I thought The Running Man was great, then I read Stephen King’s book. Stephen King’s writing has led to some of the greatest films of all time, from The Shawshank Redemption to The Shining to Stand By Me, but for every masterpiece, there have been at least a handful of duds, and only time will tell where filmmaker Edgar Wright’s latest dystopian action movie ends up on the spectrum. As of now, critics have placed The Running Man as a middling Stephen King adaptation.
Stephen King penned The Running Man in the 1970s, but it wasn’t until 1982 that it hit shelves under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman. The novel is rather short, but it’s packed with engaging world-building, character drama, thriller intensity, and, of course, sophisticated dystopian themes. In a genre that can often be burdened with heavy-handed metaphors and simplistic storytelling, The Running Man stands out as one of the strongest I’ve read.
‘The Running Man’ Is a Good Movie, Not a Great One
There’s something to say about a character being called to action and practically being forced into the position of hero. It’s obvious from the moment Edgar Wright’s The Running Man starts that Glen Powell’s version of Ben Richards is a man audiences can follow, in a way that’s not all that different from Russell Crowe in Gladiator or Bruce Willis in Die Hard. He’s the reluctant hero; he only cares about being with his family, but destiny calls him for a greater purpose, and he must sacrifice everything to fulfill it.
With Powell’s determined face and the epic music of Sly and the Family Stone, just watching Ben Richards walk to the Games Network Headquarters made me feel as if I was seated for something special. I am, admittedly, not the biggest fan of action movies, but I felt a sense of excitement for this story and prepared myself for a cinematic ride. The Running Man isn’t the dull, run-of-the-mill action movie that releases on Netflix and has a brief moment in the sun before everyone in the world forgets about it; Edgar Wright at his worst couldn’t make that movie if he tried.
There are so many aspects of this movie that deserve praise. Josh Brolin is menacing as Dan Killian, Colman Domingo is sensational as Bobby T, and Michael Cera gets an unforgettable moment in the spotlight. Even fellow Running Man game participants Katy O’Brian and Martin Herlihy are fun in their limited screen time. Lee Pace was the charismatic scene stealer he always is, managing to win me over in the film’s worst part. The cast makes do, even when the writing is shabby.
Arguments can be made for and against Edgar Wright’s recent filmography, but it’s clear that he’s still an outstanding action director. Is The Running Man a masterpiece? No, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most enjoyable action movies of the year. Even with the changes, Stephen King’s inventive dystopian world-building and timeless themes still provide this movie with a sturdy foundation, leaving plenty to applaud. I really enjoyed this movie, but the book is always better. A tale as old as time, I know.
Stephen King’s Version of ‘The Running Man’ Is Worth Reading
The easiest point of attack against The Running Man is the ending. I found the third act to be the weakest part of the movie, even before I read the book, but after Stephen King’s interpretation, I’m shocked at the direction Edgar Wright took. Perhaps the current political climate merits a more hopeful ending than King’s version, with Ben Richards sacrificing himself flying the plane into the Games Network Headquarters, killing Ben Killian, but I’d still rather see an audacious film ending than one of the most celebrated contemporary filmmakers backing down at the last minute.
The idea of Ben Richards’ family surviving is a change that the movie could have pulled off without sacrificing anything, but the epilogue sequence, where he survives the crash and becomes a rebellion leader, simply feels too good to be true. This isn’t The Hunger Games; Ben Richards isn’t meant to be the Mockingjay. He’s just a man who’s angry enough to fight impossible odds until he can deal a devastating blow to those who have cost him dearly.
I’d almost rather imagine the epilogue of Edgar Wright’s The Running Man as a dream, building off of the Apostle’s conspiracy theory video. Rather than Ben Richards surviving in some The Dark Knight Rises Bruce Wayne style, he died in the plane crash and became a martyr for a rebellion. This may be what Edgar Wright intended with that final scene, but The Running Man’s ending feels like something that would come out of a YA dystopia or a superhero movie, not the harsh, shocking conclusion Stephen King pulled off.
I don’t hate this movie; I’d honestly rewatch it at some point on streaming, but I wish Edgar Wright had been willing to match the devastating ending of the book. Rather than make Ben Richards the hero, let the audience be angry that he lost after coming so far. If there’s anything audiences should take away from this movie, after all, it’s that concentrated anger can be a valuable tool.
Source link
Add Comment