4K UHD Review: Kino Lorber’s The Rundown (Special Edition) 

Dewayne Johnson and Sean William Scott team up for the action classic The Rundown.  New to 4K UHD from Kino Lorber. 

The Film 

When a film can combine Midnight Run with a bad Indiana Jones knock-off film (I’m talking Fire Walker or Jake Speed or Raiders of Atlantis), you’re definitely in my wheelhouse, big time.  The Rundown was designed for me to fall in love with the minute I laid eyes on it.   The action comedy has become like Midnight Run, a cult action-comedy classic (it was initially a failure at the box office when released).  

The Rundown is still at the point in Dewayne Johnson’s career where his characters could be hurt or beaten down.  The film does an excellent job at this, giving us the rarest of characters for Johnson to play… an underdog.  As Beck, the bounty hunter of sorts for Billy (William Lucking), the gangster he’s indebted to, Johnson’s character suffers all sorts of indignities from bean bag guns to the face, champagne splashed in his face, baboon humping his face (lots of things involving his face).  All in the name of getting himself out of an illegal financial hole, to get into another financial hole by starting a restaurant.  

There’s something instantly charming about the downtrodden Dewayne Johnson, the one who’s constantly beaten down.  There’s an everyman quality here that isn’t present anymore in Johnson’s work that feels quaint and wholesome.  As much as an action film can be wholesome, that features baboons humping men.  The untouchable god like beast mode of a superstar is nowhere to be found here.  

Beck is in a constant losing battle with people, which is beautifully illustrated by the mid-film fight against Ernie Reyes Jr. (from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze fame).  The way that director Peter Berg and cinematographer Tobias A. Schliessler shoot the scene as the biggest ESPN MMA match ever seen speaks to Berg’s understanding of the style of action and, most importantly, his star’s specific niche and style.  This goes for all of the action set pieces in the film.  There’s an NFL/Madden-esque feel to everything where the camera is always in the right place at the right time  – even if it requires almost an impossible camera move.  

Though it just isn’t Johnson’s movie star charisma and action prowess that elevate The Rundown to an action classic.  The supporting cast may be one of the better casts that the superstar has had surrounding him.  Beginning with the cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film is perfectly cast with a game cast that is both funny and adept action co-stars.  Sean William Scott and Rosario Dawson prove to be great foils to Johnson, both in comedy and in action.  The aforementioned Reyes Jr., Lucking, and Jon Gries all do memorable work in supporting roles.  Though it’s Christopher Walken as Hatcher, the lead villain who steals the show with his quirky Walken-isms.  Though Ewen Bremner showing up as the unintelligible Declan is a close second.  

The Rundown is the perfect mixture of action and comedy, proving why Dewayne Johnson would go on to become the biggest star in the world.  Though few of his films, if any, were as good as this one.  

The Transfer 

The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is another flawless transfer from Kino Lorber.  The 35mm film shot by Tobias A. Schliessler is an excellent example of how 4K UHD with Dolby Vision sets the standard for home video experience.  The results are truly magnificent.  The film has never looked sharper or cleaner than in 4K, but without it being digitally cleaned of that beautiful film grain.  The image is a flawless representation of the film’s 35mm origins.  Having seen the film projected a few times in my life, this iteration on home video feels like it’s the best version (yes, even better than the 35mm prints I’ve seen).  The color, sharpness, and contrast levels are near perfect.  Kino has continued to release amazing 4K discs, and this one is one of the best of the year.   

The Extras

They include the following;

DISC 1 (4KUHD):

• Audio Commentary by Director Peter Berg and Star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
• Audio Commentary by Producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham
• NEW Audio Commentary by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder and Filmmaker Matt Routledge

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):

• Audio Commentary by Director Peter Berg and Star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
• Audio Commentary by Producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham
• NEW Audio Commentary by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder and Filmmaker Matt Routledge
• Rumble in the Jungle: Featurette 
• The Amazon, Hawaii Style: Featurette 
• Appetite for Destruction: Featurette 
• The Rundown Uncensored – A Rock-umentary: Featurette 
• Running Down the Town: Featurette 
• Walken’s World: Featurette 
• Deleted Scenes 
• Theatrical Trailer Newly Mastered in 2K

The first of three audio commentaries is an archival track by Director Peter Berg and Star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.  The tracks open with a discussion of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cameo.  The track is a relaxed affair with Berg sometimes giving some detailed information on the production (like the NFL editors he brought in to cut some of the action scenes), but most of the time is spent with the duo joking and ribbing each other about the various scenes and moments from the production.  If one wants a relaxed time watching a film with a star occasionally giving information, this is your track.  Those looking for more information and a less jokey track go to the other two tracks.  

The second of three audio commentaries is an archival track by Producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham. The duo opens with a discussion of the cooking affectation Johnson’s character has.  Some of the details include the cameo by Arnold Schwarzenegger; the inspiration of Peter Berg took with character introductions; the real-life incident that inspired the pilot and landing in South America; the casting of Ewan Bremner; the construction of the mining town set in Southern California; the casting of Christopher Walken, and why Berg pushed for the legendary actor; the reasons why they chose not to choose to shoot in South America opting for LA and Hawaii; a discussion of the second unit/action director Andy Chang – a larger discussion of the various action set pieces and what it took to accomplish it; the inspiration that the filmmakers took from Midnight Run; working with Christopher Walken; the score composed by Greggory William Gregson; the test screening process; the uncredited rewrites by Kario Salem; and much more.  

The final audio commentary is an all-new track by Action Film Historian Mike Leeder and Filmmaker Matt Routledge. The duo opens with the success, or lack thereof, of the film before diving into the Schwarzenegger cameo.  Some of the details include the alternate titles the film was released under; their first experience with the Rock; the work and career of director Peter Berg – and a discussion of Berg as an action, including a great discussion of Wes Craven’s Shocker; a discussion of where Dewayne Johnson was in his career, which leads to a great discussion about how salaries rose in the 1980s; a great discussion about Johnson’s wrestling career and what eventually turned him into a superstar; a great discussion of the food intake an action star/athlete must eat to maintain their bulk; who was originally going to star in The Smashing Machine; the career and work of Sean William Scott; the career and work Ernie Reyes Jr.; the career and work of Rosario Dawson; the career and work of Christopher Walken; a great discussion about how the Western action films and HK/Eastern action films are choreographed and produced; a larger discussion of the action choreography by Andy Chan – who is a member of the Jackie Chan stunt team; getting the Jackie Chan stunt team to do the stunt work and what it brings to each of the set pieces; a larger discussion of the cast that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various stunt performers that appear throughout and great asides about these performers’ careers; and much more.  Leeder and Routledge provide another winning commentary track that’s equal parts informative and entertaining.  The duo provides enough unique anecdotes not only about the production but also about action film production in general that make it a truly great track worthy of this action classic.  

Rumble in the Jungle: Featurette (10:33) – this archival featurette looks at the stunt work and action in the film.  The featurette is fairly detailed in showing behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals and production with B-roll edited with scenes from the film.  Featuring interviews with director Peter Berg, actors Sean William Scott, Ernie Reyes Jr., Rosario Dawson, and Dewayne Johnson.  

The Amazon, Hawaii Style: Featurette (5:27) – this archival featurette looks into using Hawaii doubling for Amazon and the reasons why they chose to film there.  Featuring interviews with director Peter Berg, actors Sean William Scott, Rosario Dawson, and Dewayne Johnson.  

Appetite for Destruction: Featurette (8:21) – this archival featurette looks at what went into the explosions and various action center pieces of the film, like the water tower collapse and the stampede that feature prominently in the film.

The Rundown Uncensored – A Rock-umentary: Featurette (6:08) – this archival featurette, humorously, looks at the baboon scene. 

Running Down the Town: Featurette (4:09) – this archival featurette looks at the construction and the detail that went into making the Helldorado town set in Southern California.  

Walken’s World: Featurette (5:33) – this archival featurette looks at Christopher Walken and the work that the production did to make the role more “Christopher Walken”.  

Deleted Scenes (13:50) – the selection of 9 deleted and alternate scenes can be navigated using your next and back chapter stop buttons on your remote.  The deleted/alternate scenes include Billy tells Beck to get his Son; Beck flies to Hell-dorado; Beck and Travis fight; Mariana is chased by Hatcher’s men; Hatcher discusses Mariana; extended stampede moments; extended water tower moments; Beck takes Travis home; an alternate version of Hatcher’s fate. 

Rounding out the special features are trailers for The Rundown [Newly Mastered in 2K] (2:36); Walking Talk (1:14); The Hunted (2:22); Reindeer Games (1:40); Kindergarten Cop (2:03); Sudden Death (2:16); Tropic Thunder (2:29); Road Trip (1:52); 

The Final Thought 

Kino Lorber has given The Rundown an excellent 4K UHD upgrade.  Highest Recommendations!!  

Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Edition of The Rundown is out now.