Crank poster & wallpaper

Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam, Efren Ramirez

Professional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops.

Flixster Users

72% liked it

413,229 ratings

Critics

60% liked it

86 critics

R, 1 hr. 23 min.

Directed by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Release Date: September 1, 2006

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DVD Release Date: January 9, 2007

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Stats: 27,586 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (27,586)

  • magnum32004
    February 1, 2007
    magnum32004
    Sex, drugs, blood, guts, bullets, & rock 'n roll, all rolled into one wild ride.
  • Showrogan
    November 8, 2009
    Showrogan
    A fast paced, high velocity, mindless must see...as if you would expect anything less from a movie that is named after Methamphetamine XD.
  • PvtCaboose91
    September 29, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "I'm going to get that little fucker if it's the last thing I do...It may actually be the last thing I do."


    Sometimes movie-goers require a dosage of simple, unadulterated fun in the form of a film that's content with serving up a nourishing dose of action, violence an

    ...( read more)d sex. So thank Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor that the delightful action-comedy Crank exists. Geared towards the dormant 13-year-old in every male, Crank doesn't merely unfold...it explodes onscreen, careening from one chest-thumping scene to the next. It delivers 85 minutes of pure action and hilarity, with minimal encumbrances (like exposition or character development) and with only skeletal fragments of plot. Crank also throttles forward with a glorious tongue-in-cheek approach - the over-the-top action is delivered with a side order of cheese, and plenty of humour accompanies the cocktail of testosterone and adrenaline (emphasis on "adrenaline"). The film is every bit as trashy, vulgar, sexist, brainless, excessive and callow as you'd imagine, but this reviewer enjoyed every delirious minute.


    Former professional assassin Chev Chelios (Statham) awakens in his apartment at the beginning of the film after having been poisoned by his rival Verona (Cantillo) with a lethal dose of the "Beijing Cocktail". Chev only has about an hour to live, but learns that he'll be able to slow down the effects of poison and live long enough to exact revenge if he keeps his adrenaline levels high. And thus, Chev begins a citywide crime spree. In order to keep his adrenaline pumping he resorts to barbaric violence, cocaine, shootouts, car chases (usually in stolen cars), epinephrine, caffeinated drinks, nasal spray and a very public display of affection. And during all this chaos, Chev's "doctor" (Yoakam) - you'd use quotation marks too, if you saw how this guy runs his practise - dispenses advice through a phone line, though he insists there's no actual cure for what Chev has been injected with.


    Directed and written by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, Crank is an exercise in overblown simplicity. Prior to this movie, Neveldine and Taylor had only worked as cinematographers and camera operators, which probably explains why the visuals overwhelm all narrative requirements. The story is every bit as dumb as it sounds, but who cares? Why watch Crank for incisive dialogue or intelligent plotting? It has a niche audience, and it aims solely to satiate them. Once you suspend your disbelief, respect the film's decision to dispose of all logic by the 10-minute mark, and realise that the creators are only interested in cramming as much action as possible into a tight runtime, you're in for a fun, action-packed ride that's all about the forward momentum.


    Neveldine and Taylor employ every stylistic cinematic technique imaginable. In fact, there are times when the movie feels like little more than an opportunity for the two writer-directors to show off. With split screens, distorted images, first-person shots, slow-motion, fast-motion, freeze frames, animated representations of Chev's heart, colour saturation and use of Google maps, the look of the film is frenzied and adrenaline-pumping; replicating the emotions and anxieties of the protagonist. However the style crosses over into tedium from time to time due to sheer repetition. There's so much happening during every single frame and there's so much action that it all feels like a far too generous helping of junk food. After all, at its most basic level, Crank is overstylised junk food. If one removed all the visual tweaks and tongue-in-cheek humour from the equation, one would be left with a story better off in a direct-to-DVD action flick starring Van Damme or Steven Seagal.


    British badass Jason Statham (of Transporter fame) carries the whole feature on his well-formed shoulders; pushing the envelope of acceptable antihero boundaries. With his eyes full of fire, Statham turns Chev Chelios into a laser-guided missile of mayhem, unable and unwilling to stop until he finds an antidote and/or slaughters everyone responsible for his corpse-bound state. Thankfully Statham brings a degree of dimension to the role, and his acting is top-notch.
    Since Crank is mostly a one-man show, the rest of the cast just needs to be present, accounted for, and playing their minor part for the film to succeed. But oddly enough, the supporting players are just as effective. Jose Pablo Cantillo is all teeth and terror as Verona, while Amy Smart is frequently amusing as Chev's girlfriend Eve. There's also Efren Ramirez (probably best known for Napoleon Dynamite) who plays Chev's sidekick Kaylo with subliminal flamboyance.


    Some audiences may choose to dismiss Crank as an over-inflated excuse for blood, guts, firepower and fisticuffs...to an extent, that's correct. But it's also hilarious, irresistible, macho fun. It's best described as a live-action video game (some levels even play out like levels of Grand Theft Auto) with an unhinged Jason Statham in the centre of it all. Stuffy, serious critics may dislike Crank due to its contrived story (after all, why couldn't Verona just shoot Chev instead of poisoning him?) and shallow characterisations, but the movie is more geared towards those who'll take it in the intended spirit. Be sure to keep watching 'til the end credits expire for a scene which cements its live-action video game pedigree.


    Followed by Crank: High Voltage in 2009.
  • SirPant
    September 14, 2009
    SirPant
    This film has balls. It gives most action films the finger and just gets on with the good stuff. Its shameless but so good at what it does. The new Die Hard? Maybe!
  • henriksedin
    August 22, 2009
    henriksedin
    not bad. was ok kinda messed up in ways
  • julietast11
    November 20, 2009
    julietast11
    one of my many favorites
  • dobbiabimanyu
    November 20, 2009
    dobbiabimanyu
    full action this good movie
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Completely ridiculous and the plot makes no sense, but that is clearly what they were aiming for. It doesn't try and take itself seriously, but rather accepts itself for a mindless adrenaline rush. It is great if you just wanna see things get blown up. Json Statham was priceless ...( read more)and perfectly casted.
  • palmeranthony40
    November 18, 2009
    palmeranthony40
    great actor, but garbage movie(part 1,2,and if they make a 3)
  • ElCochran90
    November 17, 2009
    ElCochran90
    FUCK YES!!!

    "The Transporter" and "Vote 4 Pedro" are back in exactly what Shoot 'Em Up should have been: a mindless, over the top, exaggerated and extraordinarily sexist and stereotypical ride. Blame it on the extensive Antonioni session I had before this, but this was the per...( read more)fect film for swtiching my brain off. Ridiculous moments and a Statham in top form, even being capable of doing his own action stunts, Neveldine and Taylor perfectly pulled this live-action adaptation of Grand Theft Auto off. One of the most entertaining pieces of crap I have ever seen with constant smiles and (that's right) a laugh! Damn, I want to have sex in the middle of Chinatown...

    56/100

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Critic Reviews

January 24, 2007
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Its freneticism ... futilely tries to cover up the ludicrousness of every decision made by its dim characters. full review

September 1, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

So blatantly contrived it could be called The Fast and the Spurious, Crank has the small saving grace of being intentionally ridiculous. full review

View more Crank reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • jhnudofia
    April 19, 2009
    jhnudofia
    Jason Statham is da boom

    i culd get cranked but not dat way men ur da best
  • trac66dawn
    August 20, 2008
    trac66dawn
    is this movie based of the book crank?
  • Ghanjaspawn
    May 4, 2008
    Ghanjaspawn
    Oh yeah, I'm ready for Crank 2!!
  • LP4eva
    January 6, 2008
    LP4eva
    weirdest fkn movie ever but FUNNY!

    and Chester Bennington's in it.
    Go the Pharmacy Stoner!!!!
    ♥
  • rudeb0y123
    December 25, 2007
    rudeb0y123
    it's wikid i love it
  • colezilla
    July 5, 2007
    colezilla
    A good movie... Jason Statham is cool and it is cool to see Chester Bennington in it 4 all Linkin Park Fans out there
  • thalie13
    March 17, 2007
    thalie13
    I hate that kind of movie usually but that was so funny/original/unexpected/weird !!!
  • talbotsam
    March 8, 2007
    talbotsam
    i thought it was crap action was ok and the camera but it was shit
  • r3gorman
    February 17, 2007
    r3gorman
    fuckin ace action film funny aswell
  • daukaratevunijaina
    February 8, 2007
    daukaratevunijaina
    Jason Statham is just f@#$ing awesome. Every scene is awesome.

    AWESOME
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