RUN

US, 1991, 91 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Dempsey, Kelly Preston.
Directed by Geoff Burrowes.

Run is a modest but quite entertaining thriller written by Denis Shryack and Michael Blodgett, sometime writers for Clint Eastwood thrillers.

This film was directed by Australian Geoff Burrows, producer of The Man From Snowy River and producer-director of The Man From Snowy River II. The film was not particularly successful in the United States, having more availability on video. However, it is a very competently made thriller. Patrick Dempsey is a brash young man (echoes of Can't Buy Me Love, In the Mood) and is asked to drive a car from Boston to Atlantic City. A gambler, he becomes involved with Connecticut gamblers, leading to the accidental death of the son of the owner of the town. He is pursued by the gangsters, by the police, by some avaricious cops after the reward. In an amazing set of circumstances - many of them made plausible enough, he escapes and saves the day.

The film is very strong on stunt work and action sequences. The moral of the story is that the ordinary individual, with some luck and keeping their wits about them, can outstrip the gangsters.

1. Entertaining action thriller? The plausibility of the plot? The action sequences and stunts? A satisfying resolution?

2. Boston and Connecticut locations, the cities, the highways? The world of gamblers and gangsters? The city at night? The action, editing and pace? Special effects and stunt work? Musical score?

3. The title, the theme of the film, its action?

4. Charlie, the law student, his buddies, winning at cards? The man about town? Work at the garage, the commission to drive to Atlantic City? His self-confidence and brashness? The breakdown of the car, getting it fixed? The taxi-driver taking him to the gambling? His success at poker, antagonising Halloran? The friendship with Karen? His winning, deciding to leave? The clash with Halloran, Halloran's tripping and being killed?

5. Charlie, the police not being sympathetic, the different testimonies of the witnesses? The pursuit by Halloran's father and his henchmen? Charlie using his wits, hiding, trying to ring the police - and then seeing the impatient phone caller being taken away by the police in his stead? His being chased by the corrupt cops? The shootout and his seeing them kill the officer? His being able to hide, run, take cars, drive shrewdly? His going to the shopping mall, seeing Karen? The chase, the crowds? The shooting? People recognising him? The bowling alley, the hotel? His not being able to stop? Getting in Karen's car, getting through the roadblock? Going to her house, getting a chance for a breather? His phoning the FBI? Their trailing him? The thugs getting him, the police getting him - and his being able to escape? The pursuit into the parking lot? The police hanging over the edge and his trying to save them - their fall? Giving himself up, being taken by the chief and Martins to the next county? Their admission of corruption? Their being pushed off the road, the pursuit? The confrontation with Halloran, his being kicked and brutalised? His being taken to the top of the roof, his going over, clutching the trousers - and saving himself? The pursuit through the building? Going to the house across the street? The confrontation with the thugs, his getting the gun? The final confrontation with Halloran and Halloran being impaled? The relief of surviving?

6. Charlie's character, the brash man, being pursued, the effect on him, fear, ingenuity? Getting help from Karen? Not wanting her to be hurt? Her being shot, his going to the hospital? His continued escapes, fatalistic approach to his being killed - but surviving?

7. Karen, her work at the casino, Charlie's advances and her putting him off? Her work at the table? Witnessing what happened? Seeing Charlie at the mall, helping him with the car, the roadblock? At home, her antagonism, trying to run away? Helping him, the escape in the car, her being shot? The pursuit through the fairground?

8. Halloran, the boss of the town, the reaction to his dead son? The boorishness of his dead some and his manner, being spoilt? Sending out the henchmen? The interview with the chief of police and threatening him? His anger at Charlie's getting away, the final confrontation, his kicking him? His own death?

9. The chief, dominated by Halloran, the false report? Things getting out of hand, the greedy cops killing the officer? Martins and his suspicions and evidence? His taking a stand against Halloran? Driving Charlie away - his death in the accident? Martins, integrity, getting the information, pursuing Charlie, taking him? Saving him?

10. The greedy police, the information about the reward, the chases, pursuing Charlie, the shoot-out and their killing the officer? Their cover-up, going into the house first to kill Charlie? Hanging over the edge of the building - and their fall?

11. The locations for the chases, the shoot-outs - the use of urban locations for this kind of action entertainment?

12. The plausibility and implausibility of the plot? The rugged individual taking a stand against corruption and against corrupt legal officers? Ingenuity and wit winning out in the end?