ET aside, the humble pushbike is seriously under-represented in cinema. Directors seem determined to ignore this simple, speedy and eco-friendly mode of transport.
Enter David Koepp. The director and co-writer of Premium Rush, Koepp spends 91 minutes trying to bring some dangerous, edgy street cred to cycling.
Ever-affable, Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as gonzo bicycle courier Wilee, who rides hard, fast and brakeless. When Wilee accepts the wrong rush-hour delivery and a variety of unsavoury characters are suddenly in pursuit, this veloci-thriller upshifts several gears.
For the first 15 minutes, it’s terribly exciting. Levitt weaves and races through and around pedestrians, aggressive New York traffic and his more hesitant peers. Deft camera work and some nifty slow-motion shots capture the skill and speed with which Wilee rides. The propulsive, passionate philosophy he espouses proves utterly seductive too.
Then everything starts to drag. There are endless bike chases; the plot is forced to ride side-saddle. There’s a lot of jumping back and forth in time too, which undercuts the tension. Minor characters also prove utterly forgettable, with the exception of a wonderfully unhinged Michael Shannon (obviously relishing the opportunity to play a caricatured corrupt cop.)
Premium Rush starts promisingly but quickly gets stuck in second gear.