The Runner

R

Released Aug 7, 2015

1 hr. 30 min.

Drama

List

24%

38 Reviews

Tomatometer

23%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

An embarrassing video threatens the career of an idealistic Louisiana congressman (Nicolas Cage) who dreams of running for the Senate.

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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.

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KEVIN C

Nicolas Cage plays a Louisiana politician working for the people when he gets caught up in a scandal and needs to step down from office. Cage is pretty reserved in this role and his character is a whirlwind of good intentions and destructive flaws. We don't get or really need the over the top manic Cage that we're used to seeing. Sometimes we forget that he's actually a pretty great actor as well. Good film that lacks a better hook. Sarah Paulson, Connie Nielsen and Peter Fonda co star.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/23

Full Review

ronald h

_The Runner_ is a political soap opera that doesn't have much originality, but at least it reveals something about how politicians water down their ideologies in order to keep the big money interests happy. Nicholas Cage plays it straight here, no insane antics like we've seen in some of his better films. He plays Colin Pryce, a Louisiana congressman, married to a high powered lawyer (Connie Nielsen). Pryce, an advocate for green energy, is working to expedite BP's compensation to the local working people for their losses due to the 2010 oil spill. Unfortunately, he can't keep a certain organ in his pants, and is exposed for having an affair with a 27 year old lady who is married to a fisherman. The fisherman has lost his business due to the spill. Not looking good. Pryce resigns his office and starts a foundation to help the locals. He also separates from his wife and starts having an affair with his former campaign manager (Sarah Paulson). Meanwhile a BP power broker is trying to convince him to run for senator, offering to finance the campaign-----if Pryce changes his political platform. It's all rather predictable, but pretty well acted, with an especially gritty performance by Peter Fonda as Pryce's cynical father, an ex-mayor of New Orleans. Problems with the film include a wasted setting that doesn't show much of the city, and a rather dispassionate approach to the tragedy of the BP spill. We don't really see or feel the angst of the thousands of people whose living relies on the Gulf waters. Instead, the focus is on Pryce's personal melodrama. The ending is tragic. It makes us hate politics, and it makes us question anybody who has chosen politics as a career. Cage's performance is not bad; it's kind of middle of the road. Maybe we're just not used to seeing him play a non-lunatic.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I want my time spent watching this movie back. I struggled to stay awake...

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Another made-in-Louisiana Nic Cage film rolls off the assembly line. However, this one is not about a vengeful father/husband. Cage plays it straight as a flawed politician trying to do good in the aftermath of the BP oil spill. No gonzo Cage freakouts here. Just a ho hum drama with a decent cast.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

In the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill, an idealistic but flawed politician is forced to confront his dysfunctional life after his career is destroyed in a sex scandal.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's hard to stay true to our convictions.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Austin Stark

Director

Nicolas Cage

Colin Price

Sarah Paulson

Kate Haber

Connie Nielsen

Deborah Price

Wendell Pierce

Frank Legrand

Bryan Batt

Mark Lavin

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Tom Huddleston

Time Out

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

Rated: 2/5

Nov 2, 2015

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

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

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 27, 2015

Full Review

Justin Lowe

Hollywood Reporter

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

Mae Abdulbaki

Movies with Mae

The Runner is a semi-return to form for Cage, but not quite good enough.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 2, 2019

Full Review

Stephen O'Nion

One Room With A View

The Runner plods and Nic Cage drawls...

Rated: 2/5

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

There's no need to run away from this underachieving movie; if you walk away from it at a normal pace, it will never catch up with you.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 28, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

An embarrassing video threatens the career of an idealistic Louisiana congressman (Nicolas Cage) who dreams of running for the Senate.

Director: Austin Stark
Executive Producer: Ruth Mutch, Sam Bisbee, Noah Millman, Tom Conigliaro, Galt Niederhoffer, Todd Cohen
Screenwriter: Austin Stark
Distributor: Alchemy
Production Co: Paper Street Films, KGB Media, Back Lot Pictures
Rating: R (Some Sexual Material|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 27, 2016

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