The first scrobble for this title is still propagating, but a community review is already indexed below.
Reviews
Longform community posts about this title
Film Review: Crank (2006)@drax684d
In the early 21st century, many filmmakers strived to have their films described as "extreme," a term typically associated with the horror genre but occasionally applied to action movies. One such film that stands out in this regard is Crank, 2006 film written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Despite its somewhat unoriginal basic premise, Crank appeared to be one of the most original and memorable works in the action genre at the time.
The protagonist of is Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), a professional assassin working for Los Angeles crime boss Don Carlito (played by Carlos Sanz). After taking out rival gang leader Don Kim (played by Keone Young), Chev wakes up feeling strange and receives a video message from Ricky Verona (played by Jose Pablo Cantillo), one of Carlito's underlings, explaining why: he has been injected with a synthetic drug that slows down his heart, leaving him roughly an hour to live. Consulting with Doc Miles (played by Dwight Yoakam), a criminal surgeon, Chev learns that he can slow the process if he pumps himself with enough adrenaline, forcing him into a frenetic race. He uses enormous amounts of energy drinks, drugs, and other stimulants while deliberately starting fights with police and being chased by them. Chev's objective is to stay alive for as long as possible and get an opportunity to avenge himself.
Crank was the feature debut for Neveldine and Taylor, who previously worked on television commercials. The basic premise, a combination of film noir classic D.O.A. and Speed, proved well-suited for filmmakers with such backgrounds, as they made the substance of the film entirely subservient to its style.
In some aspects, this approach works in the film's favour. The visual style is reminiscent of MTV videos and first-person footage from action video games, amplifying the violence to a surreal level that makes it less disturbing than in conventional films. The pace is frenetic, preventing the audience from taking a pause and contemplating plot holes, absurdities, or questionable moral alignment of the protagonist.
Jason Statham, already established as one of the greatest action stars of his time, relishes playing this role, which requires him to face vulnerability and mortality in an ultra-macho character. Other characters are one-dimensional but well-played, such as Dwight Yoakam's laid-back doctor. Amy Smart portrays Chev's girlfriend Eve, the only "normal" character in the film, providing a stark contrast to the ugliness and violence of the rest of the movie.
One of the most memorable scenes in Hollywood action films of the 21st century involves Eve, which is both outrageous and shocking given her angelic beauty. It's this willingness to push boundaries that has divided audiences on Crank.
Some may find it ultra-exploitative, immoral, and drowning in ethnic or sexist stereotypes without any deep meaning. Others might become physically ill due to the intense editing-induced epilepsy. However, those willing to overlook these shortcomings will enjoy the content presented in an easily digestible hour and half running time.
Crank proved to be a commercial success, leading Neveldine and Taylor to create a 2009 sequel titled Crank: High Voltage.
When we talk about action, it is an aspect that can refer to all films, but there is a film genre, with this same term, which is characterized by a series of elements that make it an action film. Everything can be subject to its cinematographic language, where there is a series of situations, where the action of the scenes, has a greater value for its aesthetics, rhythm and editing, than for the dialogue that could contain certain plots.
The action film genre is perhaps not one of my favorites, but I do have some feature films that I like, such as Oldboy by Park Chan-wook (2003), Lethal Weapon by Richard Donner (1987), John Wick by Chad Stahelski (2014) and others, but this time I am not talking about those films, but about a specific film that I really appreciate for its very characteristic style, where the action is elemental. This is Crank from 2006, as part of an opera prima of directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine, who were the authors of creating a film full of action and with a very fast pace, due to the plot of the main character named Chev Chelios, played by the renowned actor of many action films Jason Statham, as well as another character as the girlfriend of Chev Chelios, Eve, played by actress Amy Smart, remembered for her role in the film The Butterfly Effect by Eric Bress (2004).
Cuando hablamos de acción, es un aspecto que se puede referir a todas las películas, pero en sí existe un género fílmico, con este mismo término, que se caracteriza por una serie de elementos, que lo hacen propio de ser un film de acción. Todo puede estar sujeto a su lenguaje cinematográfico, donde existe una serie de situaciones, donde la acción de las escenas, tiene un mayor valor por su estética, ritmo y montaje, que por el diálogo que pudiera contener ciertas tramas.
El género fílmico de acción, no es quizás de mis favoritos, pero si tengo algunos largometrajes fílmicos de mi agrado, tales como pudiera ser Oldboy de Park Chan-wook (2003), Lethal Weapon de Richard Donner (1987), John Wick de Chad Stahelski (2014) y entre otros, pero para esta ocasión no vengo hablar de esas películas, sino de un trabajo fílmico en específico, que si le tengo mucho aprecio por su estilo muy característico, donde la acción es elemental. Se trata de Crank del año 2006, como parte de una ópera prima de los directores Brian Taylor y Mark Neveldine, quienes fueron los autores de crear una película llena de acción y con ritmo muy acelerado, debido a la trama del personaje principal llamado Chev Chelios, interpretado por el reconocido actor de muchos trabajos fílmicos de acción Jason Statham, así como también veremos otro personaje como la novia de Chev Chelios, Eve Interpretada por la actriz Amy Smart, recordada por su papel en la película The Butterfly Effect de Eric Bress (2004).
Now, why do I mention that this movie is suitable, with intense action due to its main character? All because from the beginning to the end, we see the character who has been poisoned by a mobster, and only has a few hours to live, although the only way to stay alive, is being in constant movement, or performing certain activities, where the body is kept in high activity, as well as sometimes the injection of adrenaline allows him to continue having that feeling of euphoric state, and that does not stop being calm.
From beginning to end, the feature film develops between very fast scenes, so that the viewer remains, so to speak, frantically connected with the film, and you can't lose sight of it for a second. Chev Chelios, in the first place tries to stay alive, and on the other hand he searches almost the entire city, recreated in the city of Los Angeles - United States, the culprit who poisoned him with that dose, which has him on the verge of death. So his trajectory, he will have to incur a series of violent actions, from shootings, fights, chases and car accidents, even up to sexual acts in public, all these circumstances in less than a day. Because if this character stays calm, he will literally die instantly from the poison.
Ahora, por qué menciono que esta película se adecua, con una intensa acción debido a su personaje principal? Todo porque desde el principio a fin, vemos al personaje que ha sido envenenado por un mafioso, y sólo le queda pocas horas de vida, aunque la única forma de mantenerse vivo, es estando en constante movimiento, o realizando ciertas actividades, donde el cuerpo se mantenga en mucha actividad, así como en ocasiones la inyección de adrenalina le permite seguir teniendo esa sensación de estado eufórico, y que no deja de estar tranquilo.
De principio a fin, el largometraje se desarrolla entre escena muy rápidas, de manera que el espectador se mantiene por decirlo frenéticamente conectado con la película, y es que no puede perder la vista ni por un segundo. Chev Chelios, en primer lugar trata de mantenerse vivo, y por otro lado busca por casi toda la ciudad, recreado en la ciudad de Los Ángeles - Estados Unidos, el culpable que lo envenenó con dicha dosis, que lo tiene a punto de morir. Por lo que su trayectoria, tendrá que incurrir a una serie de acciones violentas, desde tiroteos, peleas, persecuciones y siniestros en carros, incluso hasta actos sexuales en público, todas estas circunstancias en menos de un día. Porque si este personaje se queda tranquilo, literalmente morirá al instante por dicho veneno.
As I said before, the action genre is not one of my favorites, but when I saw the movie Crank for the first time, I really liked the way the directors raised this plot full of action, which does not rest for a second, besides appreciating a lot of cinematic shots very different from what used to be used in movies, as this film also resembles a video game, reminding titles like GTA, in a way that was also the purpose of the directors in the creation of this feature film.
Apart from the fact that this film is cataloged within the action genre, you can also appreciate certain scenes where there is a bit of comedy, although sometimes it is a very absurd comedy, but you can get some laughs, by the eloquence of the same character and his plot in the film, which is certainly very graphic in the violent, for its explicit sexual content, as well as drug use, so it is not a film suitable for children, or even for people who see these issues as something very delicate for his person.
Como dije anteriormente, el género de acción no es de mis favoritos, pero cuando ví la película Crank por primera vez, me gustó mucho la manera como los directores plantearon esta trama llena de acción, que no descansa ni por un segundo, además de apreciar una gran cantidad de planos cinematográficos muy diferentes a lo que se solía utilizar en las películas, como también este film se asemeja a un videjuego, recordando a títulos como GTA, de cierta forma también ese era el propósito de los directores en la creación de este largometraje.
Aparte de que esta película, se cataloga dentro del género de acción, también se puede apreciar ciertas escenas donde hay un poco de comedia, aunque en ocasiones es una comedia muy absurda, pero que te puede sacar algunas risas, por las elocuencias del mismo personaje y su trama en el film, que ciertamente es muy gráfico en lo violento, por su contenido sexual explícito, así como el consumo de drogas, así que no es una película apta para niños, o incluso para personas que ven de esos temas como algo muy delicado para su persona.
Anyway, this was part of my short description of this film, where I did not want to give more details, so that those who are interested in seeing it, have some surprises. Therefore, motivated by the initiative of the community, I contributed with this publication addressing my appreciation about Crank, which to finish, I should mention that this feature film had a budget of $ 12 million, to raise a little over $ 46 million, allowing to produce a second part of Crank, where the same character must continue in his struggle to survive and in a certain way to take revenge.
En fin, esta fue parte de mi pequeña descripción de esta película, donde no quise dar más detalles, para quienes se interesen de verla, tengan ciertas sorpresas. Por consiguiente, motivado por la iniciativa de la comunidad, aportó con esta publicación abordando mi apreciación sobre Crank, que para finalizar, debo mencionar que este largometraje tuvo un presupuesto de 12 millones de $, para recaudar un poco más de 46 millones de $, permitiéndose producir una segunda parte de Crank, donde el mismo personaje debe seguir en su lucha para sobrevivir y de cierta manera de vengarse.
Simply put, one best avoided. I know that some people will probably have a different view, which is fine, it isn't mine. I was expecting something else as I do usually like Jason Statham, but not in this. Give me transporter anytime.
Action for action's sake, which I suppose is part of the point of the movie. I wasn't a fan of the camera work either. Yes I realise that in some parts they were trying to show it as though you had been poisoned.
This added to my overall dislike/not being impressed by this movie. Thankfully it only went for around 90 minutes.
The story line is that we have hit man (Jason) who manages get himself poisoned with a drug that will slow down his heart and make it stop, the only thing he can do until he gets the antidote is to keep his hear racing by any means necessary. Including drugs, action, and a public sex scene with his girlfriend.
Yes I am aware that there are other elements to the story regarding botched hits, past coming back, etc. None of which made the film any better for me.
