October 19, 2006

We promote gambling on this blog! (Rounders, a review)

I'm a big supporter of gambling....





Last Diwali, when gambling for the first time, I discovered how easy is it to take money off ignorant half-wits whose faces contort into grotesque Mr. Bean tributes everytime they have bad cards.

And Of course, when their cards are good they waste no time in letting me know. Its usually in the form of a very intelligent question. "Uhh... What is the maximum I can raise the bet by?".

So, with a big Thank You nod! to all the people who made the above faces and asked the stupid questions, last Diwali - I present to you a review of the movie Rounders. The perfect motivational tool for all you wannabe gamblers out there.

You really should see this movie before you hit the Diwali parties this season.






ROUNDERS : 1998
Cast: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol, Martin Landau, John Malkovich Director: John Dahn Classification: R - (Profanity, violence)

Rounders starts off with a poker game with Mike McDermott (Damon) and the Russian gangster KGB (Malkovich) squaring off a high stakes poker game. Predictably enough Mike loses the game, and with it all his life savings.

Ten months later we see Mike living in with his girlfriend (newcomer Mol), enrolled in a law course. He has given up cards for her, but when his old buddy Worm (Norton) is released from jail, Mike can't help but play a few games.

Work, however, is back on the streets with a huge debt to pay and, consequently, his life on the line. Mike decides to vouch for Worm to the loan sharks and thereby puts his life in danger as well. Now they have 4 days to gamble and make $15,000 to pay off the debt.

Dahl (The Last Seduction), departs from his usual non linear style of direction in this movie. The story is of one persons strength of character, and it remains that. It could very well be a baseball movie - just with cards; But do note, it's the cards angle that makes all the difference here.

Damon (Good Will Hunting) and especially Edward Norton (Fight Club) put in fantastic performances. Norton is the guy you hate for what he's put his friend into, and Matt Damon plays the "Oh God, how can you be so damn nice" character. While the predictability of the movie takes off some of the shine, Rounders remains as out and out entertaining movie.

The gambling angle, along with some well researched New York slang used in the gambling dens, give this movie its uber cool factor. The movie is also supported by a great script that very convincingly takes you into the world of high-stakes poker.

I liked this movie....

1 comment:

unfuel the planet said...

so how much you made this diwali on gambling. usually I am +- 100/-