Running Scared

Paul Walker is finally coming into his own as an actor. He's starting to work with "good" directors that seem to be pushing him to show off what he can do on screen, and this film truly shows that. The story of a mafia lackie who hides guns that have been used for some horrific crimes for his 'friends' finds out that one that was used to shoot a crooked cop has been stolen by a child that lives next door, which he in turn used to shoot his abusive step-father. The kid is on the run, and if that gun turns up in the hands of the cops his mob ties will end him. It's a creatively photographed and psychotically edited movie that never stops for its entire 2-hour runtime, and while on the surface it looks like just another gangster movie, underneath it all it's got this Alice in Wonderland thing going on with the child character. It's brutally violent (that hockey rink scene made me cringe), filled with non-stop expletives, demented characters and situations and some awesome twists and turns. This is definitely one to check out!

4 out of 5


*written 2/26/06