Lit professor and gambler Jim Bennett’s debt causes him to borrow money from his mother and a loan shark. Further complicating his situation is his relationship with one of his students. Will Bennett risk his life for a second chance?
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A very Dostoyevskyian film, far better than the Hollywood product it was sold as, featuring a solid performance by Wahlberg, tasteful and crafty direction by Wyatt and one of Monaghan's most existentially acute screenplays.
The struggle is real. Extolling the virtues of nothingness, Mark Wahlberg is surprisingly good as a lit professor and suicidal gambler. It's the best performance of his career (which may not seem like much). Then there's Wyatt's effortless direction, Fraser's impressionistic cinematography and Monahan's sharp script—all elevating THE GAMBLER to minor gem status. It's the kind of problematic film you'd love to defend.
"Life's a losing proposition, right? You might as well get it over with." You can feel this script's momentum choking on itself at every hand - fragmenting every opportunity for an investment in its character's wants. Each scene folds into an indication, as if by design, and yet it is an interesting movie. The cinematography is good at points and the character types (no matter how shallow) create the plot - brave.
Remake of 1974 Karel Reisz version with James Caan. I was expecting a B-movie. But totally wrong approach. Mark Wahlberg is not my favourite, but what he is performing here, is brilliant. Great camera. Good cut. Very suitable soundtrack. After 40 years there is a "renovation" which brings the story across "faster" & "updated". If you want to see a Ford Mustang Cabrio: go for Caan or a BMW M135i: go for Wahlberg.
"That's your fortress of fucking solitude. That puts you, for the rest of your life, at a level of fuck you. Somebody wants you to do something, fuck you. Boss pisses you off, fuck you!"
This is a good story about a man with a bad addiction. Too many mistakes and risk. Play with the wrong people and high sums. "Rien ne va plus" Everything on black! F*ck You! Jetons for 10,000. Good luck boy ....
A pesar del esfuerzo de los actores y el correcto trabajo del director, la película no logra despertar entusiasmo e interés alguno. El soundtrack es brutal (This Bitter Earth de Dinah Washington es increíble)