To say that I’m looking forward to Runner Runner this autumn is an understatement. It’s been on my must-watch list ever since the casting started to come together, with Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake leading an all-star cast.
And with the film’s late-September release date on the horizon, the first trailer has debuted over on Yahoo Movies, and it is awesome.
Princeton grad student Richie, believing he’s been swindled, travels to Costa Rica to confront online gambling tycoon Ivan Block. 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.
Timberlake and Affleck are joined by a stellar cast, led by Anthony Mackie, Gemma Arterton, Oliver Cooper, Ben Schwartz, David Costabile, and Sam Palladio.
Brad Furman (The Lincoln Lawyer) is behind the camera here, directing from a script co-written by frequent collaborators Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Rounders, Ocean’s Thirteen).
And as if the talents on both sides of the screen weren’t already enough, the film boasts Leonardo DiCaprio and Scott Steindorff amongst its producers.
Timberlake has very much deservedly been on the rise in recent years on the big screen, giving an excellent supporting performance in The Social Network and a fantastic leading turn in In Time. With the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn David on his slate for this year as well, we’ve got a lot to look forward to from him. And needless to say, I can’t wait to see him taking the lead here opposite Affleck, whose films are always essential viewing.
Runner Runner will be released on September 27th in the US and UK. Start committing that date to memory, because this is going to be one of the best films of the year.
