Runner Runner Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Runner Runner" by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment offers a visually compelling experience with its AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. This high-definition transfer is marked by well-saturated colors leaning towards an orange-amber hue, giving the film a warm, immersive aesthetic. The detail is commendably sharp, particularly in mid-range shots, capturing nuances like Ben Affleck's terrycloth robe with striking clarity. Despite some softness in wider shots, the picture maintains excellent depth of field, showcasing beautiful Costa Rican landscapes and vibrant greenery.

Moreover, the transfer is virtually free from compression artifacts and aggressive digital enhancements, preserving a natural, organic feel to the visuals. Black levels are another notable strength; they are deep and inky, adding to the overall contrast and richness of the image. The close-ups are particularly impressive, revealing intricate details such as stubble and makeup blemishes on the actors' faces. Interior scenes benefit from the vibrant color palette, producing natural skin tones and radiant highlights that enhance the film’s visual appeal, even if the film's narrative may not be as compelling.

Overall, while "Runner Runner" might not achieve reference quality status akin to releases like "Pacific Rim," it stands on par with other stellar transfers from Fox such as "The Wolverine." This Blu-ray release captures the essence of its theatrical presentation with vibrant colors and fine details, ensuring an engaging visual experience for viewers.

The audio presentation on the Blu-ray of "Runner Runner" features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that leans towards a front-heavy emphasis, atypical for the action thriller genre. Dialogue is consistently clean, clear, and free from any distortions, such as pops or hissing, ensuring excellent intelligibility throughout. However, the surround sound dynamics leave something to be desired. While Christophe Meck's score and occasional source cues make effective use of the surround channels, there is a notable lack of ambient environmental sounds and immersive effects. Hits, kicks, and high-energy scenes do not deliver the robust, enveloping experience typical of high-quality action audio tracks.

Despite commendable fidelity and a broad dynamic range, the mix falls short of providing a fully immersive auditory experience. The track is not flat and indeed pleases the ears with its clarity and precision, but it lacks the desired engulfment that can place the listener at the center of the action. The omission here diminishes the potential impact of onscreen events, where expected rear channel activity might have enhanced various scenes set in bustling environments like casinos or party sequences. Selectable additional audio tracks in French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 are available, along with optional subtitles for further accessibility.

Overall, while the technical quality of "Runner Runner's" DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is solid, its execution in terms of surround sound immersion does not meet the higher expectations for an action thriller. For those primarily concerned with dialogue clarity and musical scoring, the audio mix serves well. However, it may leave enthusiasts seeking a more immersive experience wanting more depth and dynamism from the surround channels.

The extras on the "Runner Runner" Blu-ray disc are rather limited, providing three supplementary features that add minimal value to the overall package. The Deleted Scenes section, running approximately 11 minutes, includes seven scenes that don’t significantly enhance the narrative and clearly illustrate why they were omitted from the final cut. The highlight is the House of Cards - The Inside Story of Online Poker, a 17-minute featurette that offers a concise yet engaging overview of the rise and fall of online poker, integrating commentary from the cast and crew along with some law enforcement perspectives. However, it falls short by focusing too much on cast interviews and film clips at the expense of deeper insights from real players. Lastly, the Theatrical Trailer provides a standard promotional overview of the film. Overall, the extras are sparse and may disappoint collectors seeking more comprehensive behind-the-scenes content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Seven scenes that didn't make it into the final film.
• House of Cards - The Inside Story of Online Poker: Overview of online poker history with cast interviews.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional trailer for the film.

"Runner Runner" aims to be a high-stakes thriller, blending the worlds of online gambling and crime drama, though it falls short in execution. The film follows Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake), a Princeton student, who loses his tuition money to a rigged online poker game. Driven by desperation, Richie travels to Costa Rica to confront Ivan Block (Ben Affleck), the mastermind behind the fraudulent site. Impressed by Richie's audacity, Ivan recruits him, promising hefty rewards. This sets off a cat-and-mouse game involving the FBI and Ivan's shady world, but the plot feels more like a lukewarm rehash of familiar tropes rather than an engaging narrative.

From a casting perspective, Timberlake and Affleck offer performances that are adequate but hardly memorable. Timberlake's Richie comes off as more opportunistic than intelligent, and while Affleck's Ivan exudes a certain charm, it feels overly familiar—a toned-down version of his role in "Boiler Room." Gemma Arterton's Rebecca Shafran is relegated to the sidelines, adding little depth to the story. Anthony Mackie's FBI agent Shavers attempts to add layers of tension but struggles against a script that lacks genuine suspense or urgency.

Technically, the film benefits from its scenic backdrops and the allure of a luxurious lifestyle, but this visual appeal doesn't compensate for its narrative flaws. Director Brad Furman’s work, succeeding with "The Lincoln Lawyer," fails to muster the same magic here. The screenplay by Brian Koppleman and David Levien is riddled with clichéd dialogue and foreseeable plot twists. Despite the film's attempts at engaging its viewers with themes of manipulation and moral compromise, it fails to generate significant intrigue or emotional investment. Rather than a high-octane thriller, "Runner Runner" delivers an experience that feels disappointingly flat and uninspired.

"Runner Runner," despite a promising trailer, ultimately fails to deliver as a heavy action thriller. The film’s plot suffers from a slew of improbabilities, undermining any potential suspense or excitement. While the cast, including Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, boasts notable names, their performances are marred by ludicrous dialogue and direction that lacks cohesion. Director Brad Furman struggles to steer the narrative, resulting in a lackluster presentation devoid of real thrills.

The Blu-ray release, however, does score high marks in terms of technical proficiency. The video quality is impressive, showcasing the film’s visual aesthetic in crisp 1080p. Gemma Arterton's on-screen presence is enhanced, one of the few redeeming features of this title. And while Ben Affleck presents a respectable performance, Justin Timberlake appears less certain in his role. Audio clarity is another positive aspect, but the extras included with the Blu-ray are underwhelming and add little value.

In conclusion, "Runner Runner" crumbles under its improbabilities and fails to engage with meaningful suspense or thrills. While the Blu-ray presents superior video and audio quality, it does not compensate for the film's fundamental shortcomings. Unless you are a die-hard fan of the cast, this title is best skipped.