CARD SHARK'S REVIEW OF:
ROUNDERS (1998)

OPENING THOUGHTS

    This movie is solely responsible for the poker boom in this country, if not the world. Over the weekend I realized that this is easily in my top 5 films of all time but that I had never given it that recognition. This movie is about poker players playing against all odds and either winning it all or going down in a blaze of glory. This movie has had more of an impact on my life than the entire Star Wars franchise or any of the other classics we all hold in such high regard. But it is still weird to me to think about it that way.

ACTING

    MATT DAMON played the part of Mike McDermott, the poker player who is ready to take his shot at the big time. From the beginning of the film to the end he shows just how infectious playing cards can be. Every player I know loves the game and hates the game but cannot stop playing it. Another common theme is that every player thinks they are better than they are, myself included. Damon nailed the part perfectly and I can't help but love the character, and I think you will too.
    EDWARD NORTON is Worm, Matt Damon's sidekick, and he too plays his part just the way he should. He's the buddy in the film that is always getting Mike into some kind of crazy shit. He is the friend we wish we didn't have, but can't help but follow them around anyway, even though we know we are get ourselves into trouble at the same time. Don't look at me like I am the only one who knows that guy...
    JOHN MALKOVICH goes by the name Teddy KGB in this flick. He created an amazing character that everyone at any poker table loves to quote because of the sweet accent he uses in the movie. Yeah, some consider it a little over the top, but we can't stop talking about it, so maybe it's perfect at all. Teddy is a big man in the Russian Mafia, the kind you don't want to piss him off or owe money too, and Malkovich does a good job of making you believe that he is just that.

DIRECTION AND SCRIPT

    JOHN DAHL did a great job directing this movie. The only thing I don't get is how he went from making this film to making crap like Joy Ride. With this movie he does a great job depicting how people think and act at the poker table, and why it is easy to separate the new players from their money. I noticed he has been directing a lot of TV shows lately, never-the-less I am still going to keep my eye out for more of this guy's stuff.
    DAVID LEVIEN and BRIAN KOPPELMAN were responsible for this amazing script. This is the first example I have written about on this site where I think the writers really knocked one out of the park. They really got into and exposed the game of poker to the world, and thankfully they didn't hold back at all. I really appreciated that they held true to the relationships that poker players have with each other and with the ups and downs everyone who plays the game experiences.

THE VERDICT

    This movie changed the poker world forever. Because of this movie Chris Moneymaker played in the World Series of poker and won the main event. Moneymaker is really charismatic and he in turn made instant fans of thousands and thousands of people. That same year ESPN started using the pocket hole camera that allowed the viewer at home to see the cards that people were playing, and this added a great dimension to the game. If any one of these things hadn't happened I would not be playing the game today. This film is a pitch perfect movie from beginning to end and I am proud to award this movie with my very first A.
 
 

RATING: A

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