Recommending: favorite casino movies to watch

Now, let’s be clear and fair right from the start. We haven’t chosen movies who are solely about casino and trivial spinning of slots, but movies who have rather deeper understanding themes, movies with substance and purpose. It’s not as simple as pure gambling, it’s a well thought summary, meant to reveal our perspective on the idea of chance and loss in life.

The Card Counter

The cast is quite an exquisite one, Oscar Isaac lives up to a dark role, and the director is a very valued and popular one, Paul Schrader being well known especially for its movie, Taxi Driver. The Card Counter is taking you on a ravishing trip into men’s moral responsibility. Oscar Isaac plays the role of William Tell, an ex-inmate who tells his tense, yet still unemotional story of learning how to count cards while imprisoned.

He had learnt to use this skill when he got out from prison, starting a difficult and depressing journey from casino to casino, and enjoying many lucky strikes. We don't know from the start exactly why he was in jail, so the story gradually reveals the denser experience. Filled with quick, powerful and almost violent images, we can feel the agonizing past in flashes.

The Card Counter can feel quite uncomfortable to the viewer, as if you’re truly experiencing the unease and inability of the main character to adapt to the society and to normal life. His inner tension feels like a dark bubble flying above the city and about to explode at any time, creating chaos and destruction around him.

Casino

After taking you on a less familiar path, we’re going back to classics. Here’s an epic title which you’ve probably heard of at least, if you haven’t seen it too. An epic tale brought together by Martin Scorsese, with the valuable help of popular actors such as Robert de Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. The movie is mixing smooth humor and vivid scenes, while taking you on a familiar journey. Reviews were generally positive, but everyone agreed that this wasn’t a bold or out of the ordinary hit for Scorsese. The result was that Sharon Stone was the only actor receiving an Oscar nomination. Behind the apparent shallow Vegas lights, the main theme is one which the director is popular for, self-destruction. And it well applies to all 3 main characters. Ambition and thirst for money are the main elements which create the downfall.

21

This is one of those movies which might remind you of your college girlfriend/boyfriend. Years after, looking back, you can see all sort of faults and issues with the relationship and even with the person, but for some mysterious reason, you were once madly in love. Some might say instead of a high stakes movie, this qualifies more as high-school movie, as the plotline seems a bit thin and shallow.

Meant to be a morality sort of tale, 21 is not focusing that much on the actual casino games, but rather on the emotional state of mind and character transformation. Despite all this, you will sense a sort of appeal and timid sensuality, which can cover up for the plot. Characters are well built and convincing enough to make you enjoy it.

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Guy Ritchie makes a thrilling, dark comedy movie, which stands out among other similar movies. You know the gangster formular which this director has accustomed us with. It’s meant to keep you on your toes and barely breath. You’ll end up feeling tense, laughing at times and living in a rollercoaster of emotions. Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Jason Statham and Nick Moran are 4 friends who live in a crime filled scene of East End London, used to gambling and living on the edge. The gang puts all their money on a casino game, which turns out to be a sad setup, meant to make them lose all their money. They have an ultimatum, one week, to gather up $800K they owe to the host. You’ve got many gangs, many subplots and lots of witty conversions to catch up, so buckle up and keep the rhythm.

You might want to use subtitles, no matter your native language, as it can be tough to follow the fast and raw dialogue.

Rounders

You’ve got Matt Damon, Edward Norton and John Turturro acting here, so you know from the start things simply can’t go too bad. And they’re not. The movie might not be a masterpiece or a subtle kind of scenery, but Rounders ends up being quite entertaining and pleasant to watch. Speaking of the plot, what happens basically is that a sweet guy called Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) ends up losing his money in a poker game against a dangerous gangster played by John Malkovich (oh, right, we forgot to mention, John Malkovich is also here!). He tries quitting gambling and leave this dangerous path behind him, as he has a pretty girlfriend who really wants him to do so (Gretchen Mol). However, soon enough his friend “Worm” gets released from prison and sort of convinces him not to.

The nickname says it all, we assume it’s his destiny to challenge the main character’s will power and strength. All in all, Rounders has a rich atmosphere and benefits from a vivid performance from its really nice cast of actors, making it a good choice of casino themed movie to watch./p>