Big Shot: Confessions Of A Campus Bookie
"Very Entertaining." - L.A. Times
When campus bookie Benny Silman (David Krumholtz) convinces a star basketball player to help him fix games, he scores beautiful women, nice cars and easy cash. But his fantasy world spirals out of control when his point shaving scheme attracts the attention of gangsters, drug dealers, Vegas kingpins and, eventually, the FBI. When push comes to shove, Benny ultimately must decide if he is willing to gamble the only thing more valuable to him than money.. his life.
Member Reviews
Big Risk, Mild Payoff - eoguy
David Krumholtz, a young actor probably best known for his role as Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause, leads Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie, a TV movie based on a true story. Benny Silman was a young guy with a dream of babes and bucks. He wanted to live the high life, and when the opportunity came his way, he took it. While pursuing a career in an institute of higher learning, he is offered a job taking small time bets. As business continues to climb, Benny finds himself overwhelmed by his own success. Soon he is approached by Joe Jr. (Nick Turturro), a big time bookie with an offer of even more money. Before he knows it, Benny is in over his head, convincing a college basketball player to help him fix the games. In too deep, Benny finds it hard to say no or end to the illegal career he promised his girlfriend (Jennifer Morrison) he'd put behind him.
Choppy editing and "MTV"-type speed shots pull this film down from any sort of greatness. Director Ernest R. Dickerson must've watched Darren Aronofsky's films one too many times, because some of his shots reek of Pi's stylistics. Though the rest of the cast could use some acting lessons, Krumholtz keeps the film bearable delivering a believable every-guy performance. His charisma distracts from the film's obvious attempts at "coolness" by showing lots of beautiful women. The movie closes with the real-life Bennie delivering a brief speech about the dangers of gambling. It seems like a bad idea when he first starts talking, but once Benny is done, he has left an impact. What this film lacks in its structure, the real-life Benny helps to fill in. Still, Big Shot is essentially a teen movie trying to be a little more. At least it set its sights high.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Big Risk, Mild Payoff - eoguy
David Krumholtz, a young actor probably best known for his role as Bernard the Elf in The Santa Clause, leads Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie, a TV movie based on a true story. Benny Silman was a young guy with a dream of babes and bucks. He wanted ...