The Rundown - Movie of the Week

For this Movie of the Week selection, we’re going to jump back to 2003 and take a look at an excellent action flick entitled The Rundown. Action films aren’t as fashionable as they were in the late 80s and early 90s, which is a real shame, because this gem would have ranked right up there.

THE RUNDOWN - CAST AND PLOT

The hero of The Rundown is a man named Beck (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). All he wants to do is pay off his debt to the crime boss he works for and then retire to a quiet life of running a restaurant. And he’s just one job away from realizing his dream, but his last mission may prove his toughest. He’s being sent down to the South American town of Helldorado to a retrieve a man named Travis (Sean William Scott), who just happens to be the son of his employer.

When he arrives, Beck not only has to deal with the slippery treasure-hunting Travis, but also the seductive barkeep Mariana (Rosario Dawson) and the iron-handed ruler of the town, Hatcher (Christopher Walken).

The surrounding jungle plays a big part in the action, and Beck’s code of not using guns will be seriously put to the test. Along the way, we get pissed-off rebels, horny baboons and the search for a legendary treasure dubbed El Gato by the locals.

All in all, it’s one helluva ride.

POSITIVES

1. The Cast - Great performances by everyone involved. The Rock is at his ass-kicking best, while Rosario Dawson looks and acts like the hottie she is. Sean William Scott is perfect as the somewhat-annoying Travis, and Christopher Walken is….well, he’s Christopher Walken, dammit.

The supporting cast is also solid, with nice performances turned in by Ernie Reyes Jr. as the kung-fu rebel names Manito and Ewen Bremner as the Scottish bush pilot Declan.

2. The Direction - Lots of modern directors don’t seem to know how to shoot an action scene. Between rapid-fire editing and shaky camera techniques, the audience can’t make heads or tails of what’s going on during a fight. That’s not the case in The Rundown, as director Peter Berg takes an old school approach by actually letting you see what’s going on. What a novel idea! Berg, by the way, is also a fine actor in his own right and has transitioned to directing with such projects as The Kingdom and Friday Night Lights.

3. The Action - You get plenty of bang for your buck in this flick. There’s a ton of action, and the first and last action scenes are especially strong. There’s also a showdown between Beck and the rebels about halfway through the film that is also excellent. Amazing what they can do with computers these days, as it really looks like Beck is falling out of a massive tree - and hitting every branch on the way down.

And if you ever wanted to see an action hero take on half the stars of a pro football team, be sure and watch the first scene, as Beck tries to get some collateral from a gambling-addicted star quarterback in the form of his Super Bowl ring.

4. The Showdown - A lot of films let you down when it comes to the climax, but that doesn’t apply to this picture. There’s a massive showdown in the streets of Helldorado, and Berg does a great job of using music to help heighten both the tension and the action. When Beck is pinned down by gunfire and the music begins to swell, get ready to hold onto your hat. All hell is about to break loose!

NEGATIVES

Nothing, in my opinion. This is a tight-as-hell action film from start to finish. I’d love to see a sequel, but I’m not gonna hold my breath.

OVERALL

If you’re a fan of action films, you owe it to yourself to see The Rundown. Plenty of action, laughs, and Christopher Walken explaining to his henchmen about the Tooth Fairy. What more could you want?

For more Movies of the Week, click the following:

Cloverfield - Movie of the Week

The Rundown - Movie of the Week