REE: DEAL: Runner Runner REVIEW

Gambling is a risk, but everyone takes risks and that is why anyone can relate to Runner Runner, a new movie by 20th Century Fox starring Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck.

With the love of money as the root of all evil, things do happen and people are pushed to the limits of what they can do to achieve their goals. From doing clean jobs, a harmless bet and investment, slowing turning into slight fraud, with some physical abuse and up to the extreme of putting lives at risk and dreams either realized or crushed.

Runner Runner, well, does not teach you how to gamble, rather to invest on the people who will make that gamble for you and will drive you into things one has never done before.

REEL DEAL: Ben Affleck Plays Online Gambling Kingpin in "Runner Runner"

Despite the risks – statistical and criminal – online gambling holds innumerable attractions. In today's post-economic-meltdown world, young people have fewer job options than ever before. But that hasn't done anything to affect their desire to get-rich-quickly. This generation – consumers from early childhood – is used to getting what they want, when they want it, with the click of a mouse.

“Runner Runner” depicts the risks of this reality starring Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton where Timberlake plays Princeton grad and former Wall Street star Richie Furst, who believes he’s been swindled by an online poker organization based in Costa Rica. He decides to head to Central America to confront the owner, Affleck’s Ivan Block, and is soon seduced by the promise of immense wealth. As Block’s right-hand man he uncovers more than he bargains for, and is soon juggling loyalties and trying to stay alive.

REEL DEAL: Gemma Arterton's Dangerous Game in "Runner Runner"

Gemma Arterton stars alongside Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake in “Runner Runner” wherein her role as Rebecca Shafran is entangled in the cutthroat world of online gambling.

“Runner Runner” explores the multi-billion dollar industry of online gambling where all players are supposed to have their share, in any which way possible. Affleck takes on the role of gambling kingpin Ivan Block while Timberlake is Richie Furst, a brilliant Princeton grad student on his way to finishing his masters. Furst, in order to further finance his studies takes commissions from online gambling operators and risks playing online too for additional money. When Richie betted all of his savings and lost it to Block’s operations, he soon finds out that he’s been tricked. Determined to recollect his tuition money, he heads to Costa Rica to confront Block about his malicious online practices. Soon thereafter, Richie falls for Block’s associate –sophisticated COO Rebecca Shafran (Gemma Arterton) – and he embraces a world that sees all of his fantasies come to life. But Richie soon learns that Block is wanted for racketeering, extortion and bribery, and that FBI Special Agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) is obsessed with bringing Block and his associates to justice.

REEL DEAL: Trapped In "Runner Runner"

The latest trailer of “Runner Runner” is now live and can be accessed on YouTube. See the video after the jump.

Justin Timberlake’s character in “Runner Runner”, Richie Furst gets on the darker side as he goes deeper in the world of online gambling.   Lured by gambling kingpin Ivan Block (played by Ben Affleck), Richie first goes to Costa Rica to collect from Block whom he believes had swindled him in an online game of poker.  Upon meeting Block, Richie is seduced to the possibility of unlimited wealth within his reach.  Block, impressed by Richie’s savvy takes him under his wing and begins to embrace a change where all of his fantasies come to life. 

“Runner Runner” opens September 26 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

REEL DEAL: Runner Runner SPOTLIGHT

How deadly is gambling and the things that go with it? It may be worth more than money but can also change your life forever.

In the sexy, sultry thriller RUNNER RUNNER, Richie (Justin Timberlake), a Princeton college student who pays for school with on-line gambling, bottoms out and travels to Costa Rica to confront the on-line mastermind, Ivan (Ben Affleck), whom he believes has swindled him. Ivan sees a kindred spirit in Richie and brings the younger man into his operation. When the stakes get incredibly high and dangerous, and Richie comes to fully understand the deviousness of his new boss, he tries to turn the tables on him.

"Runner Runner" will open very soon this September from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Check out the trailer after the jump!