Simply an amazing film and certainly among the most underrated films out there.. The movie is set in New York City, Both in the underworld of illegal card games as well as above ground in the mix of everday life and the Havoc you wreak when you choose to intermingle the two... The movie to me follows more of a life strategy moreso than that of a card game... The movie follows the lives of several characters including Damon as his usual quiet unassuming self but this time he has quite a knack for cards, Norton plays the part of a loser to perfection and delivers an incredible performance of a con man recently released from the "joint" at which he honed his "Card skills" to a fine point.. John Malkovich also delivers a fine performance of a russian outfit guy who apparently you don't want to get on his bad side as he is potentially linked to the russian KGB... The interesting mix of characters somehow come together beautifully and what is displayed on the screen is nothing short of amazing... How they can take a movie about these totally different people and a card game and meld them together the way they do and create a masterpiece of film making that will have you holding your breath until the final minute ofthe movie.... You don't need to be a card buff to enjoy this flic but you definitely need to rent it....Read full review
Mike McDermott (Matt Damon)is a law student and he lives with his girlfriend Gretchen Mol. She too is a law student, and is totally engrossed in her studies. Mike tries hard to stay focused, but his true love in life is gambling. He is a card player, a good one. He has made two mistakes along the way, he lost to Teddy KGB. He got careless and got wiped out, busted, lost it all, etc.! His second mistake was making friends with Worm (Edward Norton). Worm is just now getting out of jail. Rehabilitated? Sure. . . He just spent the last two years learning how to cheat, and double deal, and all kinds of other ways to be a crook. Mike just can't see through this guy. As soon as Worm gets out, he talks Mike into a game. Getting home after being out all night with a roll of money in his pocket, his girlfriend decides to leave him. He goes to class totally unprepared, and looks like a fool. He decides to go do some gambling in Atlantic City and wins some money. Mike vouched for Worm at a card room and he ran up a tab. A bouncer for Teddy KGB called Grandma jumps Worm and takes all of his winnings. He also tells him that he has bought up all of his card debts, and that Worm owes him $15,000. He only has three days to pay. Mike vouches for him and together they go to work to win the money needed to pay off Worm's debts. Worm, lives up to his name and cheats and is caught. They get the hell beat out of them and lose all of the money. It is hopeless. There isn't enough time to win this much money. Worm lets Mike get stuck with his debts and problems. An old professor who likes Mike and always wanted to be able to gamble feels sorry for him and loans him $10,000. Mike goes to Teddy KGB and challenges him to a game. He has to pay him in the morning, and doesn't have the money, but for now. . . How about a game? Teddy KGB takes him up on the game and Mike cleans him out, to the tune of about $60,000. After paying KGB the $15K from Worm, and the professors $10K, he still won back more than he lost. He decided to go to Vegas to try to win the Grand Slam.Read full review
Great movie featuring Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich, Famke Jannsen, John Turturro, and Martin Landau Damon is a law student and reformed card player with a good life. A former best friend and gambler Norton, is released from prison. They team up for a quick card scam and Norton confesses to big debts. Damon agrees to help a friend and in a way, help himself see that gambling is his true love. Great movie and great character development.
This movie will be the Poker standard for novice and veteran poker players alike. Not only does the movie maintain a gripping story line but manages to keep true to the game of Poker(Texas Hold'em) as well. Pitting a young Matt Damon against a veteran actor like John Malkovich in a no limit Texas Holdem showdown was a stroke of shear brilliance. This movie will either make you love the game of poker or make you never want to play the game again, but ultimately you will enjoy the show. An all star cast "rounds" out this compelling drama. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
One of my favorite movies
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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