Here’s the movie review of Runner Runner, a crime-thriller film starring Justin Timberlake (Richie Furst), Ben Affleck (Ivan Block) and Gemma Arterton (Rebecca Shafran). It’s directed by Brad Furman and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. The movie is about a Princeton grad student Richie (Justin Timberlake), believing he’s been swindled, travels to Costa Rica to confront online gambling tycoon Ivan Block (Ben Affleck). Richie is seduced by Block’s promise of immense wealth, until he learns the disturbing truth about his benefactor. When the FBI tries to coerce Richie to help bring down Block, Richie faces his biggest gamble ever: attempting to outmaneuver the two forces closing in on him. It started showing in Philippine cinemas September 27 and will be shown on October 4 in the US.

At the onset of the movie, we get to know Richie Furst (Timberlake), a brilliant student from the Princeton University accused of promoting gambling in the university and forced to shut down his only source of earnings that helps make his way through his graduate studies. Faced with such a dilemma, Furst put all his earnings at stake in an online poker game only to be cheated and lose all his tuition fund. The incident led him to Costa Rica to discuss the matter to the website owner Ivan Block (Affleck) in hope to get his money back and return to Princeton. He was instead convinced to stay and work for Block and live a life of luxury, gambling, corruption and manipulation as he sets a deeper trap for himself until he discovered it.

For a movie about gambling, I expected it to be filled with beautiful women, slabs of money, riches while being dark and multitudes of dead bodies, punches, car chases and all that jazz. Runner Runner has all that, but not a lot. To this end, the movie might disappoint. But what it lacks it’s able to pull with carefully thought out scenes, story line, dialogues and acting that will make your heart thumping in suspense.

I love how Affleck was so convincing with his words as Timberlake’s boss. There was one scene when he pointed out that his online gambling empire and the people behind it can’t be touched by the American government because of their location. Indeed, there are places protected by such activities, just like how some companies would claim that their main business is registered at the British Virgin Island, therefore, being protected from anti-money laundering laws, et al. This goes to show how well-researched the writing was. And it adds to the credibility of the casts’ acting. This movie proves that you don’t really need all the gruesome bloody scene to be effective.

Timberlake and Affleck’s acting were great. Arterton is simply beautiful. I really enjoyed how Affleck seemed like the good guy but is actually the bad one here and you won’t realize it until the latter part of the scene. He’s got the suave that I suddenly realize he might actually be able to pull off his Batman role. If you’re looking for more sense than just what the surface is offering, this is one movie I’d recommend to watch.

I hope you enjoyed this movie review of Runner Runner. Feel free to share your thoughts if you’ve seen the movie already. All images on this blog were from Runner Runner official website. Thank you to Nuffnang Philippines and Globe Prepaid for choosing my blog to participate in the #GlobeGoBiggerMovieNight last September 26th held at Shangri-La Cineplex Cinema 1. Here’s the trailer for you to enjoy.

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