Owning Mahowny (2003)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Richard Kwietniowski

Writers (WGA):

Gary Stephen Ross (book)
Maurice Chauvet (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 September 2003 (Argentina)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

To some it's a game. To others it's a habit. But to Dan Mahowny -- beating the odds is everything

Plot:

A bank manager (Hoffman) with: (a) a gambling problem and (b) access to a multi-million dollar account gets into a messy situation. Based on the story of the largest one-man bank fraud in Canadian history.

Plot Keywords:

Embezzlement | Gambler | Gambling Debt | Compulsive Gambler | Casino

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Dan Mahowny
Minnie Driver	...	Belinda
John Hurt	...	Victor Foss
Maury Chaykin	...	Frank Perlin
Ian Tracey	...	Det. Ben Lock
Sonja Smits	...	Dana Selkirk
K.C. Collins	...	Bernie (as Chris Collins)
Jason Blicker	...	Dave Quinson
Vince Corazza	...	Doug (as Vincent Corazza)
Roger Dunn	...	Bill Gooden
Eric Fink	...	Psychologist
Mike 'Nug' Nahrgang	...	Parking Attendant
Tanya Henley	...	Teller
Brona Brown	...	Teller
Philip Craig	...	Briggs

Also Known As:

La double vie de Mahowny (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | USA:R | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

While this is not technically a remake, the film The Highroller (1984) (TV) is based on the same true story.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While listening to sports scores on the radio shortly after his arrest in 1982, the sportscaster gives the score of the Montreal Alouettes game. The Alouettes folded after the 1981 season. The current Alouettes began playing in 1996.

Quotes:

Dan Mahowny: How much for the bags?
Car Rental Girl: They're free for customers.
Dan Mahowny: Great, can I have one?
Car Rental Girl: Well, you're not a customer, so...
Dan Mahowny: Okay... how much for the bags?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Daily Show: (2003-01-09)" (2003)

"You've got a gambling problem, right?"

Richard Kwietniowski's "Owning Mahowny" is a film that has been done many times before, most recently in "Rounders". Kwietniowski's take on the material, however, keeps it interesting and original. His photography is brilliant, yet quiet, much like the Mahowny character himself. Philip Seymour Hoffman inhabits his character with a profound sense of helplessness that makes it near impossible not to feel sorry for him. John Hurt is also fantastic in his small role.

Mahowny develops little, if at all, throughout the course of the picture. His life is continually destructive, and getting caught is the only thing that saves him, in the end. "Owning Mahowny" never got as much attention as it deserved, but it's worth a watch for anyone interested in a well-produced true story.

7.8 out of 10