CORPORATE LINE: Set against the backdrop of New York’s high-stakes underground poker world. Mike McDermott (Damon), a master card player who trades the poker playing rounds for law school and a shot at a new life with his girlfriend. For Mike, the new life he is staking out seems to be a legitimate road to success, but it is short on thrills and excitement of backroom poker games. When his friend is released from prison, Mike is faced with the high-stakes dilemma of his life.
THE FILM: John Malkovich is a great actor—but his attempt at the accent is terrible. Another problem with Rounders is the lingo. Sometimes you wonder if you even understand what is going on as some of the action revolves around the poker lingo.
Rounders is a gorgeous film and is full of suspense—but many of the key players aren’t used to further the movie. Norton is the mover and shaker while Damon sleepwalks his way through the movie. The rest of the characters are far too underutilized.
DVD FEATURES: The commentaries from Edward Norton, director John Dahl, and the screenwriters are nice. The conversations are insightful and fun. The commentary with real life poker players is perhaps the highlight of the extras. There is also a simplistic tutorial on playing Texas Hold ‘Em and some poker tips that don’t exactly get you ready for a tournament.
FRANKLY: Rounders is a film that doesn’t lived up to its potential and the great cast is literally wasted. In the end Rounders becomes the typical Hollywood film when it had all the chances in the world to be something different.
+ Charlie Craine
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