Hey our dear Canadian casino enthusiasts! No doubt, you are in love with cinematography just like any other human being on earth. Evidently, you must have seen at least several movies with gambling, such as an extremely famous James Bond spy movie Casino Royale or anything else of this kind, so you definitely know how exciting it is to watch gambling on the screen, especially if it’s spiced up with action, thriller, or comedy. In this article, we want to share with you our top recommended gambling movies that will definitely keep you company in the evening and some of them might turn out quite useful as they teach you some really cool gambling strategies that you might want to apply in your own gaming adventures on the web!
THE GAMBLER (1997)
THE GAMBLER is a 97 minute Biography, Drama, and Romance film based on the Russian novel “The Gambler” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky who had to write it during a 27-day period in order to pay off his gambling debts. THE GAMBLER is also a love story of Dostoyevsky and his much younger stenographer Anna who feels in love with the protagonist and wants to help him to get rid of the casino debt.
THE GAMBLER is directed by Károly Makk based on Dostoyevsky’s novel as well as screenplay by Katharine Ogden’s, Charles Cohen, and Nick Dear. THE GAMBLER stars Michael Gambon (Fyodor Dostoyevsky), Jodhi May (Anna Snitkina), Polly Walker (Polina), Dominic West (Alexei), Luise Rainer (Grandmother) and others.
THE GAMBLER can boast of several nominations (e.g., Brussels International Film Festival 1998 — Crystal Star Best European Feature Károly Makk, Emden International Film Festival 1998 — Emden Film Award Károly Makk, Festróia – Tróia International Film Festival 1998 — Golden Dolphin Károly Makk) and the following awards:
- Brussels International Film Festival 1998 (ASLK/CGER Prize for the Best European Film Károly Makk);
- Festróia – Tróia International Film Festival 1998 (OCIC Award Károly Makk);
- Festróia – Tróia International Film Festival 1998 (Silver Dolphin Best Actress (Melhor Interpretação Feminia) Jodhi May).
WIN IT ALL (2017)
WIN IT ALL is probably one of the best gambling addiction movies, which is basically a 88 minute Comedy directed by Joe Swanberg based on the screenplay by Jake Johnson and Joe Swanberg. WIN IT ALL features Eddie Garrett who has to keep his acquaintance’s duffel bag for ten thousand dollars while he’s in prison. Suddenly, Eddie Garrett discovers that the duffel bag he’s promised to watch is full of money and being a gambling addict he can’t resist the temptation and takes some money. After several gambling ups and downs, Eddie wastes all the money from the duffel bag and finds himself in a heavy debt. Eddie Garrett has not so much time before the acquaintance is released, so he decides to win the money back.
WIN IT ALL stars Jake Johnson (Eddie), Rony Shemon (Rony), Morgan Ng (Casino Door Man),
Edward Kaihatsu (ChinaTown Bartender), Adrian Jasso (Adrian) and others.
HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY (2003)
HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY is Biography and Drama 120 minute film about the poker legend Stuey Ungar written and directed by A.W. Vidmer. HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY is basically memoirs of Stuey Ungar who spends the last night of his life in a motel room relaying his story to an ominous stranger. Stuey Ungar’s story is about his childhood as a bookie’s son, tournament gin player’s career, cocaine abuse, victory at the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, and his personal life.
HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY stars Al Bernstein (Al Bernstein), Andrew N.S. Glazer (Andrew N.S. Glazer), Michael Imperioli (Stu Ungar), Brian Kaplan (John Strzemp),
Michael Pasternak (The Stranger), Jonathan Press (Young Stu), Evan Broder (Goldstein), Todd Susman (Max Ungar), Tommy Canary (Sol), Peggy Walton-Walker (Flo Unger), A.W. Vidmer (Gin Victim), Michael Nouri (Vincent), Lon Gary (Poker Player #1), David Dwyer (Poker Player #2), Steve Schirripa (Anthony).
HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY has the following cinema awards:
- Nashville Film Festival 2003 (Audience Choice Award — Best Feature, A.W. Vidmer);
- Prism Commendation Prism Film Festival Award;
- San Diego Film Festival 2003 (Festival Award — Best Director, A.W. Vidmer).
CROUPIER (1998)
CROUPIER is a 94 minute Crime and Drama film written by Paul Mayersberg and directed by Mike Hodges. CROUPIER features Jack Manfred, who is an aspiring writer who starts working as a croupier to make ends meet. As he enters the exciting casino world, his job starts taking over his life which negatively affects Jack’s relationship with his girlfriend Marion. The main action in the movie starts when Jack meets a gambler Jani who seriously violates the casino’s rules by coming there outside of working hours. Jani is being quite unlucky, so she’s forced to ask the protagonist to be the inside man for her planned heist at the casino. Even though the odds look quite favourable and the whole thing looks quite simple, there was no way for Jack to predict what cards he’ll end up with.
CROUPIER stars Clive Owen (Jack Manfred), Nick Reding (Giles Cremorne), Nicholas Ball (Jack Snr.), Alexander Morton (David Reynolds), Barnaby Kay (Car Dealer), Gina McKee (Marion Nell), John Radcliffe (Barber), Sheila Whitfield (Manicurist), David Hamilton (Casino Supervisor), Carol Davis (Table Supervisor), Eddie Osei (West Indian Punter), Doremy Vernon (Woman I), Claudine Carter (Woman II), Ursula Alberts (Madame Claude), Neville Phillips (White Haired Man).
CROUPIER was nominated for the Best Motion Picture (Paul Mayersberg, screenplay) at Edgar Allan Poe Awards 2001 and SEFCA Award Best Picture at Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards 2001. Besides, it’s a winner of Top Ten Films at National Board of Review, USA 2000.
THE GRAND (2007)
THE GRAND is a 104 minute Comedy about the fine art of losing written by Zak Penn and Matt Bierman and directed by Zak Penn. What is extremely particular about THE GRAND is that it features world famous poker stars such as Phil Gordon, Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Laak, Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, and Richard Brodie.
Another cool thing about THE GRAND is that this film was made similarly to Christopher Guest’s works where the main idea is to tell actors about their characters and leave them to improvise every single scene. Basically, the main focus of THE GRAND is a poker tournament played in Las Vegas land based casino known as Golden Nugget. A cool thing is that the tournament’s winner hasn’t been specified in the script, so the end of THE GRAND was determined by the actual casino poker game played on set.
The main character of THE GRAND is a recovering drug addict Jack Faro (Harrelson) who’s decided to live in rehab because of his so many relapses. Jack Faro is a serial husband who’s been married 75 times and is still in the search. THE GRAND is basically a huge Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament that has been created by Jack’s grandpa Lucky Faro in Las Vegas. Jack’s main goal of participation in the tournament is to win the $10 million prize so that he can pay off his debt and keep open his family’s casino, The Rabbit’s Foot, that he totally mismanaged after his grandpa died. Other tournament’s players won their chance to take part in the Grand in an online poker tournament.
THE GRAND stars Woody Harrelson (One Eyed Jack Faro), David Cross (Larry Schwartzman), Dennis Farina (LBJ ‘Deuce’ Fairbanks), Cheryl Hines (Lainie Schwartzman), Richard Kind (Andy Andrews), Chris Parnell (Harold Melvin), Werner Herzog (The German), Jason Alexander (Dr. Yakov Achmed), Ray Romano (Fred Marsh), Mike Epps (Reggie Marshall), Judy Greer (Sharon Andrews), Gabe Kaplan (Seth Schwartzman), Michael Karnow (Mike Werbe), Michael McKean (Steve Lavisch), Julie Claire (Dr. Jamie Sellers).
MOLLY’ S GAME (2017)
MOLLY’ S GAME is among the modern top gambling movies, which is basically a 140 minute Biography, Crime, and Drama film about the beautiful young ex Olympic-class skier Molly Bloom who switches into gambling and runs the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world. As a result, she becomes an FBI target being arrested in the middle of the night.
MOLLY’ S GAME is based on the autobiographical book by Molly Bloom herself, while the script was written by the movie director and writer Aaron Sorkin. MOLLY’ S GAME stars Jessica Chastain (Molly Bloom), Kevin Costner (Larry Bloom), Idris Elba (Charlie Jaffey), Michael Cera (Player X), Jeremy Strong (Dean Keith), Chris O’Dowd (Douglas Downey), J.C. MacKenzie (Harrison Wellstone), Brian d’Arcy James (Brad), Bill Camp (Harlan Eustice), Graham Greene (Judge Foxman), Justin Kirk (Jay), Angela Gots (B), Natalie Krill (Winston), Stephanie Herfield (Jesse), Madison McKinley (Shelby).
MOLLY’ S GAME is quite a worthy movie with 50 nominations (e.g., Oscar Best Adapted Screenplay, Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jessica Chastain and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture, Black Reel Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture Idris Elba, Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2018 — EDA Award Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, American Cinema Editors, USA 2018 — Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic, Austin Film Critics Association 2018 — Best Adapted Screenplay and Best First Film of Aaron Sorkin, Awards Circuit Community Awards 2017 for Best Adapted Screenplay, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2018 — Critics Choice Award Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, Central Ohio Film Critics Association 2018 Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, Denver Film Critics Society 2018 Best Adapted Screenplay, Detroit Film Critics Society Awards 2017 Best Actress, Directors Guild of America, USA 2018 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film, Faro Island Film Festival 2018 Golden Carp Film Award – International Best New Director, Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 2017, Georgia Film Critics Association (GAFCA) 2018 — Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay, Gold Derby Awards 2018 for Adapted Screenplay, Hawaii Film Critics Society 2018 Best Actress, Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards 2017 Best Adapted Screenplay, Phoenix Critics Circle 2017, San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2017, St. Louis Film Critics Association, US 2017, Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards 2017, Writers Guild of America, USA 2018 Nominee and so on).
In addition, MOLLY’ S GAME has got the following awards:
- Camera, Germany 2019 (Best International Actress Jessica Chastain);
- Hawaii Film Critics Society 2018 (HFCS Award Best Actress Jessica Chastain);
- Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards 2017 (Best Adapted Screenplay Aaron Sorkin);
- Mill Valley Film Festival 2017 (Audience Award, U.S. Cinema, Aaron Sorkin);
- North Carolina Film Critics Association 2018 (Best Adapted Screenplay, Aaron Sorkin);
- Palm Springs International Film Festival 2018 (Chairman’s Award, Jessica Chastain).
DIGGSTOWN (1992)
DIGGSTOWN is a 98 minute Drama and Sport movie directed by Michael Ritchie based on the novel by Leonard Wise and screenplay by Steven McKay. DIGGSTOWN features Gabriel Caine, who has just been released from prison, when he meets a businessman who owns a boxing-mad town called Diggstown. Caine sets up a bet with Diggstown owner according to which Caine has to find a boxer who could knock out in a boxing ring 10 men from Diggstown within 24 hours. Caine finds “Honey” Roy Palmer who claims that he can do that, yet he is believed to be too old for that since he’s 48.
DIGGSTOWN stars James Woods (Gabriel Caine), Louis Gossett Jr. (‘Honey’ Roy Palmer), Bruce Dern (John Gillon), Oliver Platt (Fitz), Heather Graham (Emily Forrester), Randall ‘Tex’ Cobb (Wolf Forrester), Thomas Wilson Brown (Robby Gillon), Duane Davis (Hambone Busby), David Fresco (Fish), Willie Green (Hammerhead Hagan), Orestes Matacena (Victor Corsini), Kim Robillard (Sheriff Stennis), John Short (Corny ‘Buster’ Robbins), Michael McGrady (Frank Mangrum), Roger Hewlett (Sam Lester).
LET IT RIDE (1989)
LET IT RIDE is a 90 minute American Comedy and Action film directed by Joe Pytka at Hialeah Park Race Track based on Jay Cronley’s book and Nancy Dowd’s screenplay. LET IT RIDE is basically about a taxi cab driver Jay Trotter, who is a habitual gambler (normally unsuccessful). Suddenly Jay Trotter experiences an extremely lucky gambling day winning every single bet he makes. The problem is that he is so excited because of this stroke of luck that he can’t really stop betting. So, now the main question is whether Jay Trotter can overcome himself and bring a pretty penny home or will keep betting till he goes completely broke. Basically, the movie serves to demonstrate the personality contrasts of the protagonist as well as perpetually upbeat and hopeful attitudes of losers.
LET IT RIDE stars Richard Dreyfuss (Jay Trotter), David Johansen (Looney), Teri Garr (Pam), Jennifer Tilly (Vicki), Allen Garfield (Greenberg), Edward Walsh (Marty), Richard Edson (Johnny Casino), David Schramm (Lufkin), John Roselius (Reardon), Joseph Walsh (Vibes), Ralph Seymour (Sid), Cynthia Nixon (Evangeline), Richard Dimitri (Tony Cheeseburger), Robert Towers (Mickey Jax), Michelle Phillips (Mrs. Davis).
LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS (1998)
LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS is a 107 minute Comedy and Crime genre film written and directed by Guy Ritchie. The movie features four Jack-the-lads who have lost a crooked card game and now find themselves heavily in debt to the East End hardest man and his enforcers. Basically, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS combines loan sharks, thugs, hard gangsters, weed-growers, and debt collectors to show how different people behave in quite unexpected events as they are interested primarily in the cash, weed, and two antique shotguns.
LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS stars Jason Flemyng (Tom), Dexter Fletcher (Soap), Nick Moran (Eddy), Jason Statham (Bacon), Steven Mackintosh (Winston), Nicholas Rowe (J), Nick Marcq (Charles), Charles Forbes (Willie), Vinnie Jones (Big Chris), Lenny McLean (Barry The Baptist), Peter McNicholl (Little Chris), P.H. Moriarty (Hatchet Harry), Frank Harper (Dog), Steve Sweeney (Plank), Huggy Leaver (Paul).
LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS has 8 nominations (Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, BAFTA Film Award for Best Editing, British Independent Film Awards for Best British Director of an Independent Film and Best Original Screenplay by a British Writer of a Produced Independent Film, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 2000 for Best Editing, Tokyo International Film Festival 1998 — Tokyo Grand Prix, Prize of the City of Torino for Best Feature Film) and the following impressive list of awards:
- BAFTA Awards 1999 (Audience Award);
- British Comedy Awards 1998 (Best Comedy Film);
- British Independent Film Awards 1998 (For the Film Making the Most of Resources Within a Limited Budget);
- Csapnivalo Awards 2000 (Golden Slate for Funniest Movie);
- Edgar Allan Poe Awards 2000 (Best Motion Picture to Guy Ritchie for the screenplay);
- Empire Awards, UK 1999 (Best British Film and Best Debut to Vinnie Jones);
- Evening Standard British Film Awards 1999 (Most Promising Newcomer to Guy Ritchie);
- London Critics Circle Film Awards 1999 (British Film of the Year and British Screenwriter of the Year to Guy Ritchie);
- MTV Movie + TV Awards 1999 (Best New Filmmaker to Guy Ritchie);
- National Board of Review, USA 1999 (Special Recognition For excellence in filmmaking);
- Tokyo International Film Festival 1998 (Best Director Award to Guy Ritchie).
REVOLVER (2005)
REVOLVER is a 111 minute Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, and Thriller film directed by Guy Ritchie based on his own screenplay adapted by Luc Besson. REVOLVER features Jake Green (starred by Jason Statham) who is released from prison after spending seven years in solitary. During the next two years after his release, Jake Green amasses tons of money by gambling. Now, when he has got a lot of money, Jake is ready to revenge an incredibly violent casino owner Dorothy (Mr. D) Macha who sent him to prison nine years ago. Suddenly, Jake Green discovers that he’ll die in three days because of a rare disease. Basically, through narration and flashbacks, the plot revolves around these days of Jake Green’s danger, schemes, and redemption. Besides, the protagonist still needs to figure out his greatest enemy.
REVOLVER stars Jason Statham (Jake Green), Ray Liotta (Dorothy Macha), Vincent Pastore (Zach), André Benjamin (Avi), Terence Maynard (French Paul), Andrew Howard (Billy), Mark Strong (Sorter), Francesca Annis (Lily Walker), Mem Ferda (Macha’s Goon), Anjela Lauren Smith (Doreen), Elana Binysh (Rachel), Shend (Teddy), Bill Moody (Al), Stephen Walters (Joe), Vincent Riotta (Benny).
REVOLVER is a winner of Golden Trailer Awards 2008 for the Golden Trailer — Best Foreign Action Trailer by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).
comments
leave your comment