Category: cinema-writing

Carrick – Blog Post 1 (Run Lola Run)

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Carrick

The style of Run Lola Run certainly loves to attach itself to the ideas of speed and chaos. Its constant jumping around from character to character and its high-tempo music that plays nearly the whole film sets a momentum that never dies—except for key moments that stick out due to the uniqueness of its direction. Despite its fragmented storytelling and unconventional visuals, the film manages to stay cohesive through its editing, repetition, and clear sense of urgency.

One of the main reasons the movie never loses steam is its fast-paced editing. I personally love the way the movie throws you in and just starts running, jolting the audience into a thrilling experience with no hand-holding. There was a clear sense of direction with it too, tying the speed of the story to the mind of Lola. As her mind races to find a solution, the cuts, music, and feel of the film keep up the pace, only stopping during the brief moments where Lola’s mind is preoccupied with something else. A key example is when she stands in front of the bank, just after learning the truth about her father and the lie of his real identity in her life. In that moment, as she processes this information, the urgency of the 20 minutes leaves her mind—along with the fast cuts and the intense music—leaving a longer shot sitting in silence.

The way the film manipulates time also adds to its sense of momentum. Slow-motion is used sparingly but with purpose, stretching key emotional beats to make them feel heavier. When Lola screams, for example, everything slows down, making her desperation almost tangible. On the other hand, the quick montages showing the futures of minor characters compress time, delivering entire life stories in just a few seconds. This contrast between stretched and compressed time keeps the audience engaged, making every moment feel unpredictable yet purposeful.

 

Even when time resets, the familiarity of the previous run keeps the viewer invested, eager to see what will change this time around. The high-energy techno soundtrack also plays a crucial role, acting almost like a heartbeat that drives the film forward. Lola’s constant movement—running through the streets, dodging obstacles—reinforces the sense that time is slipping away.

Ultimately, Run Lola Run is held together not by strict continuity, but by the sheer force of its pacing and storytelling. Even as it rewinds and reshapes time, it never loses sight of its central conflict, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. The film isn’t just about Lola trying to save Manni—it’s about the endless possibilities that split-second choices create. And that’s what makes it so exciting to watch.

On a personal non-dissecting note, I felt the final third loop of the movie was a little much. The intense fast pace of everything that highlights the tiny changes in each loop is a ton of fun, but this can get boring too and I feel like it does just that in the third loop. Anyway, I leave you all with my letterbox review of the movie as these are what I consider my definitive feeling about the movie. Enjoy.

– Carrick
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Run Lola Run
⭐⭐⭐½ 🧡
So in the third loop she became God?
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Carrick – Test Blog Post

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Carrick

I have been into film since my earliest memories. I remember watching Curious George in theaters and, of course, being entranced with the funny monkey but also having a thought so constant in my mind, a thought that has never left the imprint of that movie, a thought as simple as “pretty.”

Growing up in a film-focused family, my dad used to be a film journalist, so he would spend countless nights drowning my brothers and me in ‘real’ film or its trivia. While my brothers took most of this and ran with it, I always felt left out—almost as if everything they discussed, though interesting, was missing what I felt connected to the most. Years would go by, and this feeling of being an outcast would continue. It was only when I saw a specific movie that the pieces started to fall into place. I quickly started to become more aware of my passions and soon realized that the medium of film is not the only method to explore my interests in creative storytelling.

I was always drawn to video games and how they could be used to tell stories. I’m sure this comes from growing up with my main three games being Halo 2, MW2, and KOTOR—all three being renowned for their spectacular campaigns and stories. Even to this day, that has stuck—I find myself drawn more toward games with great stories and interesting mechanics rather than pure gameplay. Games like Oxenfree or Furi, for instance, though Furi is primarily gameplay-focused, depict their stories in such compelling ways that they deserve to be mentioned as inspiration. Now, I’m trying to get into the game industry as a stepping stone into writing, directing, and storytelling.

I chose this video quickly because I couldn’t think of a favorite video made in a style I want to emulate in class, but I do find this one beautiful. I still love music videos, and I think this one is great—not only because it was the first one I saw in my liked playlist, but also because its use of visual storytelling to communicate deep emotions is top-notch. I’m also a huge fan of slowing down the camera and letting the viewers and shots breathe, something I think this video also does well.

This slower-paced approach to filming is most likely what I will try to work with in this class—except for my first video, since I don’t have time due to being sick. So that one . . . well, it’ll be something, idk.

– Carrick

Rylan Eisenhauer Blog Prompt #1 (Run Lola Run)

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Rylan Eisenhauer

Run Lola Run clearly presents itself as a more experimental exploration of continuity and the awareness of time’s flow throughout the film. I appreciated these alternative approaches and ideas, which leave viewers feeling as though they can piece together what might happen next based on subtle details introduced earlier in each new “timeline.”

The film maintains its narrative and momentum by making details from the previous “runs” impactful, altering how the characters feel or what they know about a situation. The best example of this is in the first “run,” where, at the end, Lola exclaims that she doesn’t know how a gun works, prompting Manni to tell her to take the safety off. (See the image below.)


Then, once Lola resets into a new run, we, as the audience, assume it’s a completely fresh start where she loses all the knowledge she gained the first time. However, in the scene where she threatens her father at gunpoint, he exclaims, “You don’t know how to use that.” She then proceeds to take the safety off and fire the gun with ease. At this moment, we understand the rule: Lola is almost like a video game character, learning from previous attempts and failures. (See the image below.)

This film drips with intensity and suspense, with time being the most crucial factor at play. Each decision Lola makes could either help her save Manni or, as we see in other scenarios, lead to his or her death. The importance of time also permeates other aspects of the film, such as the recurring presence of the number 20. Lola has exactly 20 minutes to reach Manni before he robs a bank, marking a near “no turning back” point. The number 20 also appears as the one she bets on in roulette.

Each decision in the film feels deliberate and is captured in a way that keeps the audience on edge. The use of slow motion in moments when a character dies, nearly achieves their goal, or experiences something impactful is particularly effective. This technique complements the film’s alternative visual style, such as the use of animation when Lola runs down the stairs. The animated sequence ensures Lola remains visible in every frame, effectively portraying both her speed and the urgency fueled by adrenaline.

Another notable detail about the animation is the depiction of the staircase. The bottom is never shown, and the animation loops several times, creating the illusion that Lola isn’t getting any closer to the end. This choice emphasizes the immense distance she must cover to save Manni, further heightening the tension.

As a final thought from my first viewing, I found myself questioning the point of the flashback changes for the minor characters Lola bumps into. While it is intriguing to see how their lives unfold differently based on small changes, it doesn’t significantly alter how Lola interacts with them. Perhaps another watch of the film would help me better understand those segments. That said, the rest of the film was highly entertaining, and I enjoyed feeling involved in piecing together how the “rules” of the film worked.

-Rylan Eisenhauer

Rylan Eisenhauer Test Post Assignment 1/7/2025

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Rylan Eisenhauer

My name is Rylan Eisenhauer. For most of my life, I have had a strong interest in both video production and consumption.

I was drawn to video media through shows and cartoons I watched as a child. I consumed various formats, including live-action, 2D animation, 3D animation, stop-motion, and more. I never had a strong preference for one type over another, and I believe that open-mindedness helped me enjoy many forms of content.

The big leap into my passion for video came when I learned from my childhood best friend about running a YouTube channel. I was inspired to start uploading a series of gaming videos by simply recording TV and computer monitors that we used to play games on. For a couple of years, it stayed in this “simple” format until around 2019, when I rebranded myself as “Bunkatron” (my current YouTube channel).

The style of my videos leans more toward quick-cut comedy, working to keep audiences entertained throughout while also including important early setups for future bits. Below is a favorite scripted video of mine, which I hope to pursue further in this class. It’s called “Meet Team Bunkatron,” where my YouTube team and I created a mock interview comedy segment, as if my co-host and I were interviewing them, asking funny questions with random responses.

I picked this video because it was fun to poke fun at those clichéd introductory videos you often see at starter jobs. It was enjoyable to combine multiple comedic styles by having each member play a “character” version of themselves while also giving glimpses into who they are and what they enjoy. This video is also listed as my “channel trailer,” as I believe it is a great way to be introduced to who we are, what to expect, and to have a good laugh.

-Rylan Eisenhauer