MovieChat Forums > Run (1991) Discussion > Up there with the worst, I'm afraid to s...

Up there with the worst, I'm afraid to say

posted 18 years ago by laishers
23 replies | jump to latest

***YE BE WARNED... THERE BE SPOILERS 'ERE!***

As a film to numb the mind this is great. It has everything you need. A brainless plot about a brainless guy who manages to anger the Mafia and rouse the sleeping beast of corruption sending him running from everyone except, surprisingly, Owen Wilson, who doesn't appear in this film and that's probably why.

But there is nothing remotely stimulating, and even though I really tried to shut off and just watch it, I couldn't get over how surprisingly awful this film is. Certainly the action sequences are reasonable (nothing special, but the director creates something bordering on authenticity, which I was genuinely surprised at), but it's the plot, and the protagonist (completely unsympathetic, I wanted to kill him before the "Godfather"'s son got killed), and worst of all the script and editing process, which sank this movie like a stone.

The most extreme example of this has to be the ending. Having managed to kill the Mafia kingpin with a Greyhound Rabbit (certainly an original death), the sole surviving law officer who doesn't want to have this guy killed bursts through the door, sees the body, gives an offbeat chuckle and says non-chalantly: "They sure *beep* with the wrong guy."

And the screen immediately cuts to the credits.

I actually did a double-take at this. Presumably trying to get past its awfulness on the basis that your adrenaline is still pumping with the extreme cut from the climax, leaving you with a better impression of this two-dimensional movie, the director and editor conspired to leave out any kind of "traditional" ending with, say, resolutions, tying up loose plot points, the wee lad actually leaving town with his mission complete...

Not the ultimate, ultimate worst film I've seen, but it's in the top five.

[–] NeoA4 18 years ago

Well your opinion sucks. This is an underrated suspenseful little movie that i enjoyed very much.

[–] laishers 18 years ago

Ooh, someone reads the tabloids! Damn your impudence sir, and I should be obliged to spank you all the way back to Bruce Willis' "Die Hard" era for such slander.

Seriously, it is suspenseful, the director did well with the action scenes. But it's rated fairly by most who watch it who are used to... well... films trying to SAY something!! The "corruption doesn't pay" stance is ludicrously undermined by the script which has so many holes it's like a German cheese without the cheese. The acting is lamentable from the main character (though everyone else puts in a reasonable performance despite the lines they're being given), but what REALLY destroyed the film is simply the link between director and editor. There must have been no communication.

How else can you explain the final scene in the film? I've never seen a film end so badly in terms of editing and direction.

Please tell me how you thought the most abrupt end in film history was a GOOD thing on ANY kind of level, other than to avoid giving us a coda scene of the "hero" leaving town, which would have subjected the audience to even more of his god-awful acting.

[–] armaerin 18 years ago

Methinks you've been reading too much William Wordsworth, my good man. In his post, Planetfunk offered no opinion on the abrupt ending, yet you write:

"Please tell me how you thought the most abrupt end in film history was a GOOD thing on ANY kind of level..."

Well then, did I think the abrupt ending was good? You know, old bean, when I go to the ghetto to get my crack, I don't expect my dealer to offer me some raspberry muffins that were just baking in his oven. ...But that doesn't mean I will enjoy my crack any less.

Please investigate the following movies, as I believe they will redefine your 'five worst films of all time' list.

Toys (1992)
Leviathan (1989)
Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
Barb Wire (1996)

[–] laishers 18 years ago

Damn, someone's noticed my penchant for all things 17th Century. I'll just have to find a new angle...

If you read the entire chain, you'll see that my main point in the original post was about the ending, to be greeted with: "Well your opinion sucks".

Hence, I went back to reitterate WHY this particular point - the thing that shocked me most - really grated with me, in the hope of Planetfunk, or others who enjoyed the film, to argue the case FOR the ending. Stimulating discussion, you see, my dear chap. Unfortunately you yourself didn't answer either, other than making a case for saying, "Well the movie was good, I don't care about the ending". Nice.

That must be why Schindler's List abruptly finishes when the Jews are freed at midnight. That's why Star Wars ends immediately after Han Solo yells, "Great shot, kid, that was one in a million!". That's why as soon as Spock dies in The Wrath of Khan, the credits roll. No. None of these happen. As an interesting point, in Star Trek II this originally DID happen, and the test audience absolutely HATED it, which caused the coda to be filmed with the sense of hope, leading to Star Trek III.

And why?

Because abrupt endings are almost always terrible, unless done for an artistic reason. And I can't see any such reason here. It leaves the horrible feeling of the movie dying right there, which would be a shame if it simply ran out of budget, even if overall I was unimpressed with the film.

The ending sinks it into my top five worst films list. But I respect your opinion, mate, and I'd like it if you could tell me why you thought the ending truly WORKED. But as an olive branch, and to show I'm not slagging off your opinion, you're right on one thing...

Super Mario Bros??? Oh God, I thought that was just a nightmare!!!!!!!!!!

[–] sambuca 17 years ago

Why was there need for a different ending? The mobster gets killed, the hero is now free, that was the whole idea, that's what everyone was hoping for.

The ending was snappy and to the point. No further dialogue needed, no pointless "riding off into the sunset" or "good guy gets the girl" scenes. We have seen endings like those hundreds of times. This one differed and I thank the director for that.

You have your opinion and I respect that, but no point trying to ram it down people's throats.

-Goodnight, mother of six!
-Goodnight, father of two!

[–] kje-8 15 years ago

If you're talking holy cheese, go with Swiss, or Dutch.

[–] patmcgill10 18 years ago

well i loved the movie.i am a big patrick dempsey fan onoff my fav movies.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] perrybeth 17 years ago

What can I say? I've been in love with the film for about 16 years now..

[–] frog_chorus 17 years ago

laishers loves it - thats why he has so much to say about it- its a great wee movie

[–] godiniado 17 years ago

Who cares, opinions are like *beep* everyone has one and they all stink. Laishers just happens to clear the bathroom.

[–] Enrique-8 17 years ago

One of the most interesting movies ever made! Because it is so unsung, makes it that much more of a gem.

There are many, MANY movies that will rank as the ultimate worst films ever made...apparently you've seen very few movies.

Enrique Sanchez

[–] onyxtiger74 16 years ago

I agree! This movie seems as if it was edited by someone after a night of binge-drinking (or perhaps DURING a night of binge drinking). When I was a girl, I had the biggest crush on Mr. Dempsey and even then, I knew that this movie sucked. It's nice to finally see someone question the abrupt ending. It was simply weird.

Thank you, Laishers.
_________________

Yes...Dragon Wars sucked!

[–] gerrythree 16 years ago

RUN did not want to overstay its welcome, so it just ended, unlike too many other movies now that have one ending, then another twist ending, then more drivel. The abrupt ending was a feature of many Warner Bros. movies made in the period 1931 to 1934, with movies then having a run time of from 60 to 75 minutes. For example, two Douglas Fairbanks Jr. movies of that period, SCARLET DAWN (1932) and THE FRIENDS OF JIMMY DOLAN (1932)end suddenly, the first with Fairbanks and company about to board a ship in Constantinople, the second with Fairbanks staring at a departing train before you see the Warner Bros. closing logo.

By the way, the co-writer of RUN, Michael Blodgett just died recently, an actor who relied on his physique before turning to writing when the TV and movie roles dried up.

[–] randomlynx 16 years ago

I think it's been almost ten years since I've seen this movie. I don't remember why I rented it, I think it went something like "Ooh, the guy from Loverboy is in this." And that's the only appeal it carried, and that was running pretty thin by the end.

Can't remember a lot of it but I'm pretty sure they used the line, "That poor SOB," waaay too many times. And then just too far-fetched with the chase, the action, everything about it felt too manufactured. Not sure it could've been better with the plot it had, but it definitely could've been more entertaining.

[–] storm25storm25 14 years ago

Anybody ever think they make these movies for 90 mins of MINDLESS entertainment? Why does every movie have to be a masterpiece to pass criteria? Mindless means you stop thinking and just enjoy things for what they are....sheesh.

As for the OP, not sure if he still checks this thread but since he wants an answer on the abrupt ending, I guess you could say it is almost as strange as someone who has posted 3 times on a movie that apparently makes him cringe, or maybe you could say it is as strange as guy who posts an autobiography in each of those 3 posts on a movie that apparently makes him cringe...anybody know who this guy is???

I only axed ya for a smoke - Jack Frost

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ebossert 12 years ago

I'd rather watch "Run" and its abrupt ending 100 more times than having to sit through "Return of the King" and its 6 superfluous endings even one more time.

Asian Film List
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur10058980/boards/profile/

[–] tdl797 12 years ago

Does this film have a sequence in a parking garage? Maybe a car flies off a 3 or 4 story parking garage?

I was thinking this happened in The Running Man, but I just watched it and it wasn't there. Then the name Patrick Dempsey came to mind and I see a movie called Run.

[–] brandonkaplan 11 years ago

I have studied film all my life and went to film school and work in the film business. You are INCORRECT! This film is fantastic!!!!

[–] palebunnyinfidel 10 years ago

You sound like a real piece of work. Anyone who begins with an eruption of self important reasons as to why their next statement and opinion is more valid than anyone else's (studied film ALL MY LIFE, blah blah) should be written off immediately, it doesn't even matter if they're right.

There's no such thing as 'anyone who doesn't LIKE this movie is wrong'. Personal opinions are neither right nor wrong, they simply are, and the sooner you learn that the better. Maybe then you won't get kicked out of movie screenings. I thought it sounded trite, until I read your statement.