Rounders (1998)

Far from being thrilling in any way
A small film on gambling. It does not really bring anything about gambling itself as an addiction, as a total lack of judgment and reason. And the end of the film is both a total illusion because you never really win in gambling because winning is only there to make you lose even more, and a fatal last move that announces the final descent into hell, a hell that is named Las Vegas. The only strange element, original element, is the Jewish dimension introduced by the judge who should have been a rabbi and couldn't because he could not see God. He actually lent money to that poor Mike knowing that Mike was going to gamble with it and was killing his dream of ever being anything noticeable in a court of justice apart from eventually being an accused or a convicted criminal. For a judge and a law student that is particularly sorry, sad and crude.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

Best fiction movie about poker...
This is the best fiction movie ever made about poker. John Malkovich is perfect as Teddy KGB. The movie is full of poker theory and beaultiful for poker lovers...

You gotta have a love for the game
Had I seen this movie prior to my (current) addiction to the World Series of Poker, I probably would have panned this movie. I love the philosophy and the playing tips more than I like the acting. Malkovich was killing me with that Russian accent-but still the film comes out to be very entertaining. Recommended to poker lovers.