Review of Runner Runner (2013) by Patrick L — 09 Oct 2013

"Don't be fooled by this good-looking gambling thriller, it's bluffing".

Movie Review: Runner Runner.

Date Viewed: October 6 2013.

Directed By Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer).

Written By Brian Koppelman and David Levien.

Starring: Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton, Ben Affleck, Anthony Mackie, David Costabile, Sam Palladio, Oliver Cooper, Ben Schwartz, Laurence Mason, Dayo Okeniyi, Louis Lombardi, Daniel Booko, John Heard and Bob Gunton.

Don't be fooled by the trailers of "Runner Runner" thinking: "This looks good!", "Ben Affleck as a bad guy what could go wrong?".

It's completely bluffing. "Runner Runner" is a second-rate version of both "Wall Street" and "Rounders".

"Runner Runner" stars Justin Timberlake as Richie Furst, a Princeton college student who gambles his tuition money by playing online poker. When Richie loses all of his money by a cheater, he goes to Costa Rica to confront online gambling tycoon Ivan Block (Ben Affleck). Richie soon gets seduced by Block and promises him immense wealth. Richie also gets into a relationship with Ivan's ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Shafran (Gemma Arterton).

Richie soon gets kidnapped by FBI agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) and he threatens to ruin his life in various ways if he doesn't help him bring down Block. Justin Timberlake is actually pretty good as the hot shot grad student who gets lured into a corrupt business and then runs into trouble. Ben Affleck (in his first mainstream movie since "Argo") is solid as the sleazy online poker tycoon and Affleck is probably the only actor in the movie having fun with his role.

The relationship between Timberlake and Gemma Arterton is under-developed and Anthony Mackie is completely wasted in another type cast role. I can see Ben Affleck playing a character with a dark side, As I said, he's solid in this predictable thriller but there's no way I can see him play Batman.

Directed By Brad Furman (who brought Matthew McConaughey's career back on track with "The Lincoln Lawyer") and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (the duo who wrote another gambling tale "Rounders"), "Runner Runner" is another by-the-numbers thriller we have seen many times before.