Money Kings
A young man has taken money from the mob and now they want it back. His wife does everything in her power to pay his debts including having to sacrifice her body to save her husband. Now he vows to take revenge.
Member Reviews
Damage that a gambling addiction can unleash - Porkchop
Money Kings (1998) is a movie that has lost none of its relevance,
even 10 years after its completion. Although billed as a mob movie,
this picture is very realistic and natural about those who are
compelled to gamble, the loansharks who profit from the juice, the
bookies who reap big profits on the bets, and the police who get
fat from payoffs for looking the other way.
Vincent's goal is to replace the bookie, played by Peter Falk, with
the nephew, and there is no end to the chaos brought about by the
25 year old novice, first trained as a collector of illegal debts,
and then as a partner to the bookie.
A questionable aspect of this movie, is Falk, playing a charitable
bookie, who covers the debts of his players, and soft on collecting
from his clients, patient enough with their human failings.
Another questionable decision, is to suggest a generation gap
between Falk, his clientele and the young Prince, who is going
through the school of hard knocks here, with an impressive lack of
natural ability in the underworld.
Conversely, the strength of the script, is the up-close and
personal, realistic, natural humanity, poverty, alcoholism,
unemployment, over-work for low wages aspects, coupled with hunger,
the inner city, the compulsion to gamble.
Overall, the lessons are two-fold, and concern first, the obvious
damage that a gambling addiction can unleash on the working class,
who are often are already under duress and distress; and secondly,
the chain-reaction that results when "efficiency" is rabidly
demanded at the higher echelons of the underworld, from the
bookie's clientele ( the pressure to repay illegal debts).
The wide-screen release on DVD is welcome, however, the overall
feel of this work is that of made-for-TV, despite the flawless
acting.
Member Reviews
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Damage that a gambling addiction can unleash - Porkchop
Money Kings (1998) is a movie that has lost none of its relevance,
even 10 years after its completion. Although billed as a mob movie,
this picture is very realistic and natural about those who are
compelled to gamble, the loansharks who profit from ...