The Gambler

Plot synopsis:
After his grandpa dies, Jim Bennett goes straight to a Mr. Lees illegal casino. He plays a few hands of blackjack, winning at first, but ends up owing Lee and a gangster Baraka big time. Both men give him exactly one week to come up with the money. Jim continues his days as an English professor. A student, Amy, is one of the brightest in class but she happens to be waiting tables at Lees casino and she saw Jim went broke. Jim goes to his wealthy mother to ask for money, who rejects him knowing his gambling addiction. He goes to a loan shark Frank, who agrees to loan him the money but at a later time. Jim talks with a student Lamar, a rising star basketball athlete and finds out that Lamar has been hiding an injury. His mother confronts him about the gangsters spying on her house.She gives him the money when Jim tells her the truth about the debt. But instead Jim takes the money and loses it at blackjack while taking Amy out. As time is nearly out, Baraka forces Jim to reveal Lamar's contact info so he can personally force him to to fix the next game. Jim gives Baraka a wrong number and gets beaten for it, but Jim says he will tell Lamar about the game fixing. Jim then acts - he lets go of everything, giving his car to a complete stranger and quitting his job. He takes Frank's money and goes to Lamar's game. Lamar does as Jim asked him to so Jim wins big, with which he repays Baraka. He calls Frank telling him to meet him at Lees casino. He makes an double-or-nothing all-in betting the black numbers in a roulette. The bet pays off and he surrenders the money split two parts to Lee and Frank.

Tags: suspenseful, philosophical, flashback

Review:
No he isn't going to play Jabba the Hut in the next Star Wars release.Yes I did stay for the entire movie hoping that the final scene would somehow raise the stature of the film.
It was a movie that not everyone is going to like because not everyone is going to relate to Mark Wahlberg's character.
With Rupert Wyatt's The Gambler, a remake of the James Caan film of the same name coming at the end of the year following a recent trailer release like the film's release was an afterthought, we get another middling effort to showcase strong acting talent but mediocre-to-average screen writing as we watch a captivating idea be squandered by a bloated yet underdeveloped plot.Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a literature professor and a gambling addict, who doesn't know the meaning of quitting when he is up.
He's a miserable character, with the only bonus of being played by Wahlberg, one of the finest leading actors working today, who communicates Jim's moroseness nicely throughout the film.
Wahlberg is surrounded by other performers, who work equally well at matching his level of conviction, specifically Goodman, whose few scenes in the film amount to greatness in a predictable yet pleasant manner.
With that net worth, you don't need to take orders from anyone, and if anyone angers you, you can give them the old seven-letter phrase with great effect.Wahlberg and Goodman are great fun to watch because they've played these kind of wayward characters in prior films, so they know the landscape and the material is fresh in their heads.
Even the love story Monahan tries to concoct doesn't work, and at that point, we are essentially watching a collection of an interesting parts struggling to find something to work with while masquerading in a backdrop of strong cinematography by Greig Fraser (who also did this year's Foxcatcher, along with Zero Dark Thirty) and some well-executed musical cues that emphasize rather than embellish key moments.The Gambler, as a whole, however, doesn't work because despite the high stakes and the large risk factor, we see the carelessness and the disinterest of our main character run so freely throughout the film, that we ask ourselves why we should care that this man is seven days away from a grisly demise.
We can appreciate the actors, the way the setting is presented, and the music we're provided with to a certain degree, but when it comes time to dive into these characters, their motivations, and their will to live, they have very little, so why are we watching their lazy contentment with such a dour existence?Starring: Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Michael K.
The dark 1974 movie "The Gambler", starring James Caan, I thought was the definitive film about compulsive gambling.
Although this modern version gives credit to James Toback (writer of the 1974 movie), I'm sorry to say I found this film to be beyond ridiculous, with incredibly stilted and pretentious dialogue, as well as absurd characters and situations.I will say the acting, given to what they have to work with, is top notch with Mark Wahlberg leading the way as Jim Bennett, an associate professor of literature at a college.
He comes from an extremely wealthy family, but is a totally obnoxious, insulting jerk, who seemingly has a "death wish" regarding his compulsive gambling.Michael Kenneth Williams is also excellent as Neville Baraka, a loan shark and gambler, while John Goodman gives his usual most solid performance as Frank, another loan shark and mobster.
Good luck with that!!To me, this was quite the disappointment from two talented filmmakers, the director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Escapist), and the writer William Monahan (The Departed).All in all, I'm sorry to say I found this movie to be far inferior to the 1970's classic, and a major disappointment for me..
The Gambler tells the story of Jim Bennett, a college professor with a dangerous and self destructive addiction to gambling at underground casinos in the underbelly of Los Angeles.
The Gambler features great performances from Mark Wahlberg and Jessica Lange along with flashy and stylish direction from Rupert Wyatt.
Overall, The Gambler is a fitting remake that fails to capture the essence of the original but displays Mark Wahlberg in a career changing performance that shouldn't be missed..
Mark was not alone in carrying the movie as he also had help from the always great John Goodman, who could have used a lot more time in the film, and Micheal Williams who played a great antagonist to Mark's protagonist For the most part, the movie was humorous and charming all thinks to the acting chops of Markie Mark.
"Eventually a debt gets too big to pay." Jim Bennett (Wahlberg) is an English professor at a major college, as well as being a high stakes gambler.
This is definitely a movie I feel is one people will leave theaters with different opinions.Mark Wahlberg gives a great performance, maybe even the best he's ever given.
I think he gave a lot to the role and created a character that should be disliked, and probably would be if played by other actors.Jessica Lange, John Goodman, Michael Kenneth Williams, Brie Larson, Anthony Kelley, and George Kennedy all give good performances as well, no matter how big or small of a part they had they gave their characters life.The direction was good and the script had some really great dialogue, but something was missing that I really could not give it five stars.
When internet trolls/Luddite's/and a new word I will invent right now which I would call analists, decide to post reviews, pause for a moment, and take time to appreciate the craft of a great guy like Mark who has made a sincere effort to entertain us in this particular case and has succeeded.
Here is a word of advice to all of you sad little wannabes out there, watch a movie, enjoy it, and then say thank you to the people who made the film, it is what is commonly known as being a polite, civilized, decent human being.
This film stars Mark Wahlberg as a lit professor with a secret, obsessive, gambling addiction.
None of the characters are very likable (especially it's lead) but the film is beautifully shot and full of clever, witty dialogue.Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett; a literature professor with a second (hidden) life as a high-stakes gambler.
No matter how much danger he keeps putting himself into, and loved ones, he still can never stop gambling.The film is a lot like a serious drama flick about a self destructive alcoholic, or anyone with a dangerous addiction.
Was this really based on the script for 1974's The Gambler?I suspect that most people who see this version won't have seen the original, and although you could just judge this version on its merits, I can't help feeling an opportunity to make a film of real depth was lost along the way.James Toback's original story was about Axel Freed (James Caan), a university professor who gambles recklessly until he gets into debt with dangerous people.
By mixing the elements around, the film ends up deprived of tension despite a plethora of heavies who seem to have escaped from a "Batman" movie.Mark Wahlberg's character, Jim Bennett, seems far too knowing about what really drives him; Caan's Axel Freed didn't seem fully aware of his self-destructiveness until he looked at his slashed face in the mirror in the last scene; Jim Bennett telegraphs his problem to the nearest blackjack dealer from the start.Unsympathetic characters also undermine it.
Bennett's mom played by Jessica Lange is scarier than the guys he owes money to; do we really care if he blows her 250K?Wahlberg's Bennett, who goes through the film as though his diet is seriously deficient in fibre, never really hits rock bottom; totally at odds with the original story.So many things made the 1974 version so effective, the inspired script and direction, James Caan's unique stillness, Lauren Hutton's stunning girlfriend, and Paul Sorvino as the only person who has an inkling about what makes Axel Freed tick.
But for Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) it becomes a way of life as he enters the world of high risk gambling.
Why the hell did they actually make this film when there's a successful (from what I've read) version from 1974 with James Caan?Jim Bennett is a university professor, a failed writer and a notorious gambler.
Not a distinct role (just like that of Jessica Lange) but the upcoming romance luckily remains superficial.Eventually I doubted whether Jim was a truly seasoned gambler or he's simply a selfish bastard feeding upon his mothers fortune, which he gambles away without blinking an eye and without even thinking about the consequences.
The only funny thing was I kept looking at Jessica Lange as the characters she plays in American Horror Story Lol. I recommend this movie to those that like Mark Wahlberg and like to have their brains exercised during the movie.
The Gambler tells the story of a depressed university professor that owes a great deal of money to dangerous people to feed what seems to be a gambling addiction.
Your ability to enjoy this movie is almost entirely dependent on you caring and having empathy for Mark Wahlberg's character.
Mark Wahlberg plays Jim Bennett, a gambling addict who ends up owing and borrowing money from shady people you certainly don't want to be owing money to.It's when Bennett interacts with loan shark Frank (Played by John Goodman) where the films dialogue really peaks.
The problem was probably both editing and writing, i really wish they had spent a bit more time polishing those up.Overall the movie is unpredictable enough to keep it interesting which is huge to me this day and age, nothing worse then going to watch something and you see everything coming a mile away.
It's a movie that obviously set out to be an Oscar contender: it was a remake of a classic film and a classic novel; it starred Mark Wahlberg, one of the best actors in Hollywood these days; it had a terrific supporting cast, including John Goodman and Jessica Lange; and the movie was released in December of 2014, the time that Oscar contenders tend to be released if they want to get the Academy's attention.
i am a gambler myself and have been for the best part of 30 years and yes i am an addict , the only reason i am not anymore is because all the money is gone and i cannot get anymore so i would like to at least think my opinion of this film counts for something .i found it ALL , and i say ALL because that way i do not have to break down the movie to certain scenes just so ridiculous and stupid and very unrealistic .
very disappointing , next time get the movie makers to ring me when they want to make a film about the life of an addictive gambler ..
The poster also gives us the title (which lets us know that the movie is about one main character who gambles), and a tagline – "The only way out is all in", basically telling us that the title character is in over his head, wants to get out and, at some point, will risk everything to accomplish that goal.
His lack of good judgment even ends up endangering the few people who at least marginally care about what happens to him.I'm not quite sure what this movie was trying to accomplish, because being entertaining doesn't seem like it was part of the plan.
The result is a film that does not really know what it is trying to be, and neither does the audience.Mark Wahlberg disappears in his role as Jim, in fact the entire cast gives splendid performances.
Mark Wahlberg makes some very interesting acting choices in this movie, losing weight for the part and portraying the character in a way that really stretches beyond his usual style.
When Blackjack addict Jim Bennett (played by Mark Wahlberg) goes all in, which he does every time, it's more proof that he is "the kind of guy that likes to lose"  a description offered by one of the mobsters and loan sharks who lend him money.Director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 2011) and screenwriter William Monahan (The Departed) deliver a remake of the very cool 1974 film of the same title starring James Caan and written by James Toback.
By comparison Hugh Grant's and Mark Wahlenberg's professors are not truly bad people.In 'The Gambler', like in 'The Rewrite', there are some scenes of the professor at work, thus again like the other film we are introduced to some of his students, and again they play a part in the story.
The only thing that keep this movie a float is the acting of the main stars Wahlberg, John Goodman, and the young Brie Larson.
I like Mark Wahlberg, but again he seems miscast as Jim Bennett, disgruntled and disillusioned English Lit teacher who is addicted to gambling.
Also, John Goodman is pretty good as this loan shark Frank who is brutally honest about what the consequences are of not paying back money borrowed from him.Finally, Bennett has a relationship of sorts with his student played by Brie Larson.
It took me three sittings to get through this movie, partly due to boredom, and partly because I stopped caring what happened to Mark Wahlberg's character.THE GAMBLER is about Jim Bennett, who lives a double life as a college professor and a degenerate gambler.
In addition, his character shows little emotional range, making the audience share his ambivalence, not caring whether or not he finds redemption in the end.The only entertaining contribution to this movie comes from John Goodman, one of the loan sharks to whom Mark Wahlberg's character is deeply indebted.
I started feeling like I wanted to avoid this character, and therefore the entire film.So when the main plot sets in regarding Bennett putting up is own life as collateral, I didn't care.
The Gambler is a movie that you will need to concentrate on as gambling man Bennett (Wahlberg) navigates in between a swirling mix of gangsters, students, and other characters.
Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a college professor who has a huge gambling problem: he loses most of the time.
He says he wants love and the happy life, but believes he has no talent to achieve any of that and continues to gamble.Notables: George Kennedy (yeah, I thought so too, but there he was), Jessica Lang (still good and going strong as Jim's mother, his rich mother), Andre Braugher, Richard Schiff, and John Goodman who we wished kept his shirt on.
Most of the characters of this kind are women, but there are also men like Jim Bennett, a decent and passionate professor of literature and novel writer who spends his free time in gambling crazily money that he does not have, borrowing from all possible bad guys, ruining the trust of his mother and of his girlfriend.
His chance to survive depends upon getting rid of the addiction.Rupert Wyatt's "The Gambler" is written more like an action movie than as a character study.
Supporting roles are played by fine actors like Jessica Lange, John Goodman, and George Kennedy (his last movie!).
First of all, to all the people giving it bad reviews, please study Mark Wahlberg movies a little and him as well.
i had a really mixed feelings about it ,, like i really wanted to like it but i ended up hating myself for it !!Mark Wahlberg is a fine actor but i almost stopped it and went to watch Ted instead of spending another minute on this movie ...
one of the last scene when he said "i play for those two gentlemen, i'm not actually a gambler" was kind worth watching the whole one hour 40 minutes ;)So overall it's an Okay movie ...
The role of the love interest was extremely bare and something I'd expect from a film ten or twenty years ago.What raises the film above its flaws however, is that just at the point where you're about to throw things at your TV/laptop because you can "not" believe what this guy is about to do "yet again", we're given some insight into "Jim's" (Wahlberg) frame of mind and for a split second, his actions do make some sense.The message gets a bit confused after that because his speech made me think that self destruction was the theme and that's something a lot of people can relate to.
-The Gambler, a 2014 remake of a 1974 film of the same name, stars Mark Wahlberg, a college professor and gambling addict who finds himself owing 260 million dollars to two different dangerous guys.-As a remake I did not care for the original, so I liked this one a little bit more.-The story is cliché and predictable.-The pace is good, but it has its slow points.-The acting is pretty good.
It's possible to play a depressed man with a serious problem and still make him slightly likable but Wahlberg didn't manage to pull this off and his character just ends up tanking every scene in the movie.
Actors like John Goodman, Michael Kennett Williams and Jessica Lange were great additions to the cast but there not really in the film that much.
Nevertheless, the actors from The Gambler (2014) made a good work in their roles; Mark Wahlberg brings a credible and enthusiastic performance in the leading character, and he's well complemented by John Goodman, Michael Kenneth Williams, Alvin Ing and Brie Larson.
The epidemic with the gambling was passable for the storyline even though they never explain why Marks character even gets into such a addiction like this because in the film, he comes from such a high society family that seem to help him most of the time he gets into some sort of debt.