Running Time (1997)

Running Time was filmed in black and white, in real time, and seemingly takes place in one continuous, fluid shot. It's a little like Hitchcock's "Rope," but it's on location! Carl, an ... See full summary »

Director:

Josh Becker

Writers:

Josh Becker, Peter Choi (screenplay),

Stars:

Bruce Campbell, Jeremy Roberts, Anita Barone

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Campbell	...	Carl
Jeremy Roberts	...	Patrick
Anita Barone	...	Janie
William Stanford Davis	...	Buzz (as Stan Davis)
Gordon Jennison Noice	...	Donny (as Gordon Jennison)
Art LaFleur	...	Warden
Dana Craig	...	Mr. Mueller
Curtis Taylor	...	Prison Guard
Bridget Hoffman	...	Receptionist
Jules Desjarlais	...	Bagman (as Jules DesJarlais)
David Kirkwood	...	Security Guard
James Rose	...	Fake Shemp
Butch	...	Fake Shemp
Paul Harris	...	Fake Shemp
Jack Perez	...	Fake Shemp

Storyline

Running Time was filmed in black and white, in real time, and seemingly takes place in one continuous, fluid shot. It's a little like Hitchcock's "Rope," but it's on location! Carl, an ex-con who sets out to rob the prison laundry system where he worked for 5 years (while in the pen), has spent ten years in prison planning the ultimate heist. Upon his release, he meets up with a high school buddy, who's made all the arrangements for the job, and rented him a hooker for his first encounter in a decade with a real girl. After picking up the safecracker and their getaway driver, they've got twenty minutes to pull off the perfect heist...but soon everything falls apart before Carl's eyes. He might still get the girl, though!

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Plot Keywords:

heist | real time | safecracker | laundry | getaway driver | 

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Taglines:

Time is Running Out!

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

making of (Josh Becker)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der fast perfekte Überfall

Filming Locations:

Glendale, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$130,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blood Money Partners LP, Panoramic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (16 mm prints) Stereo (35 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot, entirely in order, in 10 days, with the last day ending at 10 AM.

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Goofs

About 41:50 into the movie, Carl ducks behind a large garbage can. A police car drives down the street, and the camera man with camera is reflected on the police car's window.

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Quotes

Patrick: I'm not stupid. I'm smart.
Carl: Oh yeah, you're smart! You failed every fucking class! You were in remedial everything! You flunked fucking gym!

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Connections

Referenced in Nel cuore della notte (2002)

User Reviews

Not enough time but I liked it

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.