WARNING: These comments contain spoilers!
Actually, the movie is already spoiled. I rented this movie last night thinking that with such an impressive cast, I would be wholly drawn into a great movie. No such luck. Or, as Damon's character mentions, it's not really about luck -- it's a game of skill. And that's what this film is lacking.
The film's strong points are terrific characters brought to life by Edward Norton and John Turturro. These very different poker pros don't meet in this film, but they both tug on Damon's character is different directions: Turturro encourages Damon to play it safe, Norton encourages Damon to risk and cheat. What an interesting film it would have been if it had been a drama focusing on these three characters and the resulting struggle within Damon. Rather, this film is about Damon's circle from gambling law student, to giving up gambling, and then giving up law to become a gambler. And the movie portrays this in a good light. He's the hero because he follows his dream to gamble. What? Damon and the other stars give half-baked, phoned-in performances (excepting Norton and Turturro).
The script is also defective. Some things just don't make sense. Damon and Norton are severely beaten after they are caught cheating in a game (which made sense -- I thought the film was taking a better direction at that point), but then they argue about it and Norton's character is suddenly absent from the rest of the movie. Oops? Did the writers forget this character? Martin Landau's law professor character gives Damon $10,000 to help pay off his friend's debt. Really? Don't we all wish we had teachers like this? Damon's girlfriend leaves him because he lies to her about one game AFTER ABSTAINING FROM GAMBLING FOR NINE MONTHS!! Is she perfect? Is this how a rational human being would react? Lying is a terrible thing, but most real life relationships go through much worse than one lie -- and still survive.
The bottom line is that all the losers stay losers, and no one learns anything. But the movie doesn't play it that way -- it portrays Damon as a hero, and that gambling is a profession, not an addiction. And unless you are a card player and/or familiar with pro poker jargon, a good portion is likely to lose you and bore you. Skip this one.
Actually, the movie is already spoiled. I rented this movie last night thinking that with such an impressive cast, I would be wholly drawn into a great movie. No such luck. Or, as Damon's character mentions, it's not really about luck -- it's a game of skill. And that's what this film is lacking.
The film's strong points are terrific characters brought to life by Edward Norton and John Turturro. These very different poker pros don't meet in this film, but they both tug on Damon's character is different directions: Turturro encourages Damon to play it safe, Norton encourages Damon to risk and cheat. What an interesting film it would have been if it had been a drama focusing on these three characters and the resulting struggle within Damon. Rather, this film is about Damon's circle from gambling law student, to giving up gambling, and then giving up law to become a gambler. And the movie portrays this in a good light. He's the hero because he follows his dream to gamble. What? Damon and the other stars give half-baked, phoned-in performances (excepting Norton and Turturro).
The script is also defective. Some things just don't make sense. Damon and Norton are severely beaten after they are caught cheating in a game (which made sense -- I thought the film was taking a better direction at that point), but then they argue about it and Norton's character is suddenly absent from the rest of the movie. Oops? Did the writers forget this character? Martin Landau's law professor character gives Damon $10,000 to help pay off his friend's debt. Really? Don't we all wish we had teachers like this? Damon's girlfriend leaves him because he lies to her about one game AFTER ABSTAINING FROM GAMBLING FOR NINE MONTHS!! Is she perfect? Is this how a rational human being would react? Lying is a terrible thing, but most real life relationships go through much worse than one lie -- and still survive.
The bottom line is that all the losers stay losers, and no one learns anything. But the movie doesn't play it that way -- it portrays Damon as a hero, and that gambling is a profession, not an addiction. And unless you are a card player and/or familiar with pro poker jargon, a good portion is likely to lose you and bore you. Skip this one.