Croupier

Plot synopsis:
Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) is an aspiring writer going nowhere fast. To make ends meet and against his better judgment, he takes a job as a croupier. The interview was set up by his father, a small-time hustler back home in South Africa.
Jack finds himself drawn into the casino world, and the job gradually takes over his life. He goes drinking with Matt (Paul Reynolds), a croupier who he knows is cheating the casino. He sleeps with a fellow croupier named Bella (Kate Hardie) in contravention of casino policy. His relationship with girlfriend Marion (Gina McKee) begins to deteriorate when he lets her read part of his book about a cold, unfeeling croupier who enjoys seeing gamblers lose — a character transparently based on Jack himself. Bella confronts Jack at his apartment, accuses him of getting her fired and tells Marion about the one-night stand.
One gambler, Jani (Alex Kingston), tries to befriend Jack — another serious violation of casino rules. Jani shows him bruises saying she got them from gambling creditors and asks Jack to be the inside man for a planned robbery at the casino. All he has to do is raise the alarm when a gambler cheats at his table. Jack eventually agrees and accepts a £10,000 advance with an additional £10,000 if all goes well. In doing so, Jack notices that Jani's injuries were faked.
Marion reconciles with Jack but discovers that he is involved in something criminal and tries to foil it. On the night of the robbery, Jack raises the alarm anyway and gets beaten by the gambler as a distraction while others try to grab the money. They fail, and Jack and Marion have an argument but she stays with him.
When a late-night knock at the door comes, Jack assumes it to be the casino robbers demanding the return of their advance money. Instead, it is a policeman, who informs him that Marion has been killed in an apparent hit-and-run.
Jack finishes his book and gets it published anonymously. It is a big success, but he doesn't change anything about his life, continuing to work as a croupier and live in his basement flat, not even buying the new car he wanted.
Jack goes on with his life and gets another call, this one from Jani, who congratulates him on playing his part in the attempted robbery and implies that she benefited significantly. Then she puts his father on the phone, and he implies that he set up the croupier job for Jack in order to arrange for the attempted robbery, and he benefited as well.
Stunned but amused, Jack hangs up. Just then, Bella appears from the bedroom and kisses him.

Tags: revenge, neo noir, murder, violence, romantic

Review:
Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) is a struggling writer, who on the advice of his father takes a job as a croupier at a local casino, a job he previously held when he lived in South Africa.
Mike Hodges' film 'Croupier' tells the stark story of Jack Manfred, a writer who sells his soul to work in a casino.
He has obviously had a lot of training - only one criticism of his technique - he looks in the wheel as the ball is dropping - a good dealer looks at the layout and watches for late bets, he should be the last person to know which number has come up - he must have eyes in the back of his head tospot a cheat the way he deals!For realism, you can't fault this film - every character, even the peripheral extras are real and believable - it's a tour de force of perfect character sketches - the plot is almost irrelevant - in fact, it is not quite up to the incredible atmosphere created - but it's good enough, the film is well worth your time.
It has a detached character (or even  better, two characters) who progressively get involved in a shadowy  world from an apparently safe beginning, it has voice-overs, lots of  artistic and original swearing, a depressing atmosphere and if you  don't feel like lighting a cigarette with a Zippo after the movie is  over, you're dead.
Clive Owen gives an amazing performance as the croupier of the title,  who is very conscious of his split personalities: Jack, a gambler, the  writer who works in the casino to pay the bills, and Jake, a croupier,  a man who enjoys watching his customers losing all his money and who  makes sure he's always dealing the cards.
British director Mike Hodges returns with his trademark hands-on film noir twisting with Owen  part Connery/part Gibson  as a contemptuous struggling novelist who takes a job as a casino croupier with much disdain for its clientele and the razor's edge trundling of enjoying the afterhours lifestyle while struggling to maintain his identity from his story's semi-autobiographical character.
This is surely a combination of Mike Hodges directorial skill, the script and Clive Owen's acting ability.The film is essentially a character study, with a front of a gambling film, that examines this character and his relationships with the people in his life, - his girlfriend, boss, father and colleagues, how he sees the world, and how he will cope when presented with certain situations.It is brought to the screen with quality that demands attention and a score that heightens the atmosphere the film creates and really sets the tone..
However, after his father arranges for him a job offer as a croupier in a casino, his life gets completely transformed: His new world and the creatures that live in it begin to devour him, and his character gets gradually reshaped.
A small plot twist in the end adds up to the overall excitement.Clive Owen is simply superb as the icy croupier, who although he tries to be detached, he simply cannot (and probably does not want to) escape from his downhill path.
Also, Clive Owen makes a great lead as Jack, who goes through changes in his careers as a writer and a croupier.
As he drifts apart from his girlfriend he loses himself in the world and starts breaking the rules  ultimately getting involved with a patron, Jani, who asks him for help in organising a heist at the casino.Quite often it'll be the UK, European or underground markets that expose an American film as a good film after the US market has ignored it, but with Croupier it worked the other way round.
I can't think of another film that I've seen that uses voice-over to such a degree (and makes it work), usually heavy voice-over use implies that the script and characters were not strong enough to hold the film up by themselves.The clever twisting of Jack/Jake is subtle but done to good effect and was a big part of the reason that this film engaged me.
That said it still works due to his character and some great direction from Hodges who avoids being overly flashy as the gambling world setting often encourages directors to be.Owen is very good and convinces in his many scenes  he is the heart of the film and it is to his credit that he manages to do it.
This connected very well with the story telling method the film got across.The fact that early on, his father calls to tell him he's supposedly moving into a new business is not in the slight bit interesting to Jack (Owen) and this also suggests a lack of interest and communication skills with people, most noticeably this time his family.
Other such things include the way we see a conflict towards the end at a gambling table, yet we don't cut away to the following situation in the office where the offender was taken to by the management, like we would've done in films such as 'The Cooler' (2003).There are very few disappointing things with Croupier but one I can't forgive is the scene that the final third of the film builds towards; the actual robbery.
In fact it's pretty dull, yet effective acting from all concerned and this added to the film and its atmosphere it had going on.With most of the good principals Croupier has and very few flaws, the film ends up being a stylish, dark and close to depressing noir tale that delivers..
Hodges turns on the magic, however, making the life of Jack Manfred, struggling writer and part-time Croupier as complex and as multidimensional as any character I've ever seen, as he is sucked into London's gaming underworld.This is a great film - I can't tell you too much or I'll spoil it, because this one twists and turns and doubles back on itself like a rattlesnake in a sack.
Clive Owen is fantastic as the emotionless, stony faced Croupier, and the supporting cast is always believable.This is a low budget film, with minor stars and functional sets, but the quality of the writing, acting and directing shines through and I only loved this film more when I saw it again on cable pay-per-view.
This film has a cool feel to it with Clive Owen's portraying Jack Manfredi as highly intelligent, not easily rattled, observant, but at the same time detached and emotionally cold man.
Its an atmospheric film that draws you into mental workout through some stylish directing - firstly, you feel as if you are inside the casino with Owen, then one feels perched on his shoulder, he then draws you in with his views of those around him, then as the film progresses, you become a friend of his, and through a smooth direction in narative (which seems entirely plausible) you go beyond perching, and venture instead into Owens head - you feel like you are there rooting along side him, as if you are kindred spirits and are reading his mind.......Owen excels as the Croupier, his portrayal FORCES you into joining him, whether you want to or not.The plot is subtle, and I wont spoil the outcome.
Directed by Mike Hodges(Get Carter - 1971) and starring the actor from the BMW Films, Clive Owen, Croupier tells the tale of an aspiring novelist(played by Owen) who gets a job as a BlackJack dealer (The Croupier) at a London Casino where things aren't always what they appear to be.
Through the film's splendid voice over narration, he uses his experience working at the Casino as material for a book.The best things about this film is how it details the job of the Croupier, and the atmosphere of the Casino itself.
It was a heist movie directed by Mike Hodges of GET CARTER fame and it`s a movie that brought Clive Owen to everyone`s notice , but it was a movie I never got round to seeing until a few nights ago when channel 4 broadcast it.Right away I was convinced that I was going to be watching something that was influenced by CASINO , Hodges directing style of this movie screamed at me Scorsese , Scorsese , Scorsese but after the first ten or so minutes that struck me the movie might not be going anywhere it finally finds its feet .
CROUPIER might not be the most compelling movie I`ve seen all year but it is a very interesting drama as we follow Jack Manfred a wannabe writer who works in a casino .
Like I said this is mainly a drama than a crime film and I must say that Hodges has perfectly captured the rather impersonal , empty and lonely atmosphere of London very well , and seeing as Clive Owen seems really at home in a casino wearing a tuxedo he wins my nomination as the next Bond .
Not until I saw 'Croupier', ironically made long before those two other movies.Here he plays the mysterious out-on-his-luck writer Jack, moonlighting at a shifty London casino while writing the confessions of a man of his trade.
Things are good for Jack until a noir like femme fatale makes entry to his world.But 'Croupier' is not your ordinary thriller.
Its not one to be watched for light entertainment, but if you're interested in getting inside the heads of others, you'll no doubt related to, and be interested in, the lead character, played by Clive Owen.The way the game (also know as the film) is played is exquisite.
Clive Owen's Jake provides the narration in the form of the book that he is writing (a nice touch) and analyzes the people that work at and the ones that frequent a gambling casino.
After a great delay in his filmmaking, Mr. Hodges returns with a biting film of twists and turns, that will hold your attention, and (god forbid) have you interested.Clive Owen plays Jack - and Jake - when he so chooses.
Croupier centres around Clive Owen and his character, Jack, a frustrated author who takes a job at a casino arranged by his father.
Jack slowly morphs into Jake, the central character in the book he is finally able to write based on his own experiences at the casino.Owen is in virtually every scene and carries the film well, showing he can make the jump from small screen to big screen.
Casinos really would be an excellent place for a novelist to observe.In this film, the main character is an aspiring novelist that takes a croupier position to pay the bills and to find new material.
The main character in this movie is named Jack Manfred(Clive Owen).
Hodges the director of Get Carter, struggled for many years to get funding for any films in the UK, on this evidence its hard to see why, it's a masterpiece of Neo Noir, Clive Owen gives a stirring performance as Jack, who's brooding character gives us a remarkable insight into his character with the best voice-over I have heard in many moons, Jack making poignant remarks to the viewer almost after every brief dialogue.
The film is also a finely crafted insight into writers block, with Jack unsure of his ability sometimes straying into his novel's main characters guise of Jake,Marion's suspicious nature of his late night liasions and her dislike of his book idea also lend an interesting relationship angle.
It's portrayal of the compulsive gambler, with his hunger, suppression of conscience, and delusional way of thinking, is a perfect antithesis of the movie's main protagonist, a croupier named Jack Manfred (Clive Owen).
Its' plot revolves around a humble stalwart of the Croupiers' who refuses to be corrupted and, so it seems, just wants to get on with life and his eventual aim to be a best-selling author.The film plays a very interesting method of twisting through elements of Jack Carter (Clive Owen) life exploring his relationship between his girlfriend, the casino and more spectacularly, the aftermath when the two combine.As a low-budget film, Mike Hodges uses very surreal atmospheric scenery and mood projections to add a very experienced touch of class.
Although this might be considered overdone in places, this film does serve to give young and inspiration-seeking directors a good taste of how a simple story can be transcribed into an effective projection on the big screen.It is a real shame this piece of work was only given a limited release but this should not dissuade the movie buff to get out and see this film at some time.
Anyway, apart from Clive Owen, Mike Hodges has brought to the screen a really good entertaining story, which, without giving the plot away, has you guessing right to the end..
Croupier is a very good thriller that would have never been seen if it wasn't for Shooting Gallary, and then the film opened in a few muliplexes, remarkable considering this little movie never even got picked up the first time around and now has made 6 million+.
I also loved the acting- clive owens was perfect as the ennui-filled writer/croupier with a good head on his shoulders.
And bloody good it is, too."Croupier" comes to you from Mike Hodges, who also directed the sublime "Get Carter" and the not-so-sublime, but highly amusing, "Flash Gordon."  And it's easily one of the best crime movies of the 1990s, especially since it comes without the layer of Hollywood gloss that makes so many movies - even acclaimed ones like "LA Confidential" - seem glamorized and fake.Clive Owen does a superb job conveying much of his character's inner life through tone of voice and facial expression, which is very important in such a subtle flick.
Also, like THE SPANISH PRISONER, once you have accepted the basic air of smart-alecky contrivance, CROUPIER is very enjoyable, in fact even more so, because as a director, Mike Hodges has known greatness, whereas David Mamet has not.Set in the mirror-distorting world of casinos, the film is actually a pretentious rumination on the nature of the artist.
I tried to like those parts, but it became very difficult.From the outside it is a well done film, I mean; directed by a respected British filmmaker (Mike Hodges), an interesting plot, an attractive main character and among other films, poker.
I haven't seen lots of poker pictures, but before "Croupier" I had seen some very good showings of this thrilling card game; for instance, "Rounders" and more recently "Shade".Comparing Mike Hodges' film with the latter ones would only be useful in terms of how the movies deal with the game.
We see everything in Jack's (Clive Owen) life as a croupier, writer, gambler or whatever, and what I think is that the film gets so centered in him that it becomes boring.In the pages of what's close to a screenplay owner of contradictions, Jack walks along in his different facets and Paul Mayersberg forgets about the rest of the people involved in his tale.
It presents the main character's narration that at moments gets confused with the rest of the story, generating big time lines problems.Although it gets tedious, Clive Owen's narration is good, as his performance.
This smart little film moves along quickly, with Owen as the centerpiece involved with three beautiful women, gives insights into the job/life of a croupier, and winds up with a clever ending.
"Croupier" is thinking-person's noir, very much like "Spanish Prisoner" or "House of Games" or "Hard Eight." The voice over doesn't 100% work, but has some rationale as literally a writer's voice.While Clive Owens' intense performance is the primary reason to see the film, it does provide the opportunity to again see Alex Kingston in a role almost as sexy as in TV's "Moll Flanders." It has a nicely complex plot that reverses and turns in and around and keeps you guessing and then swirls back again.It is worth seeing on a big screen.(originally written 5/2/2000)(revised 3/29/2008 as my version submitted on 30 November 2005 offended someone).
The plot has nice twists and turns, but really the best thing about this film is Clive Owen.
Hodges Never Quite Attained Anything Beyond Cult Movie Respect, but Owens, On the Other Hand, is Still On the Rise.It's a Smart, British-Neo-Noir This, With Voice-Over, Snappy Cynical Dialog, Icy-Cool Dames and Characters that Operate on the Fringes, Mostly Struggling with Life and Their Place In It. The Film has Atmosphere and Stunning Scenes in the Casino that Mirror and Reflect a Gaudy but Attractive World that is Forever in Reach, but Slippery.The Story is About a Writer/Gambler Who Writes but Doesn't Gamble and the People that Inhabit His Detachment.
An aspiring writer (Clive Owen) is hired as a croupier at a casino, where he realizes that his life as a croupier would make a great novel.My interest in gambling movies is about average, though I do find them somewhat interesting in the context of organized crime.
Clive Owen is "Croupier" in this 1998 film directed by Mike Hodges.
But although it makes for a good story, the reality is that his life is spiralling out of control.Croupier is known for two main things outside of being a good and interesting film.
Secondly is that it was largely ignored on release in its homeland of Britain, but after America took a liking to Mike Hodges tantalising tale, it scored a re-release and Owen and the film have not really looked back since.Tho not quite deserving of the sleeper gem reputation it has, Croupier none the less is a strong London based thriller set amongst the ducking and diving world of the all night casino.
Every detail - from the seedy background characters of the casino to slick hands of the dealer - come to life seemingly without effort.A tight, minimal script - the film could almost be a stage play - highlighted by strong perfomances makes CROUPIER a minimalist treat..