Review of Run Lola Run (1998) by Dmitrijus B — 21 Apr 2012

Run Lola Run is a movie which predates Scott Pilgrim and which ironically captures the essence and soul of computer gaming much more vividly than Edgar Wright's more contemporary work, even without strewing itself with numerous straightforward geek-culture references.

The most important thing about this breath-taking cult Tom Tykwer's movie is movement. Movement and kinetics. The viewer is attracted and relates to the heroine not because of her character/personal traits but because she represents the the kinetic centre of the the whole action.

This effect is achieved on three dimensions. First, plot-wise the story itself suggests frantic haste, a quest to get a really large sum of money in really, really short time, a task only Lola is capable of.

Second, on technical level, the viewer's attention is kept through incorporation of numerous sporadically changing visual techniques, such as split screen, bits of animation, side-scrolling tracking shots which again makes movie even more game-like.

Finally, the repetition of the cycle, the three lives of Lola gives a strong impression that the main conflict will not be resolved until the protagonist succeeds. All these three aspects of the film makes Run Lola Run a great artistic action film, which rarely bores and whooshes by quickly and excitingly, like a good clip.

Or a computer game.