Plot: A man joins a game show in which contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are pursued by “hunters” hired to kill them.
This remake was reality good.
Pros: I like its action and its theme of corporate government control, wealth and healthcare inequality, citizens turning on each other and surveillance. It does go balls-to-the-wall with its humour. Glen Powell was very fun as the new Ben Richards. I find the world building felt more realistic & sophisticated than the original. Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo & Lee Pace were as baddies. & Edgar Wright delivered on a thrill ride I won’t forget.
Cons: It did skip several days throughout the movie. There many supportive characters that didn’t add or haven’t contributed to the story. Its violence wasn’t that effective. Script can be messy and overcooked & plenty of big plot holes.
Directed by Edgar Wright
Produced by Edgar Wright, Simon Kinberg, Nira Park, Audrey Chon
Screenplay by Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright
Based on The Running Man by Stephen King
Starring: Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo & Josh Brolin.
Edited by Paul Machliss
Cinematography: Chung-hoon Chung
Music by Steven Price
Production companies: Kinberg Genre, Complete Fiction
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Cast:
- Glen Powell as Ben Richards
- Josh Brolin as Dan Killian, the show’s producer
- Colman Domingo as Bobby “Bobby T” Thompson, the host of The Running Man show
- Lee Pace as Evan McCone, the masked leader of the hunters
- Michael Cera as Elton Parrakis, a rebel who helps Ben
- Emilia Jones as Amelia Williams, a civilian taken hostage by Ben
- William H. Macy as Molie Jernigan, a man who assists Ben when he is on the run
- Daniel Ezra as Bradley Throckmorton, a rebel
- Jayme Lawson as Sheila Richards, Ben’s wife
- Alyssa and Sienna Benn as Cathy Richards, Ben’s daughter
- Katy O’Brian as Jenni Laughlin, a contestant
- Karl Glusman as Frank, a hunter
- Martin Herlihy as Tim Jansky, a contestant
- Sean Hayes as Gary Greenbacks
- David Zayas as Richard Manuel
- Sandra Dickinson as Victoria Parrakis, Elton’s mother
- George Carroll as Agent Dugg
- Simon Haines as Registration Technico
- Debi Mazar as Amoré Americano
- Sophie Simnett as Ticket Agent
- Corey Johnson as Motel Owner
- Chi Lewis-Parry as Negative Dude
Additionally, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Ben Richards in the 1987 film, makes a photographic cameo as the face of the movie’s $100 bill.
I recommend watching this film in cinemas.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe