Name: Retro Film Review: Rounders (1998)
Item: Rounders
Rating: 60
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

Of all forms of gambling, poker is the most popular in Hollywood films, mostly due to its mystique and dramatic potential. Some of that was put to good use in Rounders, 1998 drama directed by John Dahl.

Protagonist of the film is Mike McDermott (played by Matt Damon), young man from blue-collar New Jersey background who became addicted to poker in his early days. Thankfully, the addiction also revealed enough skill to finance his entry into New York law school through the series of low stake games. One day Mike made fatal mistake by not listening to his mentor Knish (played by John Turturro) and playing the high stakes game with Teddy KGB (played by John Malkovich), Russian mobster and formidable poker player. After losing all his savings, Mike has promised his girlfriend Jo (played by Gretchen Mol) that he would quit gambling and try to live normal life. Promise remains kept for couple of months until his friend Les Murphy a.k.a. Worm (played by Edward Norton) gets out of prison. Worm also plays poker but lacks Mike's talent and this leads to unpleasant situation when it turns out that Worm used Mike as guarantor of his debts. Mike is forced to use his poker skills once again, this time in a game where his future legal career, girlfriend and life are at stake.

John Dahl, director of this film, has won a great acclaim as the author of neo-noir thrillers. Rounders has much of "noirish" atmosphere thanks to Matt Damon's narration, Jean-Yves Escoffier's cinematography and suggestive soundtrack by Christopher Young. However, Rounders is not exactly film noir. In its essence it provides fascinating glimpse into the world of professional gamblers - world that, in one form on another, exists everywhere in the world but is generally not that well known. What other people see as vice or harmless recreation into their way of life is here practiced as a way of life. Script by David Lieven and Brian Koppelman, inspired by the anecdotes heard in gambling demi-monde of New York, looks at least superficially authentic.

Unfortunately, Rounders is less convincing in the choice of plot and characters. Film follows cliches borrowed from sports films, including the big game in the end where the outcome is utterly predictable. Some characters, like Knish, are underused while Gretchen Mol is completely wasted in the unnecessary role of protagonist's obligatory love interest. The general impression is improved by fine acting. Matt Damon is very good only to be outshined by Norton who steals the show with his portrayal of charming but self-destructive lowlife. Even John Malkovich's overacting - something rarely expected from that dependable character actor - looks amusing in the context of this film.

Rounders is hardly a classic, but it could provide a lot of entertainment as well as some food for thought. However, it is also potentially dangerous film. There are some people who admitted being seduced by poker after seeing it. So, anyone willing to watch Rounders should approach it with great deal of caution or enough money to cover the costs of his or her newly discovered hobby.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on October 5th 2004)