Ok, you’ve been conned. Let’s pretend for a second that you can actually determine how you’ve been conned. Let’s also assume that somehow you can run a statistical analysis on blind card-counting. It’s worth note that people can’t do this in real life (no, not really), or, in the statistical improbability that they can AND they haven’t fudged something in the process, they’re already making money from it so this effort is folly. But let’s just assume you could actually trace your gambling losses to being cheated by an almost mythical underworld figure in Costa Rica. What do you do?
It seems obvious that the choices are limited. Among them is NOT: fly to Costa Rica on your last dime, ignore customs, niceties and the fact that you don’t speak the language and confront the underworld figure about cheating you. I guess that’s why nobody asks me to pen his 2-star screenplay.
Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake) is the victim. He’s a cash poor Princeton grad student finding education after being cheated by Wall Street. He gets called in front of Warden, er “Dean” Bob Gunton and is chastised for gambling on campus. This is the kind of thing that makes bad movies bad. Either he’s innocent and the case is dismissed or he’s guilty, in which case Princeton tosses him to the curb ‘N Sync with its strict NO GAMBLING policy. This slap-on-the-wrist without even academic suspension just doesn’t fly. Thanks to Runner Runner and Admission, I’m learning all sorts of things about Princeton this year – and none of it is good. Upon realization that he needs $60k to earn a degree, Richie stops promoting gambling and actively engages in it. And then he goes bankrupt playing poker on line. Hey, a realistic plot point! But, of course, he’s been cheated; it’s not that his analysis, methods or devices are suspect, he’s earned that $60k fair-and-square. Lord help me, I hate gambling films.
While in Costa Rica, stay at the luxurious Ivan Block (Ben Affleck); Ivan enjoys wife-swapping and alligator fishing. Nobody seems to wonder why a guy who looks and talks like Ben Affleck is named “Ivan.” In any other film, he has Richie killed quietly. In Runner Runner, he assumes the role of offer-making-devil, inviting Richie on his private yacht, handing him his losses in U.S. currency, and 
bidding him farewell … except, “don’t you want to stay and earn some REAL money?” Of course Richie does; this is the point of the movie – accepting the deal with the Devil and then weaseling out of it when you realize you’re in over your head. *sigh* I did enjoy Ivan’s retort (IIRC), “any time somebody offers something or ‘return to Jersey,’ the proper response is always, ‘something.’ “
Biggest problem with Runner Runner is the direction it takes, the standard escape-the-devil route. Complications arise when FBI Agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) kidnaps Richie and threatens him with –what, exactly? The FBI has no leverage here. Part of what motivates Richie’s Central American adventure is the fact that he has no unbreakable ties to the United States. Right now, he’s just an organizational flunkee; he’s not doing anything wrong. AND, you’re coming off as a big douchebag. You want people to spy for you? Try not kidnapping them. It isn’t until after this meeting that Ivan starts putting pressure on Richie – the Devil always knows. A better film would have reexamined this triangle and come to some different conclusions. Why do all gambling movies of this nature play it safe, so to speak? They all subtly encourage gambling itself (sure, this happened to HIM, but he was just unlucky; it won’t happen to YOU …) The true safe move is not to gamble at all. Completely contrary to message, no?
Gambling when he can’t win
And Princeton doesn’t like the sin
Time to find source
Is painful recourse
Um, why did you come here again?
Rated R, 91 Minutes
D: Brad Furman
W: Brian Koppelman, David Levien
Genre: ♪Runnin’ with the Devil …♫
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Gamblor!
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: the House
