Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilbury Twist
Funny that this thread popped up, as I just heard a little story about this movie's final hand from Brian Koppelman, who co-hosted the latest episode of the Rewatchables podcast (about Misery).
In the original script, the audience never knows Mike's hand until he turns it up and we learn that he had been slow-playing the nut straight the whole time. As Koppelman said, this was years before the hole-card camera, so the way he had written it was simply how poker was shown in its limited appearances on TV to that point.
Director John Dahl suggested the pick-up shot of Mike's cards, thinking the drama would be heightened if the audience knew the hand. His opinion, Koppelman recalled, was that we as an audience are meant to experience the moment through the protagonist. (To me, Dahl's choice also transforms the finale into a callback, making the Chan-Seidel hand a version of Chekhov's gun. As Petra says, the hero flops the nut straight and has the discipline to wait him out.)
Koppelman and David Levien were adamant that knowing the hole cards in advance was a terrible choice, like it was spoiling a surprise. Dahl insisted his editorial choice was the right one, but offered he a concession: cut two versions, then show test audiences the various versions. Whichever version works better, use that cut for the theatrical release.
Turns out, the difference in audience reaction was palpable: Dahl was absolutely right, and of course, we now have the version in which we see Mike flop the joint.
Years later, Dahl's directorial instincts were reinforced when the hole-card camera was implemented for TV. I'm not saying this filmmaking choice led to that invention, but it's pretty cool that Koppelman was among the those to see firsthand and in a practical way just how much audiences can take to poker when they know the hole cards.
This is really interesting. The instinct to let we, the audience, know what Mike had no doubt is the same realization that led to hole card cams. Like you said, I don't think rounders led to hole cams, but his instincts were spot on!
This is a bit of an aside but thought of it reading your post.
With my PokerGo subscription I can watch all the classic Main Events all the way back to the mid 70's. And though I loved watching every minute, boy is it near impossible to know what is going on. no hole cams (except occasionally on important hands they enter some in post production), can barely see the cards on the board, no idea the blinds or stack sizes. But super fun to see the old characters and the smokey environment. With due respect to the coverage, they were more trying to show the characters and the spectacle of the Main Event rather than really show the game but there isn't too much to be gleaned from HOW they played because it is so hard to follow.
Fun sidenote: in 1978 when Bobby Baldwin won, I think it is the last hand. but it is an all in pre-flop situation. They both agree to flip the cards up so it is more exciting for the crowd. (interesting that that wasn't standard to do on all-in pre back in the day.) as Bobby is flipping his hand up he says "have you ever been to
Ardmore, Oklahoma?" The announcer, who I think is Jimmy the greek say, "he's got the
Ardmore girls, it's two queens!" Now THERE is a hand nickname that has been lost to history!
I am going to try and bring it back. "I suspected you might have the
Ardmore Girls!", " down to 30 in this years main even if there is an early position raise and re-raise, what would you do with the
Ardmore girls in late position? i think there is almost no doubt that i can get this to catch on! Who is with me, let's bring back the
Ardmore girls!
Anyway, I am going to find the exact pod you mentioned and have a listen. But your point that it was great directorial instinct to let us know what Mikey had is the same thing that has made poker with hole cams so much more interesting.
And one last side note, it shows the staying power of Rounder that this thread is still being talked about like 15 years after the OP was written. Not sure how it popped up again, but glad it did because I really enjoyed the OP!
