7/10
Martin Landau enhances the film. Otherwise Damon, Norton, Turturro and Malkovich are clearly the most stable. Famke's good as well. Mol does well but has no big part really.
Rounders is an immersive poker film that though highly entertaining, may not ever be a favorite of Gamblers Anonymous (it shows both sides, but it's still fairly glamorous). Part of the charm is the super-solid cast which includes Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturo, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich (who steals the show), and Martin Landau. It's a pretty cheap review to just list the talent involved, but I think it sort of does the job. There's not a bad apple in the bunch. Damon's character keeps getting pulled into poker games, for which he has a lot of talent, often by his sleazy friend "Worm" (Norton), leading into what would be a comedy of errors if the stakes weren't so high. There's a bit too much narration for me up front, but I like the film like I like the best procedurals. It feels authentic, part and parcel because the characters use a very specific (and potentially opaque) vernacular, and you only make sense of the important poker games because both narration and scenes prepared you for them. A strong film in the mold of The Hustler, though I worry it sends out a mixed message.
I always loved this movie since it first came out.
However having started playing a lot of poker for the last 8/9 years or so, I recently re-watched this - big mistake. I just couldn't stand the way the majority of dialogue consisted of Damon & co. rattling off tired old poker cliches. One after another again and again, it was tedious. I just never realised until I became familiar with the game and so while re-watching I found myself cringing quite a bit.
Nevertheless, it's a good movie which has had a very positive contribution to the game... and Malkovich's accent still makes me smile.
Good movie about poker and friendship, this movie taught me a lot of things about poker, and for a person that want to know more about poker and like to play poker this movie is perfect. Damon was great and norton Knew well his role
3.5/5
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Comments 1 - 10 of 10
Emiam
7/10Martin Landau enhances the film. Otherwise Damon, Norton, Turturro and Malkovich are clearly the most stable. Famke's good as well. Mol does well but has no big part really.
Siskoid
Rounders is an immersive poker film that though highly entertaining, may not ever be a favorite of Gamblers Anonymous (it shows both sides, but it's still fairly glamorous). Part of the charm is the super-solid cast which includes Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturo, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich (who steals the show), and Martin Landau. It's a pretty cheap review to just list the talent involved, but I think it sort of does the job. There's not a bad apple in the bunch. Damon's character keeps getting pulled into poker games, for which he has a lot of talent, often by his sleazy friend "Worm" (Norton), leading into what would be a comedy of errors if the stakes weren't so high. There's a bit too much narration for me up front, but I like the film like I like the best procedurals. It feels authentic, part and parcel because the characters use a very specific (and potentially opaque) vernacular, and you only make sense of the important poker games because both narration and scenes prepared you for them. A strong film in the mold of The Hustler, though I worry it sends out a mixed message.ecnered
Damon and Norton are perfect!Eriknusselder
The definitive poker movie.RoastMutton10
Needed more Norton.timmy_501
I'd say that's an apt comparison, GallopingGhost.danisanna
Matt Damon and Edward Norton ... good combo.MrDoog
I always loved this movie since it first came out.However having started playing a lot of poker for the last 8/9 years or so, I recently re-watched this - big mistake. I just couldn't stand the way the majority of dialogue consisted of Damon & co. rattling off tired old poker cliches. One after another again and again, it was tedious. I just never realised until I became familiar with the game and so while re-watching I found myself cringing quite a bit.
Nevertheless, it's a good movie which has had a very positive contribution to the game... and Malkovich's accent still makes me smile.
TheGallopingGhost
This movie is basically a combination of Mean Streets and the Hustler, if you're looking for something similar.Joker of Gotham
Good movie about poker and friendship, this movie taught me a lot of things about poker, and for a person that want to know more about poker and like to play poker this movie is perfect. Damon was great and norton Knew well his role3.5/5