Runner Runner

The Costa Rica of RUNNER RUNNER exists at the intersection of opulence and poverty, and of regulation and corruption. It’s where you can indulge any whim without consequence – until those desires grow too large. From glitzy casinos and bikini-dotted swimming pools to sweaty, crocodile-infested jungles, RUNNER RUNNER depicts an enticing, dangerous world where all the seven deadly sins are in play.

Princeton grad student Richie (Justin Timberlake), believing he’s been swindled, travels to to confront online gambling tycoon (Ben Affleck). Richie is seduced by Block’s promise of , until he learns the disturbing truth about his . When the 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.

The Costa Rica of RUNNER RUNNER exists at the intersection of opulence and poverty, and of regulation and corruption. It's where you can indulge any whim without consequence – until those desires grow too large. From glitzy casinos and bikini-dotted swimming pools to sweaty, crocodile-infested jungles, RUNNER RUNNER depicts an enticing, dangerous world where all the seven deadly sins are in play.

The Costa Rica of exists at the intersection of opulence and poverty, and of regulation and corruption. It’s where you can indulge any whim without consequence – until those desires grow too large. From glitzy casinos and bikini-dotted swimming pools to sweaty, crocodile-infested jungles, RUNNER RUNNER depicts an enticing, dangerous world where all the seven deadly sins are in play.

The of Runner Runner’s gambling kingpin Ivan Block is what Runner Runner director Brad Furman calls, “the new American dream.” He elaborates: “Technology has led us to a world where everything comes very quickly, which has expedited this concept of the American dream. Young people today want everything faster – especially money.

Justin Timberlake concurs with Furman’s assessment of the American dream on steroids: “The American dream used to be about being rich and famous, but now it’s to become rich and famous – as quickly as possible. The more access we have to things, the faster we want them.

Justin Timberlake’s Richie Furst is among those getting caught up in this irresistible but dangerous mindset. His guide and “benefactor” is Ivan Block. Block is the man behind the curtain of a billion-dollar online gambling empire. Affleck says the role provided an intriguing change of pace. “I’ve done a couple of parts where the characters I play were reserved, quiet and internal, but Ivan is always ‘gunning the engine.’ He’s never at a loss for sexy monologues about life, and he enjoys spinning all kind of sophistry to Richie. I thought that Ivan and his world would be a lot of fun to explore.

For Runner Runner, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the American Commonwealth of Puerto Rico doubled for Costa Rica. The production was in Puerto Rico for the entire summer of 2012.

Much of the filming took place in La Perla, an oceanfront area squeezed into 650 yards between the northern historic city wall of San Juan and the Atlantic Ocean. The production design team was challenged to create a realistically lavish world in a country where there is a wide divide between rich and poor.

The most extravagant of these settings is Ivan Block’s palatial estate, whose main house Affleck describes as “a big white monster with a Scarface-y vibe; it’s appropriate for the character. What does it look like when a guy makes all this money? Take an 18-year-old’s mindset and give him $20 million in cash, and you end up with a giant party house and a lot of girls with tight clothes and a lot of alcohol, a lot of gambling and having a party every single night.

 

MoreMovieDetails

All Posts
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Share this article: Runner Runner

Facebook
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Email

MORE TOPICS

Both Witherspoon and Vergara not only star in the film but also served as a producer and executive producer, respectively. The story appealed to both actresses, who saw the comic possibilities of working together, even though they’d never met.

Hot Pursuit

In “Hot Pursuit,” an uptight and by-the-book cop (Reese Witherspoon) tries to protect the sexy and outgoing widow (Sofía Vergara) of a drug boss as they race through Texas, pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen.

The 5th Wave

In the new Sci-Fi film The 5th Wave, four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother.

The Historic Grand Prix of Monaco action sequence in Iron Man 2 had to be shot in the parking lot of Downey Studios, after permission to film prior to the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix was initially awarded but later retracted by Bernie Ecclestone.

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008’s Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey Jr., who reprises his role as Tony Stark.

Page One: Inside the New York Times

Magnolia Pictures, Participant Media and HISTORY Present Page One: Inside the New York Times, directed by Andrew Rossi, produced and written by Kate Novack and Rossi which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film was also produced by Josh Braun, David Hand, Alan Oxman and Adam Schlesinger. The executive producers are Daniel Stern and Daniel Pine.

Fantastic Four

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways.

Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids is an American comedy directed by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend. Starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, Matt Lucas, Jill Clayburgh, Rebel Wilson, Michael Hitchcock