Runner Runner: Movie Review
I didn’t have high expectations going into “Runner Runner”. The trailers did not make me hopeful. However, director Brad Furman’s previous film, 2011’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” was such an entertaining surprise, that I wanted to give his latest effort a chance. Plus writers Brian Koppelman and David Levien were responsible for “Ocean’s Thirteen”, “Runaway Jury”, and “Rounders”, so they know how to write engaging stories, especially when it comes to gambling. Say what you want about Ocean’s Thirteen, but it’s my favorite in the series. Unfortunately my initial feelings about “Runner Runner” were fairly accurate. This is an uninspired, idiotic and mostly boring piece of cinematic trash.
Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake) is a Princeton student who has been paying his tuition by promoting online gambling. After realizing he has been cheated by a gambling website run by Ivan Block (Ben Affleck), Richie flies down to Costa Rica to confront Ivan. Initially going down just to get the money back he lost, Ivan offers Richie a job instead that is too good to be true. Of course Richie takes the job. It doesn’t take long for Richie to realize that Ivan may have a few dirty secrets. This set up has the makings of what could have been a fairly entertaining yet unoriginal film.
So where does the fault lie? Is it the writing? directing? acting? I am afraid it is all of the above. Even the usually flawless Anthony Mackie delivers an astonishingly bad performance as the FBI agent out to take down Affleck’s Ivan Block. You know you are in trouble when even Mackie comes off looking bad. Timberlake who is front and center here is the only one who comes through this mess unscathed. Probably because he barely even registers here. As for Affleck, let’s just say that those who are worried about him taking on Batman, won’t feel better about it after seeing the acclaimed director phone in his performance here. I can’t forget about John Heard, who makes his return to the big screen after his memorable role in “Sharknado”. Even the talented and beautiful Gemma Arterton is wasted here.
There is not a single positive thing that I can think of when it comes to this film. Do yourself a favor and run far away from “Runner Runner”.
By: Marc Ferman