Movies

Yes this is a gambling film and includes just about every cliché you can think of. No it isn't any good.Yes Mark Wahlberg plays a gambler. No he doesn't hit, shoot, stab, or otherwise assault anyone.Yes the film has several excellent co-stars like George Kennedy, Andre Braugher, and Richard Schiff. No you won't see very much of them and if you sneeze you may miss them.Yes there is some romance. No it doesn't work with a girl who is half Wahlberg's age.Yes it's great to see John Goodman in a meaty role. No he isn't going to play Jabba the Hut in the next Star Wars release.Yes I did stay for the entire movie hoping that the final scene would somehow raise the stature of the film. No it didn't.

I have read few unfavourable reviews about The Gambler mostly saying the film is not gripping enough. I disagree. At no stage did i lose interest in what was going on and i thought the tension was palpable at times. A really good leading performance from Mark Wahlberg and it's good to see Michael Kenneth Williams ( Omar Little from The Wire ) in a big role. If i had to be picky i would say that the three people who Jim owed money to could have been a little bit more menacing and the ending is a little bit confusing ( or that could just be me ! ). Overall though an entertaining , enjoyable movie which also has a great soundtrack.

This movie is about a man who has given up hope on achieving his dreams and is trying to make his pain stop by engaging in self destructive behavior... his weapon of choice is gambling but he is not a gambler. He says so multiple times. I have read the many negative reviews of this movie and I think people are really just missing the point. He wants a real love and something real to do every day and if he achieve anything beyond mediocrity then he would rather be dead. People who can relate with that sentiment will love this movie but perhaps no one else. If you enjoy a movie that makes you think a little and go beyond what's on the surface. The movie is not about gambling... it is about finding inspiration and hope.