Runner Runner
Ben Affleck is Ivan, a gambling mastermind and the wealthy head of an online betting operation in this crime thriller. After Princeton student Richie (Justin Timberlake) cracks the online game but is swindled out of the winnings, he travels to Costa Rica to confront Ivan. Instead, the pair hit it off and Richie is brought into the operation. But as the stakes rise, the protege comes to fully understand the deviousness of his new boss and attempts to turn the tables on him. From the writers of Ocean’s 13 and co-starring Gemma Arterton (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters).
- Director:
- Brad Furman ('The Lincoln Lawyer', 'The Take')
- Writer:
- David LevienBrian Koppelman
- Cast:
- Ben AffleckJustin TimberlakeGemma ArtertonAnthony MackieOliver CooperBen SchwartzDavid CostabileSam Palladio
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Matt Glasby
flicksFrom the writers of Rounders, but closer in quality to 21, Brad (The Lincoln Lawyer) Furman’s online gaming thriller is a strange beast. There’s nothing glaringly wrong with it, but it’s so glossily mediocre that it’s impossible to recommend to anyone not contemplating a lengthy plane journey.
Runner Walk Sleeper
Runner Runner Justin Timberlake smashes into another film, his last good semi-hit was 'In Time' which I loved. This I thought was going to be better than it was, had a sort of 'Ocean's 11' feel, with a '21' reboot. For this reason it didn't rate to highly with me, popcorn range at best, sorry Justin. Genre : Crime, thriller, card games 2/5 : Most of the...
Disappointingly tame
Sadly, Ben Affleck is phoning in his performance, Justin Timberlake struggles to keep us interested and Gemma Arterton is criminally under-used in this boring thriller. Online gambling is big business but this tired and cliche-driven flick will sink without a trace. Not even the glamorous locations and brief running time can save it.
Variety
pressRunner Runner’s appeal increases dramatically whenever Affleck enters the frame.
Total Film
pressJustin Timberlake and Ben Affleck give their best poker faces but ultimately fail to convince you to gamble your cash away on this limp, unoriginal story of a man out of his depth.
The New York Times
pressIt feels like a halfhearted bluff and has the stale smell of yesterday's after-shave.
The Dissolve
pressIt puts a premium on sleight-of-hand cleverness and glossy style, but it isn't particularly clever or stylish.
Hollywood Reporter
pressWhat's actually up onscreen in this vaguely ambitious but tawdry melodrama falls into an in-between no-man's-land that endows it with no distinction whatsoever, a work lacking both style and insight into the netherworld it seeks to reveal.
Empire Magazine
pressHowever exotic the locations and starry the stars, there’s no escaping this is The Devil’s Advocate of online gambling. Fold.
Flicks, Matt Glasby
flicksFrom the writers of Rounders, but closer in quality to 21, Brad (The Lincoln Lawyer) Furman’s online gaming thriller is a strange beast. There’s nothing glaringly wrong with it, but it’s so glossily mediocre that it’s impossible to recommend to anyone not contemplating a lengthy plane journey.
Variety
pressRunner Runner’s appeal increases dramatically whenever Affleck enters the frame.
Total Film
pressJustin Timberlake and Ben Affleck give their best poker faces but ultimately fail to convince you to gamble your cash away on this limp, unoriginal story of a man out of his depth.
The New York Times
pressIt feels like a halfhearted bluff and has the stale smell of yesterday's after-shave.
The Dissolve
pressIt puts a premium on sleight-of-hand cleverness and glossy style, but it isn't particularly clever or stylish.
Hollywood Reporter
pressWhat's actually up onscreen in this vaguely ambitious but tawdry melodrama falls into an in-between no-man's-land that endows it with no distinction whatsoever, a work lacking both style and insight into the netherworld it seeks to reveal.
Empire Magazine
pressHowever exotic the locations and starry the stars, there’s no escaping this is The Devil’s Advocate of online gambling. Fold.
Runner Walk Sleeper
Runner Runner Justin Timberlake smashes into another film, his last good semi-hit was 'In Time' which I loved. This I thought was going to be better than it was, had a sort of 'Ocean's 11' feel, with a '21' reboot. For this reason it didn't rate to highly with me, popcorn range at best, sorry Justin. Genre : Crime, thriller, card games 2/5 : Most of the...
Disappointingly tame
Sadly, Ben Affleck is phoning in his performance, Justin Timberlake struggles to keep us interested and Gemma Arterton is criminally under-used in this boring thriller. Online gambling is big business but this tired and cliche-driven flick will sink without a trace. Not even the glamorous locations and brief running time can save it.
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