BWW Reviews: THE RUNNER by Austin Stark is Fascinating Political Drama

"The Runner" starring Nicolas Cage had its New York Premiere at the Village East Cinema on Thursday, August 6th and opened on limited release on Friday, August 7th. The film co-stars Connie Nielson, Sarah Paulson and Peter Fonda. The screening was followed by a question and answer session with the movie's Writer and Director, Austin Stark. "The Runner" had an enthusiastic reception for the first metro area viewing.

Stark is well known for his recent film, "Infinitely Polar Bear," co-starring Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana. Stark's own production company, Paper Street Films was responsible for bringing the "Infinitely Polar Bear" to Sundance and then to the big screen. And now, with the release of "The Runner," Stark's talents for filmmaking are abundantly evident.

"The Runner" is set in Louisiana in the wake of the catastrophic 2010 BP oil spill. Colin Pryce (Nicolas Cage), an idealistic congressman from New Orleans, rockets to political stardom after making a moving speech on the House floor. There's talk of a Senate run, yet Pryce's personal life is in shambles. His marriage to Deborah (Connie Nielsen), a high-powered New Orleans attorney, is a union bound only by ambition. He engages in a series of extramarital affairs including one with a young fisherman's wife that forces his resignation and one with his former PR adviser, Kate Haber (Sarah Paulson). And, after years of sobriety, Pryce returns to drinking while attempting to fund a failing non-profit that represents Gulf residents devastated by the oil spill. Complicating matters is the poor health of his father (Peter Fonda) who is a former local politican. Even with his difficult circumstances, Colin Pryce has an undeniable urge to return to the political arena.

"The Runner" is an extremely well crafted and intriguing movie that explores ethical dilemmas and human failings. The all-star cast delivers performances that are perfectly tuned to the situations unfolding on the screen. The film centers on the relevant issues of environmental responsibility and political integrity while developing a captivating drama.

Describing "The Runner" as "an American Movie," Stark commented, "I began writing 'The Runner' in the summer of 2011 shortly after the Anthony Weiner scandal broke. The plot was partially inspired by sex scandal-plagued politicians of our time - Clinton, Spitzer, Ensign, Edwards, etc. But, I wanted the film to be about something more meaningful than a sex scandal or a sex-obsessed politico. I wanted to explore a politician's rise and fall in an authentic way, while making a relevant statement about politics. That is one of my intentions with 'The Runner.' The other is to bring attention to the 2010 BP oil spill, a cataclysmic event that has been tragically swept under the rug, yet remains as relevant as ever in the Gulf Coast."

Movie-goers will applaud Stark for creating "The Runner," an important film that fascinates and entertains. Look for it now at your local theatre and follow "The Runner" on Facebook.

Image Credit: Courtesy of "The Runner" Nicolas Cage (Colin Pryce) and Sarah Paulson (Kate Haber)

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