Movie Review: The Running Man
Why walk when you can run? The second Stephen King adaptation about a contest to the death for a large cash prize has hit theaters this fall — Edgar Wright’s take on “The Running Man,” which was published in 1982 under King’s pen name Richard Bachman. Also included in the 1985 collection “The Bachman Books” is “The Long Walk,” about a group of teenage boys taking part in a televised walk or die competition. That grim film adaptation, directed by Francis Lawrence, of “The Hunger Games,” debuted in September, but hot on their heels comes our man on the run, breathless, brutal and bloody.
It’s in fact his second lap. In 1987, Paul Michael Glaser directed a version of this dystopian media satire starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, set in 2017, but Wright’s version, written with Michael Bacall, and set in 2025 (as the book is), hews much closer to the novel than Glaser’s film. A beefed-up Glen Powell plays Ben Richards, a desperate man who has been blacklisted from his job after informing a union rep about radiation exposure in his workplace, and now has no choice but to audition for a dangerous game show while trying to protect and provide for his wife (Jayme Lawson) and sick daughter, Cathy. According to Wikipedia, the original film was a commercial success, but received mixed reviews from critics.
Plot and Themes
The most popular program of the state-run media, “The Running Man” TV show is produced by devious executive Killian (Josh Brolin) and hosted by smarmy showman Bobby T (Colman Domingo). The contest is a 30-day affair in which three contestants have to try to outrun, outlast and evade a team of murderous Hunters, led by the masked McCone (Lee Pace). This theme of a deadly game show is reminiscent of other dystopian novels, such as The Hunger Games, which explores the effects of trauma and exploitation on individuals and society.
They become enemies of the state, with citizens encouraged to report any sightings, hunted on all sides while mailing videotapes every day. While his compatriots, the hedonistic Laughlin (Katy O’Brian, Powell’s former “Twisters” teammate) and hapless Jansky (Martin Herlihy) are obvious chum, Ben’s physical skills, honed on the job, and righteous anger, instilled in him by the injustices of the fascist authoritarian government the Network, make him an ideal candidate for “The Running Man.” Ben is mad as hell and he’s not going to take it anymore. As noted by IMDB, the film has a strong cast, with Powell and Brolin delivering standout performances.
Social Commentary and Reception
Let’s be honest: it is deeply ironic that Wright’s “The Running Man” is among the first of Paramount’s high-profile film releases under the ownership of David Ellison, the scion of a tech billionaire who embraces right-wing politics and is seeking to create his own media monopoly, contemplating a purchase of Warner Bros. too. Wright and Bacall’s script is utterly savage in its critique of a fascist state media that turns broadcast bloodshed into propaganda in order to keep poor people at each other’s throats and away from the guillotine. The messaging isn’t subtle or even nuanced as it illustrates how these exploitative game shows disrupt class solidarity by villainizing participants, and that the other television offerings, like a Kardashians-style show called “The Americanos” is an opiate for the masses that only leaves them wanting more. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its social commentary and performances.
For Powell’s Ben, his motivations are rooted in family, which is more emotional than Schwarzenegger’s performance, and more suited to Powell’s natural screen abilities — he’s less murdering machine than Schwarzenegger, more (shockingly ripped) sad dad. Ben might be a little slow on his awakening about how he’s being manipulated in the game, but he figures it out soon enough. As stated by Metacritic, the film has a score of 72 out of 100, indicating “generally favorable reviews” from critics.
Wright makes the argument that in such a dystopian, fascist state, there are only a few things that will save us: class solidarity, physical media and literacy. It’s a powerful and potent message that cuts through any and all of the bombastic busyness of “The Running Man.” The only question that remains is: has David Ellison watched the movie his studio is releasing? It could be vastly illuminating. For more information, visit Here
Image Source: www.twincities.com
