the movie, not with it. And if that's what Kramer wanted, he succeeded with flying colors.My Verdict: ~Not worth the full cost of admission, unless you just have money to waste. Luckily, I got to see it for free.
The movie was surprisingly good with very good acting*spoilers*
posted on 11 Jul 2009Paul Walker did a good job acting aside from his barely tolerable, tough guy accent. All of the supporting characters did well despite playing one-dimensional characters. Vera Farmiga (the wife) did a great job keeping the movie grounded. I thought what she did to those sick pedophiles was great and she didn't even hesitate and you'll never see it coming. Cameron Bright(Oleg) did a great job making his character feel 'real' and keeping viewers interested. This movie is definitely not for the kids. Every other sentence has at least two curse words and there so much gory shoot scenes and blood, you'll think this was a horror flick. Watch it with subtitles, because sometimes you can't make out what the actors are saying. Paul Walker being an undercover FBI agent part was a bit of a stretch, but it was probably one the few ways Paul Walker's character could possibly redeem himself. Paul Walker did a great job playing the part like a 'dead man walking', because you actually don't want him to die even though faces life & death situations. But I want spoil the ending for you...does he live or does he die? Either way, this movie is good and you'll enjoy it.
I loved it!
posted on 10 Jul 2009I loved this movie and can not say enough how entertaining and thought provoking it was. First, if you like the concept of Crash, that everything is linked or related, you will love this movie. Second, if you want to see a movie that has action, suspense and some intense characters, you will love this movie.
Joey (played by Paul Walker) is told to get rid of a gun that was used during a very horrific crime. Unfortunately, things spin out of control when his son, Nick and an abused neighbor, Oleg take the gun. Tired of his father abusing him and his mother, Oleg shots his father. There are a series of misadventures involving the gun, Oleg and Joey's attempt to regain possession of the gun, but eventually the watcher sees where every event is linked and the impact of this one incident has repercussions on all of the characters involved. And there are some particularly disturbing scenes when Oleg mistakenly gets into the wrong car trying to escape his father. Therefore, if you liked Smokin' Aces, Crash, The Usual Suspect, Pulp Fiction, Sin City and other movies that have the flashback, flashforward style, you will not be disappointed. And besides, there is a decent plot to boot!
This is an Intense Movie!!!
posted on 30 Aug 2009I liked this film a lot because I went to see this movie not knowing what to expect, and what I got was something that entertained me. This film did not drag for me and it kept my eyes on the screen the whole time.Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) is a low level mobster that was assigned to get rid of a stolen gun that he used to kill a dirty cop during a drug deal gone bad. Instead Joey hides the gun in his basement, but his son Nick and his friend Oleg (Cameron Bright) sees him stash it there. Oleg gets a hold of the stolen piece and from then on the movie goes into an intense suspenseful ride.I thought that this movie was cleverly done from start to finish. If you think you know what's really going on - think again. This movie made some unexpected twist and turns. It also had some witty moments. However, I did think that there were some unnecessary elements to the plot; such as the pimp and the prostitute. They were not needed in my opinion, so for that I docked the movie 2 points.Paul Walker did a good job, his performance proves that he can act and his not just some Hollywood pretty boy. I was impressed by his hard edge acting in this movie; I would like to see more in-depth performances from him in the future. Vera Farmiga and Cameron Bright gave the strongest performances in the film. The villains were genuinely creepy, especially the pedophiles. At first I thought that the pedophiles were unnecessary to the story, but then again I think that somehow (indirectly) they may have been central to the plot.Wayne Kramer, the director, used impressive camera tricks to add tension to the movie. I thought his style and flare was very cleaver.