Film Review: Rounders

Posted on the 27 May 2013 by Donnambr @_mrs_b

Summary:

Rounders is a great tale of the dangers of gambling and card games.

More DetailsAbout Rounders (1998)Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is a law student who has given up his true talent (and love), gambling, when he loses all of his money to Teddy KGB (John Malkovich in a hilarious role). Months later, when his friend Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of jail and is on a strict deadline to repay a £15,000 debt to Teddy, he must decide whether or not to help his friend, threatening his student status and relationship with his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol). Tightly written, beautifully photographed by the brilliant Jean-Yves Escoffier, and well-played all across the board (particularly by Norton), this is a work of slick, enjoyable entertainment.

Starring: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Paul Cicero, John Turturro, Ray Iannicelli

Directed by: John Dahl

Runtime: 121 minutes

Studio: Lions Gate Home Entertainment

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Review: Rounders 

John Dahl’s drama focuses on Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), an ace card player and gambler who manages to lose everything to Teddy “KGB” (John Malkovich) at the outset. Nine months on, Mike is in law school and living with his girlfriend and fellow law student Jo (Gretchen Mol), working a part-time job delivering goods to keep in education. In his new life Mike has stayed clear of cards but when his childhood friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison the temptation to open a deck of cards and get back to winning money begins to gnaw at him.

Mike’s arrogance sees him lose all his money at the outset but less than a year on he has rebuilt his life and the future looks promising. Worm’s return scuppers everything. His time in prison has been spent in honing his card skills but the impulsive nature and loudmouth have not left Worm. Very soon it emerges that Worm has existing debts and it is down to Mike to try and clear them all within five days. Can he do it? Or will Worm be left at the mercy of the debt collectors?

The pairing of Damon and Norton is a strong one here. Worm is a ticking time bomb from the outset and while Mike fights hard to keep away from cards his life in both school and with Jo deteriorates until she leaves him. Mike must rediscover his gift at cards to help Worm out of a precarious position. This made for a tense and absorbing turn in the narrative as the two friends see their relationship begin to break under the pressure. The bulk of the film was great with one or two questionable moments such as an alarmingly quick recovery from being beaten up and some of the story line with Worm feels unfinished by the conclusion.

Rounders is a great tale of the dangers of gambling and card games. It’s always fascinating watching card players trying to out think one another and watching Mike in full flow is terrific. Damon and Norton make for a great double act but the likes of Malkovich are underused, which is a shame. That aside though, this is still worth considering.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)