Runner, Runner

And the eternal debate that I have had in my world continues – What is better? Ben Affleck the actor or Ben Affleck the director.  I must say that as of now, the latter is firmly entrenched as preferred option.  But with Runner, Runner, in what is probably his first negative role, he takes a small step towards scoring a few points with the former.

Although Ivan Block (Affleck) has much lesser screen time than he could have been given, Affleck does leave an impression that this negative thing may be just right up his alley.  There are moments that Affleck overshadows Timberlake albeit few of them. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Richie Furst (Timberlake) is an affiliate (business partner) for an offshore online gambling company. His role is to recruit as many people as he can into the habit.  Why is he doing it? Because he has worked a few years before Wall Street tanked and left him flat broke.  Because of his previous income statements, he cannot get a scholarship to Princeton despite having the brains for it.

Now there is a small glitch in this entire operation.  You cannot be promoting gambling on campus right? Also, when Furst loses all his money to an apparent software glitch, he takes the ballsy way out.  He travels to Costa Rica to confront Block and tell him about the glitch.  Block is impressed and offers him a multi-million dollar job.  Princeton obviously goes out of the window.

The good part about Runner, Runner is that it is an extremely fast paced movie.  And yet, it isn’t the most frenetic movie that you would have seen.  Brad Furman (Lincoln Lawyer) sets a good solid pace right upfront and continues with the same pace all through.  It felt really good when you look at your watch and find out that you are already an hour and 15 mins into the movie when you thought it was about 35-40 minutes.

But on most other counts, the story and narration is just about average.  Timberlake is good and I believe that he is a far better actor than a singer.  A good actor at that.  Gemma Arterton on the other hand can make no further progress than being good looking furniture and even there the freckles show.  There isn’t much of a supporting cast to speak about.

Overall, Runner, Runner, is a fun movie to watch but do you need to spend hard earned movie for the big screen.  I would guess not.  Watchable but wait for it to come onto Tata Sky or rent out a DVD or download or do whatever it is that you guys do.  6 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2239211801/?ref_=tt_ov_vi

Lincoln Lawyer

The term smooth operator is personified by Defense Attorney Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey). He is suave, smart and thinks on his feet. He knows the tricks of the trade like very few others. And did I mention that he is a superb negotiator – knows fully well that most cases are actually decided, won or lost outside the courtroom and not inside. He can well make it to the big league but for reasons best known to him, he has played ball only at the lower levels to date. He is divorced but on extremely good terms with his ex-wife Maggie McPherson (Marisa Tomei). They have a daughter who the two love very dearly. And he has his contacts – thanks to most criminals who he helps get out of jail. He trusts very few people – occupational hazard. But one of those he trusts is his right hand man Frank Levin (William H Macy). The latest addition to his life is Earl (Laurence Mason), who drives him around in his Lincoln – aah now I know why the movie is called Lincoln Lawyer.


Mickey’s talent (for lack of any other word) finally lands him into a big league case when his contact, bail agent Val Valenzuela (John Leguizamo) puts him through to a wealthy real estate agent Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe). Louis has been charged with assault and attempted murder of a prostitute who picks him up at a bar. Louis claims that she is only trying to fleece him off his money and that he is falsely accused. Louis’ mother is also willing spare no expense in getting her son out of the case. Sensing that it’s a great opportunity to rake in the moolah, Mickey takes up the case. Louis’ is convincing enough and is not even willing to arrive at an out of court settlement. He wants the case to go to trial and prove a point of some sort. Bail is set @ $1 million and Mickey begins building his case.

Lincoln Lawyer is young director Brad Furman’s second movie to date. And with the exception of a couple of cuts which he could have done with, it is a well made movie. He builds up the tension throughout the movie very well – leading upto a good solid climax. We definitely have a solid prospect here. Ryan Phillippe is eerie in his portrayal of Louis Roulet. I only fear that he will soon be typecast into the “ice cold person role” that he keeps getting himself into. There is very little else that he does. Maybe it’s a personal fetish that we aren’t aware of. Minus the drawl, Matthew McConaughey continues be the correct choice for roles that demand sheer good looks with just enough acting capabilities to make it through. I could not quite understand the reason for having a superb talent like Marisa Tomei and barely getting anything out of her but for a few minutes of screen time. Could have done with a meatier role. That was probably the only flaw other than a couple of cuts as mentioned earlier. Definitely a dekko. 6.5 on 10 from my side.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1627364121/