Ben Affleck could use a bit of a boost these days, following the somewhat shocking negative backlash that occurred after it was announced he would be taking on the role of Batman in Zack Snyder's follow-up to Man Of Steel. Unfortunately for the actor who just a little less than a year ago was so red-hot after masterminding Argo, it doesn't look as if his current gambling thriller, Runner Runner, will provide that boost. The movie is essentially about a gambling ring that delves too far into the high stakes world of professional crime, & the consequences of getting involved. Justin Timberlake plays the role of Richie Furst, who actually seems like a relatable character. Hit the jump for the details.
In an age in which so many of us love to gamble online - wagering at live online tournaments at Betfair Casino, shooting for jackpots & pulling digital slot machines, or even checking into blackjack games on our mobile phones - Furst is an online poker player who finds himself cheated in a high stakes game. Determined to get to the bottom of the issue, Furst hunts down the man he believes to be behind it - offshore criminal & entrepreneur Ivan Block [Affleck].
As soon as Furst hunts down Block, however, his world is turned upside down, first in a good way, but with an increasingly ominous feel. Furst gets sucked into Block's empire of crime & gambling, & as we see so often in gambling films, there's a clear tug-of-war between the glory & the horror of a high stakes lifestyle. Meanwhile, the FBI is hot on Block's trail, & attempts to make use of Furst as an informant in bringing him down.
Sounds kind of fun, right? Truthfully, this film was billed as pure entertainment; the trailer shows a fast pace, full of taut one-liners & glamorous settings. Furthermore, both Timberlake & Affleck can serve brilliantly as crowd pleasers, & both have legions of fans.
This is why it's such a bad sign that early reception for Runner Runner has been nothing short of disastrous. Popular review compilation site Rotten Tomatoes currently has it at just 15% (which is certified "rotten"); Todd McCarthy of Hollywood Reporter calls it "an uncompelling, sketchy telling of an intriguing crime story," & if you just google reviews you'll find several similar comments. Perhaps the friendliest line from a major review is Variety's claim that Affleck, at least, does a fine job.
Ultimately, however, those involved have to be feeling the sting of a disappointing release. Timberlake has a budding, & somewhat promising film career, & Affleck, as mentioned, could have used a good month. Perhaps, if nothing else, the apparently shortcomings of Runner Runner will further motivate Affleck to give us an outstanding Batman!
In an age in which so many of us love to gamble online - wagering at live online tournaments at Betfair Casino, shooting for jackpots & pulling digital slot machines, or even checking into blackjack games on our mobile phones - Furst is an online poker player who finds himself cheated in a high stakes game. Determined to get to the bottom of the issue, Furst hunts down the man he believes to be behind it - offshore criminal & entrepreneur Ivan Block [Affleck].
As soon as Furst hunts down Block, however, his world is turned upside down, first in a good way, but with an increasingly ominous feel. Furst gets sucked into Block's empire of crime & gambling, & as we see so often in gambling films, there's a clear tug-of-war between the glory & the horror of a high stakes lifestyle. Meanwhile, the FBI is hot on Block's trail, & attempts to make use of Furst as an informant in bringing him down.
Sounds kind of fun, right? Truthfully, this film was billed as pure entertainment; the trailer shows a fast pace, full of taut one-liners & glamorous settings. Furthermore, both Timberlake & Affleck can serve brilliantly as crowd pleasers, & both have legions of fans.
This is why it's such a bad sign that early reception for Runner Runner has been nothing short of disastrous. Popular review compilation site Rotten Tomatoes currently has it at just 15% (which is certified "rotten"); Todd McCarthy of Hollywood Reporter calls it "an uncompelling, sketchy telling of an intriguing crime story," & if you just google reviews you'll find several similar comments. Perhaps the friendliest line from a major review is Variety's claim that Affleck, at least, does a fine job.
Ultimately, however, those involved have to be feeling the sting of a disappointing release. Timberlake has a budding, & somewhat promising film career, & Affleck, as mentioned, could have used a good month. Perhaps, if nothing else, the apparently shortcomings of Runner Runner will further motivate Affleck to give us an outstanding Batman!