ROUNDERS (1998)
A Film Review
Copyright Dragan Antulov 2004
Of all forms of gambling, poker is the most popular in Hollywood
films, mostly due to its mystique and dramatic potential. Some of that
was put to good use in ROUNDERS, 1998 drama directed by John
Dahl.
Protagonist of the film is Mike McDermott (played by Matt Damon),
young man from blue-collar New Jersey who became addicted to
poker in his early days. Thankfully, the addiction also revealed
enough skill to finance his entry into New York law school through
the series of low stake games. One day Mike made fatal mistake by
not listening to his mentor Knish (played by John Turturro) and
playing the high stakes game with Teddy KGB (played by John
Malkovich), Russian mobster and formidable poker player. After
losing all his savings, Mike has promised his girlfriend Jo (played by
Gretchen Mol) that he would quit gambling and try to live normal
life. Promise remains kept for couple of months until his friend Les
Murphy a.k.a. Worm (played by Edward Norton) gets out of prison.
Worm also plays poker but lacks Mike's talent and this leads to
unpleasant situation when it turns out that Worm used Mike as
guarantor of his debts. Mike is forced to use his poker skills once
again, this time in a game where his future legal career, girlfriend and
life are at stake.
John Dahl, director of this film, has won a great acclaim as the author
of neo-noir thrillers. ROUNDERS has much of "noirish" atmosphere
thanks to Matt Damon's narration, Jean-Yves Escoffier's
cinematography and suggestive soundtrack by Christopher Young.
However, ROUNDERS is not exactly film noir. In its essence it
provides fascinating glimpse into the world of professional gamblers
- world that, in one form on another, exists everywhere in the world
but is generally not that well known. What other people see as vice or
harmless recreation into their way of life is here practiced as a way of
life. Script by David Lieven and Brian Koppelman, inspired by the
anecdotes heard in gambling demi-monde of New York, looks at
least superficially authentic.
Unfortunately, ROUNDERS is less convincing in the choice of plot
and characters. Film follows cliches borrowed from sports films,
including the big game in the end where the outcome is utterly
predictable. Some characters, like Knish, are underused while
Gretchen Mol is completely wasted in the unnecessary role of
protagonist's obligatory love interest. The general impression is
improved by fine acting. Matt Damon is very good only to be
outshined by Norton who steals the show with his portrayal of
charming but self-destructive lowlife. Even John Malkovich's
overacting - something rarely expected from that dependable
character actor - looks amusing in the context of this film.
ROUNDERS is hardly a classic, but it could provide a lot of
entertainment as well as some food for thought. However, it is also
potentially dangerous film. There are some people who admitted
being seduced by poker after seeing it. So, anyone willing to watch
ROUNDERS should approach it with great deal of caution or enough
money to cover the costs of his or her newly discovered hobby.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
Review written on October 5th 2004
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax
http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in
Croatian
http://www.ofcs.org - Online Film Critics Society
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