Review of The Runner (1999) by Maksim B — 19 Nov 2015

Another undeservedly trashed Nicholas Cage delivery, The Runner is surely far from being a top-notch movie, but it is also not such a disaster as many have said. An in-depth character study of the very unique politicians "species", this political thriller is a gripping delivery which fails to connect its characters with the audiences, but manages to upset its viewers with a cynically realistic ending.

Louisiana Congress Representative Colin Price (Nicholas Cage) is a politician completely devoted to the people from his constituency. Amidst the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster he is fully engages with helping the locals which inevitably bring the media spotlights onto him. Unfortunately, his darker side soon gets exposed as a love affair with 27-years old African American hits the media highlights and he is forced to resign his position. While coping with the aftermath of this and learning to live with the public shame of his deeds, Price establishes a NGO to protect the interest of the locals who have been suffering economically from the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. His professionalism and charisma soon bring him back under the media spotlights with more consequences for him.

As a whole the story of The Runner is not bad at all and it keeps you involved and interested throughout all the 90 minutes of it. Slower than necessary, Austin Stark's movie loses too often its focus due to unnecessary scenes of the insecure, alcohol-soaked and lonely Nicholas Cage. This take quite some on-screen time which could have been used to further develop the antagonism between idealism and political cynicism, between environmentalism and corporate lobbying. Thus, instead of becoming a movie loaded with sharp messages, it finishes up as a melodrama with a cynical ending in which Nicholas Cage's ability to depict a sinful Congressman is wasted on showing him too vulnerable, insecure and melodramatic.

Unfortunately, many would consider The Runner to be another bad movie starring Nicholas Cage, but I would partially disagree with this. This political thriller-drama has its positive moments and at least it is capable to keep the audiences involved in the story even if the storyline is far from being strong. I would recommend it for a lazy weekday evening if you are in the mood of seeing a typical Nicholas Cage delivery.