Crank

Crank is the kind of surreal action flick a lot of people have been trying to make for a number of years. I think they finally got it right. This is not quite a masterpiece but it is going to be the standard bearer.

Because Jason Statham is a bona fide action star with an oversized dumb spot for the ladies, this picture worked on pretty much every level. After the completely over the top Transporter 2, Statham has a new enemy in this film, his own body. The premise is simple, he's been poisoned with a drug that slows his heart rate. In order to stay alive he has to literally become an adrenaline junkie. Anything that gives exitement, he must do merely to survive the day. The connivances that he invents to keep himself alive are thrilling and hilarious.

The soundtrack is excellently scored with some hardball rock & roll. The gangstas are gangsta and the exploding cars are kept to a minimum, but the sidewalk cafe does get thrashed very nicely thank you.

But what really makes this film is the digital style of shooting. Finally, we have a director who understands saturated color, black& white, first person shots and jump cuts who manages to put it all together in a brisk Michael Bey-like way, but not tiringly the same. It's a very good mix that keeps the edge but doesn't overdo it. With better than average action flick dialog, this is the best action flick of the year.