Monday 4 August 2008

Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt) [1998]


Once in a while one gets to watch a movie that is so unique in its content and so bold in its outlook that it stuns the senses out of the concerned moviegoer; the remarkable German film Run Lola Run is one such fabulous effort. Set in the vibrant city of Berlin, the movie starts off with a not so innocuous telephonic conversation where a guy informs his red-haired girlfriend Lola that he owes the mob a huge amount, and if she fails to get him that sum within the next 20 minutes, he will make an attempt to loot the departmental store in front of him. This sets off a chain of motion that’s so wacky and outrageously entertaining that it’ll blow anybody’s head off. Set against a pulsating score and a host of wildly innovative techniques like flash-forwards (employing ‘Butterfly Effect’), Lola’s run is recorded three time – the first two being hypothetical – each slightly dissimilar in path but devastatingly different in consequence. The only thing which can be added here without revealing more is that one has got to view this extraordinarily original high-octane movie to believe in the epithet that “imagination truly knows no bound”.








Director: Tom Tykwer
Genre: Thriller/Avant-Garde/Experimental/Black Comedy
Language: German
Country: Germany

9 comments:

Fletch said...

Oh, this is a rare 5 for me. Such an expert piece of filmmaking. Deep and shallow at the same time, it ranges all emotions as well, from elation to despair and everything in between.

Probably my favorite aspect of it is the simple yet genius idea of employing differing cameras/styles dependant upon who is onscreen and/or when. I'm not enough of a scholar to know how original this concept was, but it helped make the movie a masterpiece for me.

Shubhajit said...

I absolutely agree with you. This is a superb movie. And, as you said, refreshingly original. Rarely do we get to see a movie that manages to effortlessly merge philosophy with pop culture. Thanks for your comments.

Anonymous said...

I've been putting this off for far too long. I'm adding this to my weekend watching list. :)

Shubhajit said...

Thats terrific. And i assure you, you'll have one helluva time watching it.

Anonymous said...

It's quite funny, though. I've tried to watch it twice now, and each time, around 15 minutes into it, I fall asleep. It CAN'T be the film, though, which is by no means boring. Just one of those things that keeps happening. :)

Anonymous said...

This is a good blog to come back to when I am thinking about a good movie to watch, but can't think of something to watch.

Thanks for the effort, and keep going!!

I am not as much of a movie buff as you are, so my comments on your views will be few, but be assured that your efforts are appreciated! :)

Shubhajit said...

@ Cinexcellence - You gotta be kiddin' me. Run Lola Run is anything but boring or soporific. I urge you to watch it. Good or bad - that depends on your perspective. But I can assure you this is one movie the kind of which you haven't seen before. Go ahead pal, watch it!!!

@ Arnab - Thanks a lot for your kind words and appreciation. It really means a lot. And i'll be really happy if i've managed to convince you, through my blog, to watch a few of the movies that i've reviewed here. Cheers!

sitenoise said...

I haven't seen this in years, kinda put the bug in me for a review. I remember my jaw nearing the floor but don't remember why, or much about the movie except Franka Potente ...

Shubhajit said...

Watching this movie was indeed a jaw-dropping experience. I urge you to go for a second viewing. And hopefully, you'll post a review on it after that, which i'm eagerly waiting to read.