{"id":2783,"date":"2013-09-29T12:33:46","date_gmt":"2013-09-29T12:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=2783"},"modified":"2013-09-29T12:35:47","modified_gmt":"2013-09-29T12:35:47","slug":"runner-runner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/action\/runner-runner\/","title":{"rendered":"Runner Runner **"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some thrillers need more than a touch of style and an attractive cast; they need a substantial storyline. It\u2019s not that Runner Runner<\/em> doesn\u2019t initially promise something meaty to bite on and the chance to watch it all play out in sunny Costa Rica, it\u2019s just things fizzle out and become mediocre when we\u2019ve soon had enough of the sun, sea and smart suits. The smart suits have been done before in Ocean\u2019s<\/em> films.<\/p>\n

Co-lead Justin Timberlake desperately tries to get us hooked from the get go as aggrieved online gambler and Princeton post grad Richie Furst, robbed of his last pot of Wall Street cash on a compromised poker site he believes he has cracked. We do feel his pain (empathy even for a failed banker) and are ready and right behind him for the confrontation ahead with the site\u2019s multi-millionaire owner, the illusive offshore entrepreneur Ivan Block.<\/p>\n

However, one of the main reasons for the gradual waning interest in Runner Runner<\/em> \u2013 part-incomprehensible gambling lingo aside \u2013 is the casting of another genuinely \u2018nice guy\u2019 of cinema, Ben Affleck as super thief Block. Affleck should stick to the directing day job or the honest\/good guy roles because the leap of faith needed to believe he could be a sly, manipulative criminal mastermind is too massive, however approachable he paints Block to start with.<\/p>\n

The Lincoln Lawyer<\/em> director Brad Furman and producer Leonardo DiCaprio\u2019s \u2018dramatic thriller\u2019 goes all Jason Bourne on us when things heat up, just to keep the thrill factor intact. In all fairness, Timberlake tries his hand at the action shots and makes for a commendable action-hero-on-the-run. Nevertheless, Furst needs more than a hand full of corrupt officials and Block henchmen to get past to keep things stimulating. Even the chance to wind things down for a second and bond with his hopeless gambling addict dad (played by a very puffy-looking and near unrecognisable John Heard) fails to produce anything memorable. Our attention falls on the balcony view Richie\u2019s dad is so desperate to show off to him \u2013\u00a0and us. Again, this is when the writing\/plot is clearly called into question.<\/p>\n

Other nice factors \u2013 aside from sun, suits and glamour \u2013 include a sexy, sun-kissed Gemma Arterton as Block\u2019s right-hand woman\/\u2019sex slave\u2019 Rebecca Shafran. The character has the usual dose of sardonic wit and life experience to lure her man \u2013 like a Bond girl on heat \u2013 but is either too dumb or too greedy for the lifestyle to get out when she knows it\u2019s all turning sour. Hence we feel very little for her when the chips are down. Indeed, she seems to need little convincing by Furst when the time comes to help him put his plan in action to bring down Block, being more than ready to deceive her \u2018captor\u2019 and curiously resisting taking both chumps to the cleaners.<\/p>\n

To be kind, Runner Runner<\/em> ticks all the boxes you\u2019d expect for the genre, it\u2019s just other dramatic thrillers with a gambling theme have been done before \u2013 and better. Remember 21<\/em> back in 2008? Trying to spin an intellectual side to it via the Princeton angle and yet another high-tech wall bank of computers cracking code with the resident geek\/s is also becoming old hat. This film seems to be lazily relying on bringing in the box office cash solely on the cast and their image. It\u2019s just a pity it doesn\u2019t have more substance to win the house too.<\/p>\n

2\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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