Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ survives in 4K with razor-sharp visuals and a darker edge
by Joseph Szadkowski · The Washington TimesDirector Edgar Wright’s box-office-bombing sci-fi action thriller from late last year looks for a more successful second life in home entertainment with the 4K disc release of The Running Man (Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 133 minutes, $31.99).
Adapted from Stephen King’s 1982 novel of the same name, the story takes viewers to a dystopian future in a United States ruled by an authoritarian media conglomerate. There, we meet blacklisted laborer Ben Richards (Glen Powell), who is unable to obtain medicine for his sick infant daughter.
Desperation, along with his anger management issues, makes him the perfect contestant for the most lethal game show on the planet, aptly titled “The Running Man.”
The competition, concocted by ratings-rabid television producer Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), requires contestants to stay alive for 30 days while five hunters track them across the country — with help from tattletale citizens — for a chance to win $1 billion.
Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of the 1987 film, which featured much more cartoony characters and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Richards.
What helped make the original stand out were the outlandish hunters portrayed as superheroes such as Captain Freedom, Fireball and Dynamo.
For Mr. Wright, they are simply masked and uninspired killers, devoid of personality, leaving Mr. Richards in a rinse-and-repeat cycle of extreme encounters — all wrapped in a narrative about the wealthy controlling the masses through propaganda and violent distraction that pounds viewers over the head.
However, Mr. Wright’s slightly bloated and preachy effort still has merit, creating a foreboding world that viewers can grit their teeth through and one that is far more faithful to Mr. King’s source material than the 1987 movie.
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Ultimately, “The Running Man” survives thanks to Mr. Powell’s determined performance, making viewers believe in his desperation, problem-solving ability and dire predicaments.
4K in action: The ultrahigh definition upgrade takes full advantage of 4K master source material through high dynamic range and resolution enhancements, delivering a visually clean and colorful entry into a world filled with gritty urban environments, glitzy studios and explosive confrontations.
Finer moments to examine amid the futuristic views of New York City, Boston and Derry, Maine, include the pyrotechnics of “The Running Man” TV show opening; a rolling fireball in a sewer tunnel; Mr. Richards eerily illuminated by a red light in the trunk of a car; and Mr. Powell’s impeccable torso musculature as he descends a building in a towel.
Best extras: Viewers get an avalanche of digital goodies on the 4K disc, starting with an optional commentary track (with subtitles available in eight languages).
Recorded two weeks before the film’s release, the track stars Mr. Wright, Mr. Powell and co-writer Michael Bacall.
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Mr. Wright promises the trio will offer a selection of “fun facts” during their lighthearted discussion, touching on scene breakdowns, reshoots, the cast, locations, the film’s “retro” style, the director’s more stressful moments and comparisons to the book.
Among the nuggets: Mr. Richards’ infant daughter (Alyssa Benn) coughed directly into Mr. Powell’s mouth, leaving him sick for a week; a choreographer was hired to teach the actor how to walk in rhythm with the musical score; Mr. Brolin was recovering from a respiratory infection (he could barely breathe), giving his voice an “extra gravel” tone; and Mr. Wright endured one of the coldest night shoots of his career by wearing three layers of clothing.
Next, viewers get a quartet of featurettes, including a 12-minute overview of the production that touches on the source material; a 17-minute segment on the main characters (heroes and villains); another 17-minute feature on world-building with makeup, props, vehicles, costumes and set design led by Marcus Rowland; and a 28-minute extended overview focused on locations, stunts, combat, action sequences and additional TV programming.
A few above-and-beyond extras include 25 minutes of costume tests set to music, short faux commercials for “The Running Man” TV show, personal taped footage of the runners (used as proof-of-life submissions) and 11 minutes of deleted and extended scenes.
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• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.