Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. All Rights Reserved. Also, it's a pretty precise sketch of not only how how the politics work, but also how a lot of relationships work in case somebody didn't know. MORE: 5 real-life politicians who partly inspired "The Runner.". 4 Mar. Nicolas Cage 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. Con Nicolas Cage, Sarah Paulson, Peter Fonda, Connie Nielsen. Colin Pryce, Cage's character, portrays a strong-willed politician that cares about his constituents; however, his career is destroyed when he is the subject of a sex scandal. [7] Cooksey, however, pulled back and did not qualify. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. [2] In 2012, he was elected for the 58th district of the Louisiana House of Representatives, succeeding Elton M. Aubert. Cage plays Colin Pryce, a Louisiana congressman representing the second district, which includes New Orleans and portions of the Gulf Coast. "I didn't want it to be like this New Orleans movie like when you watch 'The Big Easy,'" he said. According to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), ratings are determined by a panel of Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA) members. Melanon was a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats who aim to lower the deficit and reform the budget.[11][12]. Where: Find New Orleans and Baton Rouge showtimes. Republican. Rating: R, for language and some sexual material. (Patti Perret / Alchemy), Sarah Paulson and Nicolas Cage star 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. "It was always New Orleans," writer-director Austin Stark said of the setting for his film, which opens in limited release Friday (Aug. 7). Experienced Creative Artworker with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing, publishing, advertising and pharmaceutical industry. Service Excellence Menu politics, When he goes out for his daily runs, Pryce wear's a Tulane T-shirt. Will he lose his hard-won sobriety, and will he sleep with his attractive consultant (Sarah Paulson)? We invite it out and buy it a cocktail.". She considered whether to run but ultimately declined to qualify. Background [ edit] Party primaries: Saturday, August 28, 2010 The Runner (1999 film), 1999 crime thriller film Along for the ride is veteran New Orleans actor Wendell Pierce ("The Wire," "Treme") and Sarah Paulson ("12 Years a Slave," "American Horror Story). Cage plays Colin Pryce, a Louisiana congressman representing the second district, . Thanks for the sensible critique. His sudden notoriety plays right into the ambitions of his icy, power-hungry wife Deborah (Connie Nielsen), an attorney seeking oil industry support for Pryce to initiate a run for the U.S. Senate. "Draft Cooksey Campaign To Replace Louisiana David Vitter", "Louisiana heats up with potential Vitter challenger", "Porn Star To Run Against Vitter In Louisiana Senate Race? "If we're going to do this, we're going to need to be buttoned up," Pryce is advised by a political consultant (Wendell Pierce) on the topic of running for Senate. [4], Some speculated that Vitter's reelection might have become complicated, by the prostitution scandal revealed in 2007, but he continued to lead in aggregate polling against potential opponents.[5]. Despite that link to his home of New York, Stark knew that if one easily identifiable setting could serve as a reliable shorthand for political hijinks, it is Louisiana. (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. 6070% This article about a Louisiana politician is a stub. colin pryce louisiana senator. He is an Academy Award winner for his performance in 1995s Leaving Las Vegas. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. "The Runner" isn't so much about what office Nicholas Cage's congressman character is running for (the U.S. Senate, for the record). The Runner starringCage as a strong congressman who falls into scandal also contains scenes his character portrays his strong personality. In writer-director Austin Stark's R-rated drama, Cage plays idealistic Louisiana politician, Colin Price, who finds his personal and political life in turmoil thanks to a sex scandal. Costume designer:Amela Baksic In other areas, in the north, they kind of hide it, they put everything in a closet. Lieutenant General Russel L. Honor, who is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast, was allegedly mulling over whether or not to challenge Vitter in the Republican Primary. Publish Translation See production, box office & company info. He currently works as a sports commentator for the BBC, ESPN, Fox Sports, Eurosport, Channel Five, Channel 4 and CBBC . Director-writer: Austin Stark "When Nic got down for pre-production, he was working with a local voice coach, and she was coaching him on-set the entire shoot," Stark said. Aug. 6, 2015. (Patti Perret / Alchemy), Sarah Paulson 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. Stark admits he had to restrain himself to avoid falling into the trap -- one that has ensnared so many other outside filmmakers -- of turning the city into a caricature. Pryce was perhaps most inspired by former President Bill Clinton, but Stark's catalyst for writing "The Runner" in the first place was the 2011 sexting scandal that led to the resignation of former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner. (Patti Perret / Alchemy), Sarah Paulson and Nicolas Cage star 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. Its difficult to feel the sympathy for him that Austin Stark, who wrote and directed, wants us to feel. "I drew from a lot of real things and people who I came across just from spending so much time in New Orleans and other parts of southern Louisiana, and also research I did after that," he said. Cage was in the 1982film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Since Melanon issued the challenge, Vitter and Melanon have been invited to a total of seven live, televised debates. [3], Price attended Grambling State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. With the April 2010 blowout of British Petroleums oil rig, Pryce achieves national recognition with his impassioned televised pleas for federal assistance to protect the vulnerable coastal ecosystem and support struggling local businesses. The Runner (1985 film), Iranian drama film Will he plunge back into politics and take oil money to do so? In the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill, an idealistic but flawed politician is forced to confront his dysfunctional life after his career is destroyed in a sex scandal. 1111 South 5th Street Suite E Leesville, LA 71446 218 West 4th Street DeQuincy, LA 70633 401 West 1st Street DeRidder, LA 70634. A competitive baseball athlete growing up, Colin had dreams of pursuing his love for the game and imagined a life in and around the ballpark. Definitely time well spent and a must watch if you're tired of the Hunger Games and the kind By what name was The Runner (2015) officially released in India in English? Text. [1] He served as a Democratic member for the 58th district of the Louisiana House of Representatives,[2] and is currently a member for the 2nd district of the Louisiana State Senate. The ensuing media firestorm presents the prospect of complete career meltdown for Pryce, who inevitably returns to the bottle after nearly two decades of sobriety. He's the child of a beloved former mayor (played by Peter Fonda) who helped integrate the city in 1960s. An Alchemy Film, The Runneris rated R. This rating is based on the adult theme of the movie. You just have to make it look good. To be released on August 7, 2015, The Runner starsNicolas Cage as a strong congressman who falls into scandal. They don't try to hide it as much. Colin Pryce: I'm running for Senate to move things forward, not only for this great state of Louisiana, for this great country. The plot is decent, all actors did a good job and you can immediately relate to the main characters. Nielson plays Cages wife, Deborah Pryce. For example, publisher Rolfe H. McCollister Jr., in his Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, endorsed fellow Republican Jay Dardenne over Democrat Caroline Fayard in the simultaneous race for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, but then explicitly made "no endorsement" for U.S. Senate: Melanon heavily criticized Vitter for prostitution sex scandal. (Patti Perret / Alchemy), Sarah Paulson 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. Director: Austin Stark. "I didn't want any Mardi Gras parades. There are other requirements, such as not having any connections in the film industry. We're proud of our crazy. In addition, Stark said he sent Cage recordings of Mayor Mitch Landrieu, just to help him get the right sound. Her strategic guidance offers an opportunity for him to cleanse his personal history and political legacy, but he doesnt get much support from his father Rayne (Peter Fonda), a former New Orleans mayor whos full of caustically calculated advice, even after the collapse of his own political career and willingly succumbing to alcoholism himself. 2023. If, for example, you want to make a sweeping Western, you shoot in Monument Valley, Utah. In the weeks before the election a major concern for Vitter's camp was possibly voter apathy about the race. That concept, for the record: a behind-the-curtains peek at a politician enduring a headline-grabbing scandal. All of the characters here are underwritten, and Mr. Cage and most of the other actors dont seem to be putting much effort into them. .css-16c7pto-SnippetSignInLink{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;}Sign In, Copyright 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He has problems with booze, for example. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Just like the Deep South, we parade our crazy. A decade after Hurricane Katrina and five years following the BP oil spill disaster, his screenplay fails to elucidate the national and regional political failings that have contributed to New Orleans ongoing crises, relying instead on stock situations and familiar plot devices that could clearly be improved upon with some creative scripting. The young woman, Lucy Hall, with whom Price has the scandalous affair with performed by Ciera Payton. Its hard to care, and not just because of Colins self-destructive tendencies. 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. As a result, audiences will find themselves rooting for him to right his own personal ship amid the film's melodramatic meandering. In 2017, he was succeeded by Ken Brass and elected to the Louisiana State Senate, succeeding Troy E. Brown for the 2nd district. Colin Pryce: I'm running for Senate to move things forward, not only for this great state of Louisiana, for this great country. The Runner (2015 film), an . Continue reading your article witha WSJ subscription, Already a member?