| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ron Eldard | ... |
Edward
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| Courteney Cox | ... |
Karina
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| John Goodman | ... |
Deepthroat
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| Joe Mantegna | ... |
Rocco
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| Bokeem Woodbine | ... |
477
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| David Jensen | ... |
Nosey Bettor
(as Dave Jensen)
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John David Conti | ... |
Larry Chewcluck
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Terrence Evans | ... |
Lefty
(as Terrance Evans)
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| Gary Grossman | ... |
Jeweler
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| Steve Schirripa | ... |
Host
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Lucy Lin | ... |
Chinese Dealer
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Ai Wan | ... |
11 Card Chinese Dealer
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John Buchanan | ... |
Black Jack Dealer
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Joey Miyashima | ... |
Dr. Andrews
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| David Arquette | ... |
Bartender
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A young man with an addiction to gambling has managed to get himself into serious debt. In an effort to pay off the bookies, his uncle pulls a few strings and gets him a job working for a gangster who needs a "runner" to place bets with various bookies. The gangster keeps his new "runner" on a short leash, and for the most part the young gambler behaves himself. However, the temptation of walking around with large sums of cash proves too great, and the "runner" puts both his job and his survival on the line when he dips into his boss's funds to buy a ring for his girlfriend. Written by Mark Deming
Like many others, I came across The Runner by accident. In my case, I just happened to turn to the Mystery Channel on cable here in Tokyo as it started. I was intrigued enough by the title to see who was in it. Then the opening shot that draws the viewer into Las Vegas drew me into the movie. I had no idea what a "runner" is, but I soon learned a few things about Las Vegas I had never imagined. And then I got caught up in the story of the loser that keeps getting another chance. Of the many fine points about this movie, the one that stands out for me is the script. In particular, John Goodman's "insights" into the dilemma faced by fathers as their little girls grow up will probably stick with me the longest.