‘Runaway’ a music-video triumph

Back from the dead again to review...

RUNAWAY (2010)

Dir. Kanye West

When I first heard Kanye West was directing a short film, I was equal parts intrigued, equal parts skeptical. I was intrigued because it was Kanye’s first foray into filmmaking; skeptical because, well, it was Kanye’s first foray into filmmaking.

After catching “Runaway” on MTV Saturday night, I can safely say that West’s directorial debut is nothing short of masterful – a music video so articulately crafted that it might just be the best thing to happen to the medium since “Thriller.”

Above all, “Runaway” should be praised for its ambition. Let’s not even take into account that long-form music videos are essentially a relic. Let’s just focus on the status quo of today’s music videos:

The “Jersey Shore” version of “I Like It.” Enough said.

But “Runaway” isn’t successful because it’s 35 minutes long and not utterly stupid. “Runaway” is successful because it’s different; because it’s thoughtful; because it’s art.

How many music videos these days do you see and immediately think of Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut”? “Runaway” is dazzling visually, with set decoration and cinematography noticeably influenced by Kubrick.

While thematically, “Runaway” isn’t quite as layered as a Kubrick film, it’s still head-and-shoulders above the competition. West’s choice to spin the tale of the Phoenix to mirror his struggle to recover from last year’s gaffe at the VMAs is apt, though somewhat obvious.

Still, at the sum of “Runaway’s” parts is a daring end product that sets itself apart from today’s music videos.

And let’s not forget about the music! “Runaway” treats us to nine tracks from West’s upcoming album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” due for release Nov. 22. Nearly every song sampled in the film is nothing short of awesome, ranging from the glitzy “All of the Lights,” to the marquee “Runaway,” and rounding out with “Lost in the World.” (I’d mention the rest, but frankly, I don’t know which songs are which yet.)

Kanye is a controversial figure, and I’m sure “Runaway” will prove to be just as controversial. He’s a love-him-or-hate-him kinda guy. But regardless of his detractors, West’s venture into filmmaking has done nothing but prove his versatility as an artist, both on screen and in the recording studio.

Oh, and if I may assume based on what we hear in the film, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” will be Kanye’s best album, or just behind “The College Dropout” at worst. Almost immediately after “Runaway” aired, the album soared to the No. 11 best-selling album on iTunes, almost a month before its release. I don’t want to get too hyperbolic, but it seems as if we’re in for a fine album.

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Watch “Runaway” here:

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