The Gambler

Literature professor Jim Bennett leads a secret life as a high-stakes gambler. Always a risk-taker, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral. Staying one step ahead, he pits his creditor against the operator of an illicit gambling ring while garnering the attention of Frank, a paternalistic loan shark. As his relationship with a student deepens, Bennett must risk everything for a second chance.

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Reviews

  • ★★★½ review by Ruslan Mavrodinov on Letterboxd

    Despite the solid performances and some fine dialogue, The Gambler often comes across as a self-indulgent and uninspired character-driven crime drama whose intriguing but ultimately uninviting story, driven by the main protagonist’s relentlessly poor decisions, remains unrealistic, alienating and simply unlikable.

  • ★★★½ review by KMOKLER on Letterboxd

    Dirk diggler went from a pornstar to a gambler, I liked him better when he was a pornstar.

  • ★★★½ review by Thomas McCallum on Letterboxd

    The M83 soundtrack was enjoyable. As was Wahlberg playing that same character he always plays.

  • ★★★½ review by Jordi Sánchez-Navarro on Letterboxd

    Aunque las motivaciones y el arco de transformación del personaje no se ven con claridad en ningún momento y las subtramas están muy desaprovechadas (y motivaciones, arcos y subtramas son esenciales en este tipo de dramas "serios"), The Gambler es resultona y tiene momentos brillantes. Eso sí, sería mucho mejor película si no fuera un producto tan consciente de molar y tan autoindulgente.

  • ★★★½ review by Elias Elias on Letterboxd

    It's not a perfect movie, but it is very well acted and that for me counts a lot. The only downside is that there is no depth in the addiction issue, but everything else is there.

    John Goodman is excellent as always, his lines are the best in the movie!

    Jessica Lange is wonderful in her role, again, never disappoints!

    I like the noir atmosphere of the film.

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