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Run Lola Run 1998 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Tom Tykwer
R,91 min. (violence, language) |
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Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup, Nina Petri, Armin Rohde, Joachim Król, Ludger Pistor
Producer: Stefan Arndt
Screenplay: Tom Tykwer
Cinematography: Frank Griebe
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Released: 6.18.99 (Limited)
(In German with subtitles) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Run Lola Run, a German film, opened in the U.S. with much anticipation at the film festivals
that were showing it. It's a somewhat bizarre, exhausting, but exhilarating film about a young girl who tries to save her
childish and obtuse boyfriend from the wrath of his gangster bosses. She only has 20 minutes to save him, so most of the film revolves
around watching her run, run, run, and then run some more with a techo-thumping musical score playing in the
background. For some people, this film will border on aggravation at it's continued pace throughout the story. But for many,
including me, this is one of the most refreshing, daring, and fun films I've seen in years.
The story bears some resemblance to other films such as Groundhog Day or Sliding Doors, where various conclusions are
reached by even the smallest of changes. We see the story three times - two times with disastrous consequences, and then
the last with the assumed correct ending. You can see the minute changes in the three timelines, resulting in completely
different outcomes. As aforementioned, Lola (Franka Potente) receives a phone call from her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu),
who has lost 100,000 marks that he owes to his mob boss. Unless he gets the money within 20 minutes, he'll most likely be
killed. Lola is frantic, but determined to get the money needed to save him. She begins her run with a trip to her father, a
banker, where she pleads for a loan. When he refuses, she runs to stop Manni from doing anything foolish, like robbing a
grocery store. This is where the three endings are portrayed, with the last being the most desirable for the audience.
Director Tom Tykwer, a young German director, is determined to push the pace of the story to almost unbearable levels,
but still accomplishes the task of making you care about the characters. He uses the strategy of showing different outcomes
that could be easily as real as the other two endings. There are also a few sideplots intertwined with the
main story to help further the character development, but they only help to reinforce your concern for Lola, who, because
of her love for Manni, is desperate to save him.
Franka Potente, with her red hair and athleticism, gives a fun performance as Lola - she's attractive, but also shows there's
more to her than just her appearance. She gives just the right of panic, anger, and frustration necessary to convince the
viewer that she is truly desperate. Moritz Bleibtreu also gives a fine effort as Manni, a young man who's one mistake is going
to cost him his life. His emotional response to this situation is probably typical of someone in his unlucky position.
Run Lola Run won't be nominated for any Academy Awards, but it is an intriguing and fascinating picture - one that has you
locked-in to it's story early in the film, and it doesn't let go until the end. Sure's there's style and flashiness here, but it's
reinforced with an intelligent script, good directing, and believable performances from its main characters. This is a film that's
not to be missed, especially for those adventurous movie-goers out there. It's one of the best films of the year.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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