User reviews

Carl has been in stir for five long years and is finally getting out. All he has thought about behind bars is pulling off the perfect heist, which he's got all planned out. Released, a free man again, Carl immediately meets up with his crew, enjoys the services of a prostitute (who happens to be an old flame) and sets out to rob the prison laundry system. Despite all his meticulous planning, that cruel mistress fate has a few tricks up her sleeve for Carl that will make his perfect score seem like the job from hell.

Directed by Josh Becker, 'Running Time' is a tense, atmospheric heist movie made to look like it's filmed in one continuous shot. This is something that is used in a lot of films, and can be distracting and gimmicky, with the audience often ignoring the narrative; spending their time instead trying to spot where the cuts are hidden. It never appears like a gimmick in 'Running Time' though, heightening the stress and tension of the situation Carl is in, as well as maintaining the audience's rapt attention throughout the movie's run.

It is also filmed as if it's happening in real time, another technique that can appear gimmicky in some movies, but- again- doesn't here, adding a sense of urgency to the proceedings. In fact, Kurt Rauf's handling of the cinematography feels consistently fresh and inventive, while the choice of shooting it in black and white lends the movie an atmosphere of film noir. Under Becker's direction, 'Running Time' has terrific visuals that stand out in the viewer's memory long after the credits have rolled.

Bruce Campbell delivers an understated performance as Carl, a criminal with a conscience. He never goes over-the-top, and his personality doesn't overshadow the role- which sometimes happens when the material he's working with isn't very strong (see 'Alien Apocalypse', also directed by Becker, if you have any doubts about this last point). He plays Carl like a classic, charming anti-hero, the kind one could imagine someone like Burt Lancaster would have played in his day. It's a shame the film isn't more widely seen as its one of Campbell's finest on-screen performances (up there with his terrific turn as Elvis in 'Bubba Ho-Tep').

The screenplay- written by Becker and Peter Choi- is strong and full of snappy, pulpy dialogue that would not be out of place in some of David Mamet's work from the late 90's. The story rockets along at a brisk pace, though a melodramatic, clichéd love story sub-plot involving the aforementioned prostitute does make the film drag a little- in the second half especially.

Though these scenes are well acted by Campbell- and Anita Barone as the prostitute- they are the weakest part of the film and could have benefitted from a more active set of hands during the editing process. Also, the members of Campbell's gang aren't very interesting or memorable characters, which is a shame as the actors perform admirably in their roles.

The film is engrossing though, not to mention highly entertaining. The heist sequence is particularly well filmed and acted, feeling as tense as a stretched bowstring in the last round of an archery competition. The story is fairly unpredictable as well, and Joseph LoDuca- who has scored a lot of Campbell and Becker's work, from 'The Evil Dead' to 'Xena: Warrior Princess'- provides an atmospheric soundtrack that contributes effectively to the film's frenetic, swift pacing.

Though some of the supporting roles are a little lacking in characterization and there are some sequences that could have used tightening up- either during the writing stage or in the editing room- this is one movie you don't want to miss out on. Shot with a distinct visual style and featuring a strong, subtle performance from Bruce Campbell, 'Running Time' is an enjoyable, original whirlwind of a crime caper.

It's an idea with the potential to go wrong, but Hitchcock made it work with Rope, and now Josh Becker has done the same with Running Time; a film with the word 'cult' written all over it! The fact that this film is shot in black and white makes it stand out somewhat from the crowd of nineties films, but it's the way that it's filmed that is Running Time's claim to fame. Becker shoots the film in one continuous shot that follows around lead character Carl through one day. This idea worked brilliantly for Hitchcock, but I was worried that it might not work so well for a movie about a heist - but it really couldn't have worked better! As mentioned, the plot follows Carl Metushka - a man newly released from prison. He meets up with his buddy, and it soon becomes apparent that Carl hasn't decided to stay away from the life of crime. No, he and his friend have a heist planned and we watch as they pick up a couple of people needed for the heist, and proceed to do the actual robbery...but you can't expect a plan like this to go off without a hitch.

The fact that Running Time is filmed in one continuous shot means that it's very easy to get into. This is complimented by the running time, which is extremely short at just sixty five minutes, and means that the film really doesn't have time to get boring. Becker keeps things interesting with a constant flow of action, and some rather amusing dialogue, which ensures that the film constantly makes for fun viewing. One of my major reasons for seeing this film was because of the presence of B-movie maestro Bruce Campbell. Campbell has a lot of charisma, and this shines through excellently in this film. Campbell is a very handsome man, and Becker makes good use of that fact with his role here. The rest of the cast are secondary to Campbell, but good use is made of all of them, and they all give realistic performances. The film is a little preposterous as certain things, the ending especially, are a little silly -but it really doesn't matter as Josh Becker's experiment is a huge success and overall, I can't not recommend that everyone takes the time to track Running Time down!

Nicely made black and white movie with some very nice acting.

Carl (Bruce Campbell), once a popular highschool student gets released from prison after serving 5 years for a heist gone bad. Outside, his friend and partner Patrick awaits his release so they can go rob a bank, but when he meets the girl he left behind in highschool 15 years ago he stands with a difficult choice of having to choose the money or her.

The movie was just over an hour and since it seemed very live we get to see all the actors really putting in a great effort to make this movie good.

Josh Becker's "Running Time" is a remarkably effective and economical heist flick shot in black and white with the illusion of being a single take. These stylistic anomalies may draw your attention at first, but "Running Time" is more than its experimental hook. It's a good, taut thriller with a sharp comic edge. It also has a refreshingly brisk pace (clocking in at about 70 minutes long).

Bruce Campbell is excellent in the lead role as Carl, an ex-con whose plan for the perfect heist is undone by the incompetence of his partner Patrick (Jeremy Roberts) and a general case of Murphy's law. Anita Barone also gives a winning performance as Carl's former high school squeeze, Janie.

"Running Time" is a fine film that deserves a wider audience. Help start the trend.

Made in the same all-in-one-take method that Hitchcock (who is thanked in the end credits) created for ROPE, RUNNING TIME is actually more inventive on some levels. Hitchcock shot his film on a stage at Warner Bros., but Becker's is made out in the streets of Los Angeles. Granted, Hitchcock didn't have the highly mobile, lightweight camera equipment available to Becker, but it couldn't have been easy shooting RUNNING TIME (amusing, punning title) from moving cars and on Los Angeles streets.

The script is taut and well-written, and occasionally quite amusing as the hold-up men squabble amongst themselves during the robbery. The movie is also unexpectedly romantic in a tough, ultra-film-noir manner (the hero and heroine have sex before they recognize each other from high school).

Becker also varies the style impressively at times, from a rock-steady, documentary-style approach at the beginning, to a more surrealistic sequence during the robbery, as the camera shifts wildly from one perspective to another.

The film didn't have much theatrical distribution, and is evidently available on video only from the director, but video stores should stock it. This is one of those movies whose reputation will increase in the years to come.

Very enjoyable, oddball little shortie. When Carl got out of the pen after five years for theft, he and his idiotic best friend went directly into another heist. From the very start nothing went anywhere except the wrong way for these bungling losers. These stupids even hired a junkie as the getaway driver. Gad! When this caper went totally awry I thought Carl and his buddy should have had a lot more trouble getting away from the crime scene. They merely ran down pretty much deserted streets with no one chasing them even though three shooters were only seconds behind at one point. Although fun to watch the entire thing was just too unbelievable; no way these jackasses could have escaped the area without giving themselves away. Anita Barone was fine as the broken hearted hooker who badly needed to put her trust in someone.

This movie is a must see for aspiring film makers. It's goal was to make a diverse film while trying to show movies are an art form within their own right.

I didn't appreciate this movie until about 70% of the way in though. The story was original but at the same time a rehash of a dozen bank robbery scenarios we've all seen. Everything that could go wrong does, our two main bad guys fight a lot and people start dying.

But that was only on the surface. The robbery storyline needs to be overlooked and the three main characters given our focus. Towards the end of the movie we begin to see they are much more dynamic than assumed. It's at this point where the story takes second stage and the dynamics of Carl, Patrick and Janie truly come forward.

I liked the artistic sense this film had a lot and being made to feel as if it was one continuous camera shot beginning to end was very cool. Some scenes had that old black and white feel and line delivery of the classics.

It did leave something to be desired though. For a low budget indi film it was great and I really feel the plot and characters had a lot more to offer. This would be an excellent movie to make a larger budget version of such as which was done with Desperado.

I think the biggest problem was trying to capture elements of much older movies and everything being done in one take. The supporting characters should have been developed more which would of allowed for a longer movie. A little work on the script here and there plus more willingness to do more than one take for scenes could have made it the success the low budget B&W film Clerks was....honestly the genres weren't too far off.

As a true film lover, indi film maker or simply a Bruce Campbell fan it's well worth seeing but best without expectations.

"Running Time" is more a cinematic stunt than a movie. It provides intellectual diversion but little emotional involvement. All of the edits in this "continuous take" project are obvious, but it is great fun to watch Bruce Campbell do what he does so well. Anita Barone is especially good in what is essentially an underwritten part as Janine, the whore with the heart of gold. As an added bonus, the movie is shot with all-Steadicam and gave me both a headache and an upset stomach. I haven't had both of those while watching a film since "Galaxy of Terror"! I soldiered on 'til the end because I wanted to see what happened next, so I'll declare "Running Time" a cut above a mild diversion.

This is an amazing movie. I popped the DVD into my player expecting a typical Bruce Campbell b-movie, but "Running Time" turned out to be much more than that. It succeeds on every level. Bruce Campbell shines in the leading role. I just love this man. This has got to be one of his best movies, right up there with the "Evil Dead" trilogy and "Bubba Ho-Tep". Actually, the whole cast is great. I especially fell for Anita Barone who I'd like to see in a lot more movies in the future. I won't spoil it for you, but watch out for her first meeting with Bruce Campbell's character in the movie. It's hilarious.

"Running Time" is shot in beautiful black and white, which gives the movie a film noir feeling. The script is written very cleverly with some witty dialog and tight pacing. From the beginning we are drawn into the story. The old real time formula works here for a change, although the concept does sometimes lead to a few lengths here and there. Still, the movie is far from ever getting boring and at 70 minutes running time "Running Time" (haha) is maybe even a bit too short. Doesn't matter. For me this one is an overlooked sleeper. If you get a chance, watch it!

I watched this movie purely based on the IMDb ratings it got. And once again I got completely fooled. 7,2 ratings? Seriously? Did we watch the same movie? I even read that for some the movie was not long enough... Well to me it could not end faster. The story is really bad. Those must be the worst criminals I have ever seen. Planning a heist like they did is completely ridiculous. When they run away after the heist I had the feeling my grandmother could run faster then them. And the cars that are supposed to be chasing them, do they have a 5 mile per hour limit or what? No really, the story is just bad. And why do we still make black and white movies? I don't get it. I could make a better movie with my 200 dollar handycam. And in color... Bruce Campbell should stay in the genre he was good at, and that's Evil Dead. This movie was a complete waste of my time.

This is one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. The story was boring, the dialogue was atrocious and the acting hammy. I'm not sure if this movie was the result of a film school homework project, but it certainly played like one. It is not even particularly successful in its central conceit of trying to appear as a single continuous take. The whooshing horizontal camera pans are a cheap and unoriginal way of hiding cuts.

It seems obvious to me that the creators of this film realized early on that they were working with script that is cliche, predictable and wholly uninteresting. So, instead of trying to make the story itself interesting, they decided to shoot it in what they must have believed to be an interesting way. Long takes, few cuts, real time, real mess.

These sort of films may be attention grabbing from an experimental veiwpoint, but don't offer much in the way of good storytelling. Movies are traditionally cut and edited the way they are for a very good reason...it works. While some may consider this style of filmmaking challenging and artistic, I think lazy is more on point: strap a steadicam operator with a rig, have him run around following the action for an ungodly amount of time and it only takes you two days to edit, wow!

The negative effects of shooting a film in such a way far outweigh the possible benefits. Sickening camera shifts (think Blair Witch), stagnant camera angles, and uneven acting performances are all inevitable results. Plus, it seems to me that the value of such extended takes come as a result of their scarcity. P.T. Anderson understands this, and while he almost always incorporates a long take or two in his films, they serve as juxtapose the more traditional shooting style and, are therefore interesting.

While "Running Time" may be a fascinating filmmaking exercise, this bizarre and ineffective shooting style, when combined with a poorly written script make this movie practically unwatchable and certainly unenjoyable. It appears as if the creator of this film was making it solely for himself and not for a viewing audience, which is fine, but these sort of pieces are better suited for film school projects than feature film releases.

Running Time is a movie like Rope that is made to seem like all one take. It's a neat crime movie that is breezy and pretty technically impressive for an inde film. There are some other movies that try to do the (one take Gimmick) lwith larger budgets but those films don't have the effortless charm and charismatic bumblings of midnight movie legend Bruce Campbell. Who gives maybe his best non Evil Dead performance.

If you are a fan of indie films, crime comedies , or Bruce Campbell then check this one out.

Mostly immediately noteworthy about 'Running time,' apart from the casting of unmistakable Bruce Campbell in the lead, is the structural concept. I greatly admire features that aim to create the appearance of a single continuous shot, and a narrative that plays out in real time. Whatever a picture's quality otherwise, and however well it employs the approach, it's a stylistic choice that remains used with sufficient infrequency that the novelty is appreciated.

Only slightly less readily notable is the very 90s sensibility about the whole production. The music, the too often tawdry dialogue (mind the totally unnecessary casual use of homophobic language), and the construction of characters in terms of hair and wardrobe are all somewhat easily dated. At no point since has the fashion and culture of the decade been spoken of in fond remembrance, and while this flavor isn't an inherent mark against this flick, nor is it to its advantage.

There's a cleverly wry sense of humor about the movie as everything that can go wrong for protagonist Carl, does. Between the snappy runtime, all-around dubious characters, air of desperation, and the choice to film in black and white, it's clear film-maker Josh Becker intended for a noir-esque atmosphere. To his credit, he has somewhat succeeded. I think the cast inhabits their roles well, and the screenplay offers just enough room to let them demonstrate their capabilities.

The movie has no pretensions of greatness or of being something it's not, and that's probably for the best. In general the narrative writing is solid, such as it is, yet 'Running time' runs out of time so quickly that the ending comes off as abrupt and unexpected. It feels incomplete, yet it isn't. I can't decide if this is intelligent screenwriting, or perfectly average. Though, I did say Becker "somewhat" succeeded: to whatever extent he aimed to reproduce the ambience of classics from the 40s and 50s, the unrefined curtness of the conclusion rather settles the fate of that bent.

It's not bad. I want to like it more than I do; though imperfect, I think the constituent parts are broadly fine, and I appreciate the very independent nature of the feature. But the story is cut off so inelegantly to roll end credits that I can't help but feel like there's a lot missing, even if there's not - coloring the rest of the length in retrospect. 'Running time' is a curiosity. It's a minor crime thriller that tries, and is just enough, but still manages to feel indescribably lacking. If someone is a diehard fan of Campbell it's probably reasonably worth watching, and there are worse ways to spend one's time, to come across it. But definitely don't go out of your way, and keep your expectations mild.

FILM: 7.5 As a big fan of Bruce Campbell, I was eager to check out Running Time, and I'm glad I did. While it may not be as well-known as some of his other horror and sci-fi projects, it's a hidden gem that showcases his talent in a different light.

Director Josh Becker does a fantastic job of keeping the tension high throughout the film's brief runtime. Clocking in at under 70 minutes, Running Time wastes no time getting to the heart of the story, delivering a fast-paced and engaging experience from start to finish.

The real-time format adds an extra layer of intensity to the proceedings, making you feel like you're right there with the characters every step of the way. It's a technique that's been used before, most notably in the clearly influential Hitchcock's Rope, but Becker puts his own spin on it, keeping you guessing until the very end.

Of course, none of it would work without Campbell's stellar performance. As always, he brings his trademark charisma and wit to the role, making even the most mundane moments feel captivating. It's a testament to his talent that he can hold your attention for the entire film, even when he's the only main character on screen for much of it.

While Running Time may not reinvent the wheel, it's a solid thriller that's well worth a watch, especially for fans of Campbell's work. With its tight pacing, tense atmosphere, and strong performances, it's a reminder that sometimes less is more when it comes to storytelling.

FORMAT: Blu-ray

VIDEO: 9.0 1080/24p presentation Detail level: Good Colour reproduction: Good Level accuracy: Excellent Encode: Excellent Master condition: Good

AUDIO: 8.5 DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio Dialogue reproduction: Good Soundtrack & effects clarity: Good Dynamics: Excellent Surround sound presentation: N/A LFE content: N/A

MOOFIEMETER: 7.0.

Carl is released from jail after serving a 5-year term and immediately sets about executing his next heist. The plan is relatively simple but time is of the essence. Unfortunately, he doesn't factor in bad luck or the incompetence of his accomplices.

Innovative yet simple film that is quite effective. Directed by Josh Becker, Running Time runs to real time - one minute of the viewer's time is one minute in the world of the movie. It is also shot in black & white, giving the film a raw, film noir atmosphere. Most tellingly, the camera work gives the feel of a single camera and one continuous shot, giving a very realistic feel.

The script, written by Becker and Peter Choi, is reasonably solid, though with one or two minor holes. Dialogue is snappy, and this helps the momentum of the movie. Here Becker is helped immensely by having Bruce Campbell (of The Evil Dead / Army of Darkness fame) in the lead role. He is perfect in the role and is easily a major factor in the effectiveness of the movie. Considering the low production values and how unknown the other actors are, I imagine his salary also made up a large part of the budget (total budget = $130,000, apparently): the idea would have been to keep everything else as cheap as possible and spend the bulk on the lead actor.

This said, the supporting cast are okay. Nobody is terrible and there's no hamminess (The Room this is not!). Dana Craig as the held-up office manager is probably the worst of the lot and his impact is kept to a minimum.

Some clumsiness in direction from Becker but this generally helps the realistic, candid feel of the movie. The real time aspect is not really used as effectively as it could have been: the importance of time is underplayed to an extent. Only during the robbery itself do we get the feeling that we are racing against the clock. What would have made it more enthralling and engaging would have been a count-down timer in the corner of the screen, showing how much time they have left to pull of the job. This may have detracted from the raw feel of the movie though.

Not brilliant, but quite innovative and a superb effort given the budgetary constraints.

I must say that this is one of the best movies I have seen in quite a while. First off, I am a huge Bruce Campbell and Josh Becker fan. I think they both did a bang-up job on this movie. The black and white format gave the movie a certain feeling that fit it to a "T". Not to mention the one scene-one take mentality of Becker. Excellent! If you haven't seen the movie (possibly due to it's 50 dollar starting selling price) you must get it or find a friend who owns it... then steal it.

The acting in this movie was absolutely horrible. Worst movie I've seen since Gene Hackman's The Heist and perhaps Jurassic Park 2. The characters are not believable... including Bruce Campbell and the emotional whore. To even mention this in the same sentence as Hitchcok's Rope is an embarassment to fine film making.

I Found this film on DVD in the bargain bin for $4. The only reason I bought it was because it stars Bruce Campbell and the premise seemed cool...I was right. This movie was really good. I did notice one part, though, where I think a cut was snuk in there (if snuk is a word..). The camera zoomed in on someone so close as to make the screen go black, and then zoomed out again as he walked by. Other than that though, i really really like this movie.

I have had the pleasure of seeing Josh Becker's film "Running Time" on several occasions. I never get tired of this film. Shot in black and white with a running time (no pun intended) of 70 minutes, the film was presented as a single shot film (no obvious cuts) a style also called "real time". "Running Time" is the first successful attempt at making a "real time" feature length film since Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller, "Rope"(1948 ). Another film that attempted, but failed, at using real time was the feature film "Nick of Time"(1995), directed by John Badham and starring Johnny Depp and Christopher Walken. But where that film failed due to too many "jump cuts", "Running Time" succeeded, and with honors. Watching the film gave one the sence of watching a single, seemless shot. "Running Time" also saw what is to date Bruce Campbell's best performance in a feature film. Watching "Running Time" was what I'd call a real good time. The Couch Potato Critic, The Octopus Magazine

Well what can I say.. Being a big Bruce Campbell fan, I actually made the effort to order this on DVD from the US.. it only being available there... and it was a great film.. Not once for the entire 70 minutes did my mind wander from the action nor did my eyes stray from the screen.. A script that is both humorous and suspense-full, directing was nigh on flawless, and the seeming illusion of one single take is maintained amazingly throughout this whole film, achieving what both Rope and Nick of Time failed to do.. Full credit to Josh Becker for both great script writing.. and full credit to Kaye Davis for superb editing.. and all the actors, especially Bruce, Jeremy and Anita.. for making it highly believable.. So, what are you waiting for its on DVD with full commentary from Josh and Bruce and its a bargain! BUY IT NOW! This deserves wider recognition that it has received.. Buy, watch and enjoy (and be amazed!)