Whether you are looking to watch a movie about casino gambling or want to see how it is depicted in movies, there are many that you can choose from. Some of them are more interesting than others.
One of the best movies about casino gamblers is The Gambler, which features a brilliant James Caan as an English professor who suffers from a debilitating gambling addiction. The film is now considered a classic and was even made into a remake in 2014.
The Gambler (1995)
The Gambler is a good movie with an engaging leading man and a cast of stars, including Jessica Lange, John Goodman, and Brie Larson. Director David Wyatt helms a well-executed if somewhat unimaginative screenplay that makes a hefty dent in your wallet. The film does boast a fair share of high-octane action scenes, not to mention a few snorting-worthy tykes and a well-chosen score of red-carpet invitees.
The cinematography is on point, with the best shots a tad overblown by some standards. While the aforementioned gimmicks can be found in more than one of these ilk, The Gambler still ranks as a standout on my all-time list of best movies to watch if you are in the mood for a thrill. The name ain’t quite as apropos in 2014.
We can say that if you are in the market for a sexy movie with an eye-catching gimmick or two, The Gambler is certainly up for the task. Its biggest competition is probably its kink cousin, Mississippi Grind. Those looking for something a bit more high-brow should check out Rounders.
Mississippi Grind (1998)
If you love watching movies about surebet casino gamblers, then Mississippi Grind (1998) is one that you can’t miss. Featuring a stellar cast including Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds, this movie offers a unique take on the gambling genre.
It also features an entertaining and engaging storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. Moreover, it will teach you lessons on how to manage your gambling addiction and how to deal with people who are prone to temptation.
The film centers around Gerry (played by Mendelsohn) and Curtis (played by Reynolds). These two men meet at a card game where they strike up a tentative friendship. However, their problems are graver than they may initially seem.
In the beginning, Gerry has a positive attitude toward his gambling habits but he soon starts losing money. This puts pressure on his fiancee Jo, who is pushing him to stop playing the games of chance. But Gerry refuses to give up. He decides to go on a trip to New Orleans with his friends to win back the money that he lost.
He even treats his friend to a top-shelf bourbon, Woodford. But it doesn’t take long for him to realize that he has made a mistake.
It’s a great performance by Mendelsohn that will make you believe his character is a real person. He plays to his character’s underlying vulnerabilities and compulsion for gambling. This helps him smooth out the tense situations that are created by these characters’ nave relationships with each other.
A low-budget indie flick directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Mississippi Grind is a smartly executed road-trip film with a lot of heart. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a compelling piece of cinema that deserves a place in any fan’s collection.
This movie is well-acted and steeped in the Southern atmosphere, which makes it a worthwhile watch for fans of this genre. It’s a great example of how two flawed characters can find their way through the maze of addiction and redemption.
Directed by Half Nelson filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Mississippi Grind tells the story of two young gamblers who travel to New Orleans in an attempt to win back their fortune. The two leads (played by Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn) create several fun and exciting situations that will keep you entertained during the journey.
Rounders (1999)
Rounders tells the story of a poker genius who loses everything in a hand of Texas hold ’em to a Russian mobster. He promises his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol) that he will never play poker again, but a year later a friend of his gets out of prison and entices him back into the underground world of card playing to help pay off some dangerous loan sharks.
The film is a very entertaining movie that shows the different styles of poker. It has a lot of good information on various games such as Omaha, 7 Card Stud, and of course the Cadillac of all, Texas Hold Em.
Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is a gifted poker player who has been playing for years. He’s a law student and has a wonderful girlfriend, Jo (Gretchen Mol). Unfortunately, he lost a big hand of poker to a Russian mobster named Teddy KGB.
When he loses, he tells his girlfriend he’ll quit playing cards and concentrate on school and her. But he soon finds himself getting into trouble again when his best friend Worm (Edward Norton) comes out of prison and begins digging deeper holes for himself by racking up debts to dangerous loan sharks.
Once again, Damon does an excellent job of portraying a guy who wants to do the right thing but gets sidetracked by his friends. He’s also an affable and witty character that you can relate to easily.
The movie also features Oscar-winner John Malkovich as the Russian mobster who owns an illegal poker room and is a ruthless gambler. He’s a good match for Damon because he’s so funny and he’s always got a grin on his face.
This is a very well-written movie with no dull scenes or dead-end sub-plots and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining flick. I especially liked the fact that the characters were clearly defined and that you knew who to root for and who to despise.
Despite its flaws, Rounders is a great film that deserves more attention than it has received in recent years. Its storyline is very predictable and it doesn’t stray far from the formula, but the performances from Matt Damon and Edward Norton keep you on your toes as you follow the action from start to finish.
21 (2013)
Casinos have a long tradition of being the subject of cinema, from old black-and-white movies to newer blockbuster dramas. Many of the best gambling films are made on a shoestring budget and are considered cult classics today.
Even if you don’t enjoy gambling, there’s something to love about these movies – they are often funny, and entertaining and have a genuinely interesting story arc. They also often have great character actors and some of the best cinematography in the business.
One of the best examples of this is a 1970s film called California Split which stars Elliot Gould as a gambler who befriends fellow gambler Bill (George Segal). Their friendship is based on their mutual interest in gambling, and this movie is an example of the best in buddy drama.
It’s a surprisingly good film that focuses on a gambling addiction but isn’t afraid to show how dangerous it can be, particularly for women. Barbara Stanwyck is excellent as a housewife who goes to Vegas on a business trip and gets sucked in, much to the dismay of her husband.
Another excellent classic is Croupier which takes a different approach to the typical gambling story and focuses on the life of one of the biggest con artists in Canadian history, Dan Mahowny (Glenn Ford). This film is not only a fascinating look at the art of the con but also an insightful look at the heartbreaking plight of those who live on the edge of the law in a corrupt world.
The film is based on a true story and has plenty of drama, sex, violence, intrigue, and estrangement from friends who don’t share their passion for card counting.
It is impossible to watch 21 without some focus on Kevin Spacey’s twisted and manipulative professor who is clearly out to control the students. He double-crosses them when they don’t show enough discipline and then tries to seduce them, which is a little far-fetched but does not detract from the overall quality of this film.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Introvert. Award-winning internet evangelist. Extreme beer expert.”
