Runner Runner (2013)

Good concept, poorly executed.

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

I read the reviews on this site, and Rotten Tomatoes, they were 90% negative. I thought I'll give it a view anyway, I can always switch over if it's truly as bad as they report. It starts off and the premise is very promising, a student notices on a gambling site, a statistical variation that is unlikely to be genuine. He decides to confront the Big Boss in person. The story develops from there, with authentic well delivered dialogue. What the critics appear to have dismissed as slick and contrived is actually how the gambling business works, its an industry, a very professionally run industry .Every machine takes a pre- arranged percentage, every game works on a pre- determined margin. The story develops well the action is good. Even the ending would have been OK if it had had the build up and tension up to that point. It was just that last reel that detached itself from the preceding film. I would have given it eight with a consistent finale, a much better film than the critique suggests.

The story is just a decent attempt to approach the world of online gambling. Strangely, it only focused on the subject for the opening minutes, and then it threw away the gambling thing and shift the focus to The Costa Rican casinos. Then from there it goes to be very predictable and boring; the lead character falls for the boss's woman and gets betrayed because of it but he outsmarts the boss and gets away with it. The acting overall is just plain. Justin Tmberlake has really lost his charm for movies.His face doesn't really nail those serious expressions and ended up making him look like a baby-face. Ben Affleck's try at the antagonist also falls flat since he didn't get any mean looks out of him the entire movie. Gemma Arterton's presence is just a waste since she doesn't really falls in significantly here.

Predictable! Timberlake and Affleck had strong performances. The viewer can relate with the two protagonist. The first half of the story is interesting as Timberlake tries to get out of a pickle and gets into a bigger one. The viewer learns of the world Affleck has created and can foresee the dangers/temptations involved. Regrettable the viewer foresees the plot twists and the movie becomes anti- climatic. Runner Runner becomes another 1970's style con with in the con movie. Watch American Hustle, which is far better for the art of the con genre! Well, acted directed and executed, but needed another story rewrite! I give Runner Runner a six out of ten.

The three leads do carry the movie. And while there is not much that will surprise you (even more so, if you have seen the trailer), it still is entertaining enough to watch through. And that is without having a keen interest in the gambling/poker business. Well at least that's how I felt about it.Not the best showcase of Mr. Timberlake and surely not the role that bagged Affleck his Batman role recently. Although there might be traits here, he can use in that reboot. This movie is not a reboot, but still mixes many known elements. It does a decent job, while not exceeding the classics. Nice movie, good watch