British actor Jason Statham is best known for his roles in both Transporter films, The Italian Job, and of course Guy Ritchie's Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
In Crank, he's raised his status as an action star big time! The premise of the film is Chev Chelios (Jason) is a hit man/mobster; after messing with the wrong group, they drug him and inject a poisonous substance where he only has a few hours to live.
In order to prolong his imminent death, he must keep his heart rate up, and adrenaline pumping. Achieving that goal takes driving around the city streets of Los Angeles at crazy amounts of speed, standing on top of a moving motorcycle, getting electrically shocked at a hospital, getting into a fight at a strip club with eight gunmen, and running around LA in nothing but a hospital gown yes, you get to see his rear.
And all that action really takes place in the first 30 minutes; the major stunts happen later in the movie, including an open-air sex scene in the middle of Chinatown with his girlfriend, Eve (Amy Smart). I won't tell you too much about that scene, but let's just say it was hilarious and sexy all at the same time. Even the tourists who got to watch the action were laughing! Crank is written and directed by commercial directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine; they also shot a lot of the footage themselves on hand-held cameras. Believe me, it works; from the beginning scene, you're in the eyes of Chev, literally. That first scene takes place in Chev's apartment, after receiving the injection; we follow him as he gets out of bed and stumbles to the TV to watch a taped message from his assailants, headed by Ricky Verona (Juan Pablo Cantillo).
Realizing what he must do, he picks up this amazing 60-some inch flat screen TV and throws it at the wall, destroying it. I have to say, watching that TV get destroyed killed me inside. But there's great camera focus while all the craziness is happening around him.
Throughout the movie, there's great music and that also starts with the opening credits; a real 1980's feel, with hip 80's music, and Atari-like graphics. Along with the theme of the movie, while Chev is in a taxi, the Billy Ray Cyrus song, 'Achy Breaky Heart' comes on the radio classic placement! Crank also stars Efren Ramirez (Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite) as Chev's 'partner in crime.' Fortunately for Chev, he doesn't have to rely on him too much for the action; Efren plays Kaylo, a gay drag queen. Efren is only in the film for a little bit, but does provide for some good humor, and that definitely goes for his clothing, mannerisms, and his dancing.
As we follow Chev on his hunt for Verona, Mark and Brian used the internet program Google Maps for location purposes. It's the first time I've ever seen the use of that sort of thing actual locations were used and shown in a movie.
Along his chase, and running out of adrenaline, Eve (Smart) joins back up with Chev; she gives him enough energy to make it just a few more hours the only way she knows how.
I'm always incredibly impressed with the amount of stunts Jason does, and at his ability to pull them off. Crank is no exception! The film is intense as all hell! Crank is one of your best bets for ending the summer! It's in theaters now, rated R.
In Crank, he's raised his status as an action star big time! The premise of the film is Chev Chelios (Jason) is a hit man/mobster; after messing with the wrong group, they drug him and inject a poisonous substance where he only has a few hours to live.
In order to prolong his imminent death, he must keep his heart rate up, and adrenaline pumping. Achieving that goal takes driving around the city streets of Los Angeles at crazy amounts of speed, standing on top of a moving motorcycle, getting electrically shocked at a hospital, getting into a fight at a strip club with eight gunmen, and running around LA in nothing but a hospital gown yes, you get to see his rear.
And all that action really takes place in the first 30 minutes; the major stunts happen later in the movie, including an open-air sex scene in the middle of Chinatown with his girlfriend, Eve (Amy Smart). I won't tell you too much about that scene, but let's just say it was hilarious and sexy all at the same time. Even the tourists who got to watch the action were laughing! Crank is written and directed by commercial directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine; they also shot a lot of the footage themselves on hand-held cameras. Believe me, it works; from the beginning scene, you're in the eyes of Chev, literally. That first scene takes place in Chev's apartment, after receiving the injection; we follow him as he gets out of bed and stumbles to the TV to watch a taped message from his assailants, headed by Ricky Verona (Juan Pablo Cantillo).
Realizing what he must do, he picks up this amazing 60-some inch flat screen TV and throws it at the wall, destroying it. I have to say, watching that TV get destroyed killed me inside. But there's great camera focus while all the craziness is happening around him.
Throughout the movie, there's great music and that also starts with the opening credits; a real 1980's feel, with hip 80's music, and Atari-like graphics. Along with the theme of the movie, while Chev is in a taxi, the Billy Ray Cyrus song, 'Achy Breaky Heart' comes on the radio classic placement! Crank also stars Efren Ramirez (Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite) as Chev's 'partner in crime.' Fortunately for Chev, he doesn't have to rely on him too much for the action; Efren plays Kaylo, a gay drag queen. Efren is only in the film for a little bit, but does provide for some good humor, and that definitely goes for his clothing, mannerisms, and his dancing.
As we follow Chev on his hunt for Verona, Mark and Brian used the internet program Google Maps for location purposes. It's the first time I've ever seen the use of that sort of thing actual locations were used and shown in a movie.
Along his chase, and running out of adrenaline, Eve (Smart) joins back up with Chev; she gives him enough energy to make it just a few more hours the only way she knows how.
I'm always incredibly impressed with the amount of stunts Jason does, and at his ability to pull them off. Crank is no exception! The film is intense as all hell! Crank is one of your best bets for ending the summer! It's in theaters now, rated R.