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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Josh Becker
USA 1997

 

Bruce Campbell (The ''Evil Dead'' Series, TV's ''Burn Notice'') stars as Carl, a man who launches a full-scale heist to steal mob money from the prison that just released him. With the help of an old friend (Jeremy Roberts, ''The People Under the Stairs''), a driver and a safe-cracker, Carl's attempt to carry out the heist is fraught with incompetence and bad luck. As the clock ticks and the circumstances turn tragic, Carl is forced to make the most important decision of his life. Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's ''Rope'' and filmed over twenty years before Sam Mendes' ''1917'', writer/director Josh Becker designed ''Running Time'' to play out using the ''one continuous shot'' technique with no computer-assisted trickery. Expertly photographed and edited on film to take place over 70 minutes of real-time, this gritty crime drama was shot entirely on location in the streets of Los Angeles.

***

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!

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 1997 (New York Underground Film Festival)

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Review: Synapse Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Synapse Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:08:38.155        
Video

1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,896,477,960 bytes

Feature: 17,811,084,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1691 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1691 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Synapse Films

 

1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,896,477,960 bytes

Feature: 17,811,084,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio commentary with writer/director Josh Becker and star Bruce Campbell
 • 'Run and Gun with Bruce Campbell' All-new interview/featurette (20:27)
 • Q&A footage from the Freaky Film Festival Premiere at the University of Illinois (19:32)
 • Original Promotional Trailer (2:18)


 Blu-ray Release Date: March 16th, 2021
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Synapse Films Blu-ray (March 2021): Synapse Films have transferred Josh Becker's Running Time to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "All-New 2K scan and restoration of the original camera negative. Presented for the first time on video with the original theatrical stereo mix". The film's heavy use of a steadicam doesn't lend itself to crisp stills but the 1080P presentation is a good one with a high bitrate and exporting some nice grain textures via the 16mm shoot. I thought it looked great and the black and white and 1.37:1 format suit the film experience.  

NOTE: We have added 25 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Synapse Films use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel stereo track 24-bit - (for the first time) - in the original English language. It has scattered dialogue at times but its audible and clean. The score is by Joseph LoDuca (The Carrier), adding to and supporting the film. Synapse Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Synapse Films Blu-ray offers a commentary with writer/director Josh Becker and star Bruce Campbell. They cover a lot of 'nuts and bolts' of the production - discussing the Saul Bass-like opening titles, the real-time aspect, 10-days of shooting, why it was shot in black and white (no filters for outdoor shots, coloring etc.), the use of the steadicam, the cuts, the fine stock, the grain, the lighting system, lenses etc. It's pretty good and fills the hour+ film with plenty of information. 'Run and Gun with Bruce Campbell' is an all-new 20-minute interview/featurette with Bruce, appropriately in black and white plus 20-minutes of Q&A footage from the Freaky Film Festival Premiere at the University of Illinois. Lastly, is an original promotional trailer  

If you are in the mood for a short neo-noir heist film then Josh Becker's Running Time can be very satisfying. Yes, it has the aura of a student film - but a competent one. I enjoyed the heck out of this neat little gem that evokes many other films from the tunnel-imbalance sequence of De Palma's Body Double, to Chris Nolans' Following. The Synapse Films Blu-ray adds value with the commentary - great for budding filmmakers - interview and Q+A. We recommend!

Gary Tooze

 

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Synapse Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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