It’s just a horrible accent, but his lines are as quotable as Lou Gerhig. He looks like he’s having fun being a one-dimensional jackass with a bad Russian accent. John Malkovich is probably the most colorful part of this movie. If he loses, he drives a beat-up truck through smoke-filled New York streets, to the sounds of some smooth jazz. People describe him as “smart” and “inventive” and “tough”, thanks to his quick Poker instincts. It makes the whole thing a little more personal and the camera catches how people feel as Matt Damon drolls out snazzy sentences. The narration in Rounders is probably the best part of the movie. It’s much more fun and entertaining-and hey, it’s not my money. The Gambler doesn’t celebrate anything but losing, but Rounders completes it’s down-on-your-luck story in a positive way. Rounders places Poker celebrities front-and-center and Matt Damon’s character obsesses over them.
It does not have that type of grit and realism. This movie is the opposite tone of The Gambler (1974) starring James Caan, which I reviewed a few weeks ago.
What’s this movie’s message? Is there one? This movie is like a brightly colored billboard for Poker, and it plays like an advertisement. If I did that, I’d probably lose my house. Rounders (1998) is a very popular Poker movie, and stars Matt Damon as a down-on-your-luck go-getter, who gambles thousands of dollars instead of going to law school.
