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List Price: $9.99 | | Label: Image Entertainment
Salesrank: 83085
Released: April 18, 2000 |
| Our Price: $18.21 |
| Used Price: $2.70 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A story about breaking the rules, beating the odds and realizing the only game that's being played is you. Edward is a compulsive gambler who's lost everything and is forced to work as a numbers runner for "Deepthroat," a sadistic sociopath and big time professional gambler. From his high tech sanctuary, Deepthroat takes perverse pleasure in putting Edward to the test--waiting for him to slip up and checking for every dollar. Edward tries to start a new life with his beautiful girlfriend, but when some money goes missing, Deepthroat wants his payback, and one last desperate gamble on human nature will decide their futures.
The Runner Reviews:
OK 
2006-01-23 - This picture gives a good job at showing us the desperation that the compulsive gambler can be surrounded by. Casinos would not necessarily like this film, because they may see it as "negative." Pretty good story line, but a little bit too predictable.
John Goodman gives a chilling performance as a mafia gambling higher-up. He has the evil down pretty well.
excellent 
2005-08-03 - I happened across this movie the other night at my local pawnshop, and thought I would give it a try. This movie gives you a veiw of how deadly, addictive and destructive uncontrolled gambling can be. While I'm not a big John Goodman fan, I must say he played the part of "Deepthroat" exceptionally well. In fact, I don't think anyone could have played it as well as he. It was custom made just for him. Ron Eldard did great in his role as a runner and gambling addict, and he and Courtney Cox looked great together. I was disappointed that Joe Matenga's character was killed off so early. Also, Bokeem Woodbine did an excellent job as well.
Love this movie with its intesity...
2005-04-26 - All the other viewers have given the sypnosis of the movie, so I'm not going to summerize it. If you like intense stories and deep character development, this movie is well worth watching. There are moments that I just had to hold my breath ... and the ending is terrific too... it just doesn't leave you with a confusing ending where you're left wondering what on earth is going on...
GOODMAN IS THE BADMAN
2004-04-25 - Meandering around in his warehouse like abode, John Goodman as "Deepthroat" exudes a sedentary and malevolent evil that forms the foundation for this well written, if inconsequential, movie. Ron Eldard stars as Edward, a man with a gambling addiction, who takes his uncle's (Joe Mantegna) advice to work as a runner for Goodman. During this time, he meets a waitress named Corinna (played well by Courteney Cox), falls in love and decides to go straight and give up his addiction. Sorry, Ron. It doesn't work out that way and before you know it, Eldard is using Goodman's money to gamble and even when he wins $110,000, it's not enough: he wants more. Cox gets pregnant, Eldard buys her engagement ring with Goodman's money, and sets up the plot for a dark, disturbing ending.
Eldard is exceptional in his role; playing against his boyish good looks, he embodies the frustration, obstinance and greed which forms the basis of most addicts. Bokeem Woodbine as a fellow runner is smooth and also fundamentally evil; Lucy Lin as a Chinese dealer is marvelous in how she maintains her stoic stance while Eldard keeps losing and betting again.
The final scene in the ballpark is unique, and gruesome in its delivery.
The problem with the movie, in spite of its technical expertise, is its hollowness. Eldard while riveting is not sympathetic, and Goodman is so bad, he's tedious.
THE RUNNER is a solid, if cerebral, thriller; it just doesn't move you the way I would have liked.
Pretty good
2004-03-17 - This movie was pretty good. Realistic in a sense. I should know, I gamble a lot on sports. I think i might even be considered to have a problem with gambling. Oh well. Anyway, i dont think this movie is worth buying. just rent it.
