Using the backdrop of the BP oil spill for this political drama, the film The Runner works more as an open forum about legislator inappropriateness than a sincere interest in the devastation the spill caused. Although well-acted, the film drags in parts, gets a little repetitive and easily predictable. Now on Blu-ray it’s a challenging film that opens old wounds.
The film is set in Louisiana Just after the devastating oil spill that put thousands out of jobs, affected the fishing industry and tore congress apart on clean-up and relief. Here we find Congressman Colin Pryce (Nicolas Cage) fighting for the people of Louisiana in an uphill battle. Using it as a platform to get reelected, he pushes hard to force government to join with him in the relief effort and wins approval. Shortly thereafter a story gets released showing his affair with a fisherman’s wife putting him on a road to ruin and looking for a way back to prove his sincerity.
The film goes on from their involving Pryce’s wife Deborah (Connie Nielsen), his political aids Frank (Wendell Pierce) and Kate (Sarah Paulson), his father (Peter Fonda) and heads of big oil. Director and writer Austin Stark tries hard to pull off a tension builder, but there’s not enough strength in his cast or a script that has significant differences between actual cases. Trying to work the recent and past hypocrisy of federal elected officials caught up in scandals like Anthony Weiner, he would have been better off making a film about the democrat that threw away his political career involving sexting. Just like other political leaders caught America off guard with sexual interludes including Past Presidents John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Senator John Edwards the stories were covered so intently during their exposes that it’s hardly a subject on which to base a political drama anymore.
Nicholas Cage is in true form however, giving the kind of performance that you expect from the long time actor. Even so, it’s not enough to carry the weak script that vacillates a lot while back dropping the fishing industry that was hugely affected by the explosion of the BP oil rig in the Gulf. He does a good job developing his character arc from a heroic leader that turns a Congressional subcommittee around and gets money for those most affected by the Gulf tragedy, to a man beaten down by his sexual improprieties.
The Runner has been rated R by the MPAA for language and some sexual material. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are inappropriate for adolescents.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A political drama that loses its energy after the first act. (D)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sarah Paulson, Connie Nielsen, Wendell Pierce, Bryan Batt, Peter Fonda, Dana Gourrier, Christopher Berry, Ciera Payton.
Director and writer: Austin Stark
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual material
Genre: Political Drama
Running Time: 1 hr. 30 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: August 7, 2015
Video Release Date: August 25, 2015
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray (also available in DVD)
Audio: Dolby Digital
Video: 16×9 Widescreen
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: Alchemy
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
