Gemma Arterton stars
alongside Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake in “Runner Runner” wherein her role
as Rebecca Shafran is entangled in the cutthroat world of online gambling.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox |
“Runner Runner” explores the multi-billion dollar industry of online gambling
where all players are supposed to have their share, in any which way
possible. Affleck takes on the role of gambling kingpin Ivan Block while
Timberlake is Richie Furst, a brilliant Princeton grad student on his way to
finishing his masters. Furst, in order to further finance his studies
takes commissions from online gambling operators and risks playing online too
for additional money. When Richie betted all of his savings and lost it
to Block’s operations, he soon finds out that he’s been tricked.
Determined to recollect his tuition money, he heads to Costa Rica to confront
Block about his malicious online practices. Soon thereafter, Richie falls
for Block’s associate –sophisticated COO Rebecca Shafran (Gemma Arterton) – and
he embraces a world that sees all of his fantasies come to life. But
Richie soon learns that Block is wanted for racketeering, extortion and
bribery, and that FBI Special Agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) is obsessed with
bringing Block and his associates to justice.
“The real allure of Block’s world transcends money,” says director Brad
Furman. It’s about something far more interesting – and dangerous.
“The real equation in this movie is money times power equals sex. You ask
men why they want money and power, and the answer usually is: women.
That’s the bottom line.”
The distaff representative of this world is Rebecca Shafren, Block’s sharp and
powerful COO, whose loyalty to Block is tested when she meets Richie.
English-born Gemma Arterton portrays Rebecca. A gambling novice,
Arterton nevertheless embraced the role. “I really liked the script, which I
thought was clever and witty, and it portrayed a world I wanted to
investigate.”
“I really like Rebecca,” Arterton continues. “She's almost villainous in
certain ways, and she’s never predictable. “Runner Runner” is about
power, wealth and greed. I was intrigued by Rebecca’s desire to live in this
world, which is indicative of how many women believe they must act – in an
almost masculine way – in order to succeed.”
“When Richie arrives in Costa Rica and meets Rebecca, she is very much the
business person in control; she’s very tough, almost like a femme fatale,”
Arterton continues. “But she also enjoys having fun. She sees this sexy, young
guy and thinks, ‘I'll play around with him for a bit.’ She finds out that
he's actually quite clever and smart, and he's different from other people she
knows and works with. Rebecca has a real dilemma: she covets the wealth that
comes with her position, and yet also rediscovers her moral bearings through
her relationship with Richie. And she begins to change her outlook on
Block and her position in his empire.”
A (2011) BAFTA nominee as Best Newcomer, Gemma Arterton is mostly known for the
roles she played in the previously released blockbusters “Hansel & Gretel:
Witch Hunters,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Prince of Persia: The Sands
of Time,” “Quantum of Solace” and “RocknRolla.” She has most recently
been seen in the highly anticipated “Byzantium” directed by Neil Jordan and
written by Moira Buffini, in which she stars as vampire Clara opposite Saoirse
Ronan. Her other film works include “Song for Marion,” “Tamara Drewe,”
“The Disappearance of Alice Creed,” “The Boat that Rocked,” “Three and Out,”
“St. Trinians” and in the animated “A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure” as her
debut voice role.
“Runner Runner” opens September 26 in theaters
nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
For more movie updates and non-spoiler, quality reviews, follow Mark_Templar on Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment