Croupier
"Mesmerizes from the first frame. An elegant jewel!"-Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
All bets are off in London's gambling world when struggling writer Jack Manfred (Gosford Park's Clive Owen) accepts his father's offer of a job as a croupier, out the cards of fate and fortune each night to casino patrons. As his relationship with his girlfriend, Marion (Notting Hill's Gina McKee), suffers from the strain of his new job, Jack finds his eye roving to a seductive gambler, Jani (ER's Alex Kingston), who lures him into a dangerous robbery scheme with Jack positioned as the inside man. A critical and commercial smash, this delicious British thriller from director Mike Hodges (Get Carter) and writer Paul Mayersberg (The Last Samurai) is a solid winner from start to finish!
Member Reviews
Don't Bet on This Flick - Mookie
Ultimately it is the slow pace, the vague characters and the thick accents that make this film such a chore to get through. I think the lead (Owens) does the best job he can and it is definately a role that helped him break through to the big leagues, but ultimately he can't instill enough energy into this listless flick.
Also - the lack of any extras (even subtitles) for this DVD is shameful.A Different Take - Stitch
On the psychology of gambling. And this assessment is played out around the tables and in the risky relationships of the major players. This is particularly true of the actions by the two main characters, both of whom are excellent in this subtle play on life. Gina McKee and Clive Owen were perceptive choices for two roles that could easily slide into melodrama.
Did anyone sense a tinge of Thomas Hardy here, another Tess of the D’Urbervilles? How fate through small increments of chance can so grievously (or happily) influence outcomes.
What I particularly enjoyed were the nuanced events where we are left guessing at “what really happened”. Excellent change of pace from most cinema these days. And while the commentary at times was a little intrusive, on reflection I suggest it was vital to comprehending the motives behind Jack’s action. Without them, the director would have lost (confused) most viewers within the first thirty minutes.
All in all, relatively slow paced but interesting take on life in the risk lane.Glamourous but confusing - Renee40
At first the world of the casino seems glamourous. Then it becomes sordid. But the whole time it is confusing.
In the end, none of the characters come off too well. The film is well done and enjoyable in many ways, but I wouldn't want a steady diet of this sort of thing. Also, I have little understanding of gambling so that made the film even harder for me to follow, although I admired the sleight of hand exhibited now and then.
Member Reviews
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Don't Bet on This Flick - Mookie
Ultimately it is the slow pace, the vague characters and the thick accents that make this film such a chore to get through. I think the lead (Owens) does the best job he can and it is definately a role that helped him break through to the big leagues, but ...A Different Take - Stitch
On the psychology of gambling. And this assessment is played out around the tables and in the risky relationships of the major players. This is particularly true of the actions by the two main characters, both of whom are excellent in this subtle play on ...Glamourous but confusing - Renee40
At first the world of the casino seems glamourous. Then it becomes sordid. But the whole time it is confusing.
In the end, none of the characters come off too well. The film is well done and enjoyable in many ways, but I wouldn't want a steady diet ...