The upcoming gambling drama “Runner, Runner.” Your choices are: A) entertaining drama, B) total B-movie trash, or C) fun B-movie trash? It’s really hard to tell, honestly. On one hand, it’s written by the always reliable Brian Koppelman and David Levien (“Rounders,” “The Girlfriend Experience,” “Oceans Thirteen“) and it’s directed by Brad Furman whose 2011 effort “The Lincoln Laywer,” starring Matthew McConaughey was easily the most fun trashy B-movie of that year — a little silly, but downright entertaining.
But the trailers for “Runner, Runner” looks like the entire endeavor is taking itself a little too seriously (egos, puffed chests, unintentionally funny bravado). It’s also a curio for Ben Affleck. Coming off three solid directorial director efforts. including the Oscar-winning “Argo” wherein Affleck transcended the sins for any past career trangressions, it oddly looks and feels very reminiscent of the actor’s troubled PR era. That coupled with the recent Batman casting (which of course made the Internet forget that he had redeemed himself), Affleck seems to be positioning himself in a place that says: “lets lighten up a bit and have some fun.”
Will it work? It remains to be seen with this movie, but who knows, no one was overly impressed with “The Lincoln Laywer” trailers either and maybe they’re just selling it as broad as possible. Co-starring Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton and Anthony Mackie, “Runner Runner” arrives in theaters on October 4. Trailer below, new photos, some clips, a poster and the old trailer here and here and here.
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