A member writes, 'Geno, what is your favorite gambling film of all time? Brian W., San Francisco, CA.'
Brian, I am afraid that film hasn't been written yet.
Hollywood seems to have a problem when it comes to making movies with a gambling theme. I believe I know what the problem is and will share it with you farther into this column.
There is a big difference between Hollywood's perception of gambling and what it is really all about to an individual .
Let's start at the beginning. Why does a person get into gambling in the first place?
If you answered 'To make money,' your answer is wrong. That comes later, but not at the beginning.
People gamble because it's fun. It's an adventure. It's a mystery without an ending. The gambler writes his own ending.
'The Cincinnati Kid' was given high marks as a gambling film, but the movie didn;t do that much for me. Another movie that received high ratings was 'The Only Game In Town,' starring Warren Beatty and Elizabeth Taylor. To my way of thinking, this one came closer to hitting the mark because Beatty captured the frenzy of an addicted dice player (Beatty) who had no control over his addiction.
Other movies about gambling in Las Vegas like 'Casino' were, in my opinion, too brutal or too simplistic to capture the true essence of a gambler. It's like filming the story of a brahma bull rider. You would almost have to film several bull riding events to capture the drive that permits him to ignore his own safety in order to accomplish his goal of riding a bull for the required length of time in order to capture first place money.
I hate to say this but I don't find most gamblers to be very sympathetic to a movie audience. A gambler plays in the World Series of Poker to have a chance at winning more money than he has ever seen before. That is his entire motivation.
I often thought a good film could have been made about Frank Sinatra's addiction to gambling. Even Sinatra got out of control when it came to playing baccarat and he nearly got himself killed one night when he over-extended his credit and tangled with the wrong casino boss.
My personal choice for someone to direct a film about gambling would be the late Federico Fellini. It would not be your ordinary gambling film. I have no idea what approach Fellini would take toward making such a film and that is precisely my point. No gambling film should be predictable. The outcome of a card or a roll of the dice is not predictable.
Robert Redford starred as a professional poker player in 'Havana.' I found the movie interesting since it was basically a remake of 'Casablanca.' However, Redford did not come off well as a poker player. He came off as an actor who played poker because it was a required part of the plot. Big difference.
Most of the time gamblers are trying to raise enough money to pay for their entry into a tournament or a cash game. Once they get the money, their battle is half over. Now all they have to do...smiles....is take all the chips and win the tournament or the cash. Simple. Right?
No, a good Hollywood film about a gambler should not be overly brutal and it should not be about so much money that you lose your average theater goer. It should be about someone the average person recognizes. Someone like himself who worries about filling up the gas tank or paying his hotel bill when his time in Las Vegas is over. Who worries about a relationship that his gambling is harming. Who worries about a daughtr who is 2,000 miles away.
that's why Fellini would be a perfect director. Too bad he isn't around to do the job.
I may try to write the script for it. Wish me luck. I think I'll need it.
Geno
6 years ago
Newbie
One of my favorite novelists was John Steinbeck. The classic novelists all wrote about ordinary people who went through the things of life, even the tragedies, that humankind shares. This is what moves an audience. Thanks for another good comment, Vanenhox.
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Vanenhox
6 years ago
Sr. Member
I like your idea of portraying an ordinary person as the gambling protagonist in a film that focuses on gambling. Often films that deal with gambling, like Rain Man, or Atlantic City, or the Color of Money, portray unusual or glamorous people... And these films also do not focus primarily on gambling, but on something...
I like your idea of portraying an ordinary person as the gambling protagonist in a film that focuses on gambling. Often films that deal with gambling, like Rain Man, or Atlantic City, or the Color of Money, portray unusual or glamorous people... And these films also do not focus primarily on gambling, but on something which involves the world of gambling. The story itself might be more focused on something else related to gambling rather than gambling as the central theme. But the average Joe or Jane who suddenly finds him or herself in the middle of a big time story about games of chance and the consequences of being very occupied with it is a good way to approach the topic as a central theme in a film. Owning Mahowny, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman is a good film in this way perhaps. It is however, about huge wins and losses and extreme gambling addiction.
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Geno
6 years ago
Newbie
Hollywood films just don't do a very good job of reflecting reality. I blame it on the cocaine influence. I never saw 'The Rounders' and need to add that to my futures list. Fellini was able to capture the fantasies that most people share and that is why his films were so unique.
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Mila
6 years ago
Sr. Newbie
Geno, I totally agree with you...Just couldn't find any movie that would reflect adequately and deeply the feelings and excitement of a gambler. I liked "The Sting" with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, but gambling was used just as a background for action, it's not the main theme...
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Geno
6 years ago
Newbie
Jade sounds like she'd be a tough editor. I had better say 'Yes, Sir,' or 'Yes, Madam,' and get to work on the script. Thanks for the comment, Jade.
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jade
6 years ago
Super Hero
Sylvanas is right Geno, "Rounders" is a pretty good gambling film. I can think of more than a few more, but I won't bore you with all of them. I have to agree that Rounders is my favorite. Now, if you are going to write your own script, you can use that poker tournament you won, add your divorce in there somewhere....
Sylvanas is right Geno, "Rounders" is a pretty good gambling film. I can think of more than a few more, but I won't bore you with all of them. I have to agree that Rounders is my favorite. Now, if you are going to write your own script, you can use that poker tournament you won, add your divorce in there somewhere. Of course, a gambling movie staring 'Geno,' wouldn't be complete without your best friend and side kick Dave Molina. You could put in some of the ladies you fixed him up with, whom he married and it could all take place, back in Bennie Binion's time. It sounds like a movie that is going to replace my already favorite "Rounders!" Better get to work Geno.......
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Sylvanas
6 years ago
Admin
What about John Dahl's Rounders from 1998, starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton?
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Geno
6 years ago
Newbie
I never saw 'Runner Runner,' but even the title is something that is known to poker players and not the general public. You don't remake actors into gamblers. And when you place inexperienced people like directors and cast into a film story, you simply don't find quality. Thanks for the comment.
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energydd
6 years ago
Full Member
There is also a poker movie name runner runner . Its a good movie . But yes there aint that many gambling or poker movies. Maybe there will be one some day . Gambling is fun in the beginning and then you want more money. And it becomes a part of your lifestyle.
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