Movie: Runner Runner

So last week’s Friday film was Some Like it Hot, my first opportunity to see it on the big screen and as a stark contrast, this week’s is Runner Runner. It was on at the right time for me – around 4pm – but frankly there wasn’t much to choose from. Verdict:  it falls in the better-than-I-thought-category.It’s just that I’m wary of pop-star-turned actor types (aren’t we all?) but it was a huge relief that boy Timberlake mostly put in a good performance with just a little hint of over-acting. (Although what do I know?!)The story of a Princeton student trying to pay his way through an MBA to land a big Wall Street job. His Dean shuts down his income stream derived from promoting online gambling so he has to find another source. He goes straight to the heart of the gambling empire his is selling and finds Block (Affleck) more than eager to take him under his wing. Only then does the true story of how he made his millions unfold and our smart student has to find a way out of the criminal dark side before he is swept away into the sea of crocodiles.Throw in the FBI agent (corrupt or good guy?) and Block’s right hand woman (double crossing or keen to go straight?) and the plot leaves you waiting to find out.I was expecting more slickness from this gambling caper but the fact that it was gritty almost from the off had me at the edge of my seat in the middle.. Only in the final third did the slickness creep in towards a fine finale.7 ½ /10Smile factor 6/10Coffee rating: Macchiato