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Rounders

Starring: Matt Damon, Edward Norton
Director: John Dahl
Genre: Drama
Year: 1998
Rating: 4 / 5

It does for poker what The Hustler did for pool. Greeted by this sort of praise before even entering the movie theatre, my expectations for Rounders were quite high. This new film from director John Dahl, starring current hot commodities Matt Damon and Edward Norton, is quite the compelling look at the seedy poker underworld, yet it falls just short of being a truly magical film. Do not be misled - the movie is one of the most well-acted I have seen recently, escpecially from veteran character actors John Malkovich and Martin Landau, yet the heat and energy that would push this film over the top are missing.

Rounders takes us to New York City, where Mike McDermott, a second-year law student, finds himself investing $30,000 in a poker game with local legend Teddy KGB (Malkovich), a man with known mob connections. Convinced that he has hand that cannot lose, Mike risks everything, only to watch in horror as Teddy claims the pot. Swearing to his girlfriend Jo (sizzling newcomer Gretchen Mol) that his gambling days are over, Mike walks away from his one true passion and redevotes himself to law school.

Fast forward nine months, as Mike's childhood friend "Worm" (Norton) is released from prison, looking to step right back into the old days, when he and Mike used to own the town. Mike is a new man, however, having been "domesticated" by his girlfriend and his forthcoming career. Unfortunately for Mike, it seems that Worm entered prison with a sizeable gambling debt, one that has only grown during his time inside. Worm's days are clearly numbered, and his only chance is for Mike to break his word and come out of "retirement." It is this decision which lies at the very core of the movie, and one which will determine the very direction of Mike's life in the future.

Damon (Good Will Hunting) and Norton (Primal Fear) due an excellent job portraying these lifelong friends, two people from the poor side of town whose lives have taken them in very different directions. I was unable to understand, though, why Mike McDermott would risk everything for Worm. The message of the movie is to follow the heart, that if gambling is what is in the blood, that gambling is the way. Nonetheless, Mike is forever blinded by his devotion to his good friend, to the point that he lets his own life reach unimaginable depths before awakening to a painful realization. Rounders does provide tension through its many poker sequences, and it is fascinating to watch Mike and the other professionals as they ply their trade. When all the cards are dealt, though, it seems that Rounders came up one card shy of a full house.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for strong language.
Running Time: 120 minutes.

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