Ticker

Ticker (2002) keeps me coming back for a re-viewing. This dramatic action short film is fast, exciting, riveting, suspenseful, and ultimately thoughtful. It is one of a series of short films. I recommend action enthusiasts give this film their attention. Also, have a look at The Hostage (2002) and Beat The Devil (2002).

'Ticker' is yet another short film from The Hire-series and again it is not disappointing. Clive Owen as The Driver has to deliver a man (Don Cheadle) with a briefcase on all costs. A helicopter is flying above them, shooting at them. We see F. Murray Abraham, Ray Liotta and Robert Patrick as nice extras. This short looks more real than most other action movies. With a nice story and some good acting this is worth watching.

TICKER is the short film out of the famous "The Hire" series, that I liked best. Why? It has a great opening shot taking you right into the action filled chase of the Z4. Soon the reason of this chase is revealed up to a point where you still don't really know anything for sure. And the story stays tense until the final scene, revealing what's actually in the case Don Cheadle was so worried about throughout the short film.

It's great story-telling combined with good acting, surprise cameos by e.g. Ray Liotta, well choreographed action and good camera work, but you should see for yourself (once you know the ending, watching the film will not be the same, so enjoy the first time!)

Great actors. Exciting car chase scenes. Good stories. Cool BMW commercial.

Having just watched his work in The Grey, I was quite surprised and happy to see Joe Carnahan's name pop up as being the director of this second of the second series of BWM-produced short films. The story such as it is, begins with bullets pelting the roadway all around the Driver's BMW. His passenger has a briefcase that has to be delivered to its destination – a briefcase that just started leaking a flammable fluid and has begun a countdown sequence.

The story behind this starting point is played out quite nicely in flashbacks before the reveal at the end and, while it doesn't make a massive amount of sense, it does work for what it is – providing a decent conclusion but also mystery up till that point. Of course this all comes to nothing if the short can't deliver a certain amount of tension and pace and here on both fronts it does. The direction is good throughout and with the cinematography and (most importantly) the editing, it not only looks good but has energy and pace while also being able to retain that while cutting away to fill in the story. Gilroy is the one though – I thought it was edited perfectly to make everything work as well as it did, not easy considering telling the story is in the construct. Of course, having a score from someone like Clint Mansell does no harm either.

The cast are mixed. Owen is really good with his urgent delivery and good presence, while Cheadle is just as good while retaining the mystery of his character. What didn't work so well for me though was how many other faces are crammed into this very short film – particularly the ones that barely have a word to say. Abraham is probably not the worst of these as he is a key player at least, but it is just distracting and unnecessary to have Patrick, Haysbert and Liotta in there for no reason; their presence late on in the film distracted me with thoughts of what they were going to do (the answer is "nothing" by the way).

This gripe aside though, this is urgent and enjoyable with a decent plot and makes for one of the better of the BMW short films.