It was ok. One part really bothered me though.

This is one reason why people are dissing the movie. But isn't this the point about gambling narratives. They don't make any sense. The urge to gamble itself is absurd. Check the thread 'where are they now' on NVG. There is something fascinating about how variability makes people appear for months or years and then disappear again... and then reappear again. Especially people from the poker boom, who suddenly show up in a $500 NLHE event in one of those shabby Mid-West casinos that featured in the film.

Where can I get a Joe Navarro cd of him reading his list of poker tells? Is that books on tape?

Just saw this yesterday I thought it was damn good only a few poker scenes, but the movie captured the degenerecy of two hapless guys chasing dream similar to rounders.

Both characters were sad dismal and lonely so naturally they gravitated twoards each other, I thought each character in the movie was well crafted from ryan renyolds mom to the girls they frequented. The scene with reynolds and his mom explained why reynolds is the way he is.

The most enlighting part was how empty Mendelson felt even after acheiving what he thought he wanted, reminds me of a guy I know with a serious problem where no matter how much money they get they will always waste it.

I say this movie was as good if not better than california split only difference is California split had a bit more action and each character had a bit more stability.

BTW if you were born after 95 you may not like this type of movie
no cgi

I agree. Was better than expected. Not really a poker movie but was entertaining and reminded me of 2+2

Not really a poker movie,but solid gambling film...Mendelson's character is the epitome of every down on his luck-hangdog addict you see at every casino/racetrack.

I watched this about a month ago and thoght it was pretty good. Great acting and believable story.

Agreed it is more a gambling story than poker story though

I was thinking the exact opposite. I agree this movie was just like California Split but not nearly as good. In fact, I think they basically stole most of the plot line from 'Split'.

From the first scene where they meet at the poker table to having two hookers as love interests to selling his car as a stake. There are additional similarities, but I don't want to include spoilers.

I believe over the top had a similar scene as well stallone is a truck driver who stops in vegas for a arm wrestling competition he sells his only rig for 7k and bets the full amount on himself to win the competition. lol doesnt get more over the top than that.

yeah most of the plot was california split especially when they start winning, only difference the wandering gambler didnt have as big a compulsive gambling problem as elliot gould in split.

no that movie was awful and weird to say the least...

Boring, uneventful, sad and degen as hell. 4/10

And the part when they bet their entire bankroll on a roll of dice to double it....made me sick.

I liked it cause it was real. The characters were real, the locations were real. Most Hollywood bs only show the 1% of gamblers the guys wearing suits at the table, with a fine ho on each shoulder, staying in penthouse suites. This movie shows the 99% of gamblers in America. Mendelsohn's character is a divorced mid 40s man who hasn't seen his kid in years, looks like he hasn't showered in weeks, and owes money to half the people in his town. One of my favorite parts was when they went to one of the most degen places in America, the southland park dog tracks in memphis,tn.

That scene really came together after they lost they split their last $200 and mendelson had $100 to get from memphis back to vegas lol. A $100 cant get me from reno to vegas especially if you plan to eat something.

Mendelson's performance is worth watching. 9/10.

i wanna go!
Looks pretty great





Seriously though the movie reminded me of a 50/50 mix between California Split and Hard Eight.

It's included with Amazon Prime right now.

The look he gave his wife when she caught him stealing from her literal sock drawer was priceless. You can see his dignity evaporate.

Iv been waiting a long time for a gambling movie to end in such a way where the hero doubles down and loses then smash cut to a rehab center. Player 51/50 was headed that way solid movie as well.

Wow, Mendelsohn looks to be amazing in this.

Well he's good, but he was just playing the same sociopathic character he always plays, or at least from what I've seen him in - Bloodline, Starred Up, Animal Kingdom, Killing them Softly. He's the exact same in all of them save for the accent.

He wasn't as bad as usual but he was still a pathological liar in it.

Great movie. 9/10 is fair rating itt

Not to derail, but it is def the degen Capitol of the mid south. The last time I was there, I got hit up for cigs by 5 different people and somebody tried to sell me a used car battery on the casino floor.

That track is in a whole other town, in a whole other state.

West Memphis, AR: 5 mins from Memphis, TN