The Runner

2015

The Runner

Critics Consensus

In spite of a promising premise and a roundly talented cast, The Runner is a disappointing outing to be viewed by only the staunchest of Nicolas Cage completists.

24%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 38

22%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,250
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Movie Info

In the aftermath of the BP oil spill, an idealistic but imperfect New Orleans politician finds his plans of restoration unraveling as his own life becomes contaminated with corruption, scandal and deceit.

Cast

Nicolas Cage
as Colin Price
Connie Nielsen
as Deborah Price
Sarah Paulson
as Kate Haber
Peter Fonda
as Rayne Price
Wendell Pierce
as Frank Legrand
Bryan Batt
as Mark Lavin
Frederic Lehne
as Senator Owens
Wanetah Walmsley
as Layla
Dana Gourrier
as Daria Winston
Divine Prince Ty Emmecca
as Algiers Levee Neighbor/Visitor
Christopher Berry
as Hal Provich
Ciera Payton
as Lucy Hall
James Moses Black
as Dr. Haleman
Donna DuPlantier
as Bernadette Richards
Brooke Hoover
as Maryellen Briggs
Darcel Moreno
as Alyssa
Kerry Cahill
as Lt. Jen Wyman
Marcus Lyle Brown
as Chris Wilcox
Cullen Deuce Tonry
as Robby Haber
Michael Santos
as Bryan Haber
Christine Kelly
as Brooke Davis
Chris Papavasiliou
as Bill Musgrave
Wilbert Williams
as Oysterman
Lawton Paseka
as George Micah
James Yeargain
as Kingfish Blogger
Ashley Arpel
as Waitress
Jon Eyez
as Terrence Hall
Harold Evans
as Veteran Journalist
Rhonda Dents
as Housekeeper
Mary O'Rourke
as Lavin's Assistant
Thomas Francis Murphy
as Shrimper
Ian Hoch
as Time's Photographer
Judd Lormand
as Dan Smith
Lara Grice
as Nurse
Yanina Hope
as Reporter
Moses Millman
as Luke Harbor
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Critic Reviews for The Runner

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (29)

  • Everyone loves Nicolas Cage the bug-eyed lunatic. Nicolas Cage the serious actor, that's a tougher sell.

    Nov 2, 2015 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Huddleston

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The Runner never approaches the keen insight and social satire of political films such as The Candidate, Primary Colors or Bulworth.

    Aug 27, 2015 | Rating: 1.5/4

    Richard Roeper

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic

  • Stark repeatedly squanders the decent supporting cast, revealing scant backstory that would enhance the often vague character motivation on display.

    Aug 7, 2015 | Full Review…

    Justin Lowe

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • These plot elements, and the actors, have all the makings of a truly juicy and thought-provoking political melodrama. So it's dispiriting to see filmmaker Stark create such a weird, jagged hash out of them.

    Aug 7, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Glenn Kenny

    RogerEbert.com
    Top Critic

  • Cage's performance is as fuzzy as his character's sense of bearings.

    Aug 6, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Tom Keogh

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • A hollow, listless political drama that could have been a contender.

    Aug 6, 2015 | Full Review…

    Michael Rechtshaffen

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (38)

Audience Reviews for The Runner

  • Nov 30, 2015
    So boring. Full disclosure, I watched like only 20 minutes of this and holy shit I started falling asleep. I expect Nic Cage's films, whether they're good or bad (mostly the latter these days, but that's neither here nor there) to be entertaining. I wouldn't call this a bad film, although I might have ended up feeling that way had I watched the whole thing. It just doesn't do a good job of keeping your interest.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 03, 2015
    A thought-provoking political drama, The Runner explores the allures of power and corruption. Nicolas Cage stars as a Louisiana congressman who champions the recovery efforts after the 2010 BP oil spill, but he's soon brought down by a sex scandal and must struggle to rebuild his life. While it's an interesting character study, the plot's fairly mundane and predictable. Also, the pacing is rather slow and doesn't really build any tension. Yet despite the film's weaknesses, The Runner provides an intriguing look at the nature of politics.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Aug 09, 2015
    As far as Nicholas Cage movies go this one instantly becomes one of his best. Not stellar by any means but far better than most he has put out recently. This movie could be the start of a long lost resurgence for Nicholas Cage and about time too.
    Ian W Super Reviewer
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