"I just felt like it had the right amount of specificity, because I felt like if you're doing a film about a politician, he's got to be dealing with real issues," said Stark, who couldn't help but notice how many locals were still dealing with the fallout from the spill back during his 2011 visit, a year after the Deepwater Horizon tragedy that sparked it. [1] Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana state representative and current president of the socially conservative Family Research Council, acknowledged interest in running against Vitter because of the prostitution scandal. 6070% That it's set against the backdrop of the BP oil spill adds a contemporary feel to the proceedings, at least. Promising material that would have benefited from more experienced handling. 'The Runner' movie review: Nicolas Cage plays disgraced New Orleans congressman in political drama, Mike Scott, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, "Runner" director Austin Stark finds muse amid La. Since Melanon issued the challenge, Vitter and Melanon have been invited to a total of seven live, televised debates. In " The Runner ," a political drama without much drama, Nicolas Cage plays a Louisiana congressman, Colin Pryce, whose personal choices too much alcohol, an affinity for . Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. (Patti Perret / Alchemy), Nicolas Cage, right, stars in writer-director Austin Stark's 'The Runner,' a New Orleans-shot, New Orleans-set political drama that plays out against the backdrop of the BP oil spill. Anyone still anticipating a Nic Cage career comeback will be forced to wait even longer following The Runner, a middling Southern political drama that cant manage to match, or even adequately contextualize, the real human tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that forms the films backdrop. [last lines]Colin Pryce: I'm running for Senate to move things forward Will Colin be able to salvage his reputation by helping business owners claim reparations from BP? Will he plunge back into politics and take oil money to do so? The Runner (2015 film), an . He's the child of a beloved former mayor (played by Peter Fonda) who helped integrate the city in 1960s. Unfortunately, before the film gets a chance to dig in, it all begins slowly to run out of steam, stalled by a trope-filled script, muddled character motivations and a lack of energy. "It was always New Orleans," writer-director Austin Stark said of the setting for his film, which opens in limited release Friday (Aug. 7). Review: The Runner Stars Nicolas Cage as a Politician After an Oil Spill, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/movies/review-the-runner-stars-nicolas-cage-as-a-politician-after-an-oil-spill.html. Tribute.cas biography of Nielson states she was born in Denmark, and began performing at age 15. This article about a Louisiana politician is a stub. "The Runner" opens Aug. 7 in limited release, including in the New Orleans area at the AMC Elmwood Palace, and through on-demand platforms. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In this case, the fictional politician on the hot seat is Colin Pryce, a populist New Orleans congressman played by Cage, who, despite his popularity among his constituency, sees his political career hamstrung by the untimely -- and very public -- discovery of his extramarital love life. Just like the Deep South, we parade our crazy. [17][18] Vitter released television advertising criticizing Melanon for his support for Obama's stimulus package and his support for amnesty for illegal immigrants. In 2017, he was succeeded by Ken Brass and elected to the Louisiana State Senate, succeeding Troy E. Brown for the 2nd district. The Runner tells the story of Louisiana Congressman Colin Pryce (played by Nicolas Cage) who wants to do the right thing and go after the culprits, the powers that be at BP. Production designer:Michael Grasley MORE: 5 real-life politicians who partly inspired "The Runner.".