odiousgambit
odiousgambit
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November 23rd, 2009 at 3:54:00 AM permalink
Some I havent seen in a while, so just quicky reviews [non-spoiler] on some movies that featured at least some poker:

"The Cincinnati Kid"
IMO the best of the poker movies. Cautionary tale in part. Steve McQueen knows he is good, but the gambling world is a tough nut to crack.
One interesting moment out of many: the player who carefully calculates the odds of the current hand, pot odds too no doubt, then decides what to do. He winds up exasperated that he can't measure up to the other good players, who do not take this approach.

"Rounders"
I would rate this as the #2 Poker movie, also a cautionary tale. Matt Damon knows he is good, the problems are more modern.
One memorable thing: we see the players fail to insist on having a dealer all can trust. Considering the stakes involved, this did not seem realistic to me. The deal passes from player to player, and, yep, sometimes this allows some cheating.
I did not like Damon's acting too much in this movie, but I have never been crazy about him.

"The Sting"
The movie starts with Poker. Cheating at Poker! Of course, mostly about gambling other than Poker. The cautionary tale seems to be, don't be a Mark!

"Honeymoon in Vegas"
Not too much about Poker, but Nicolas Cage gets in a huge jam in this comedy by thinking he can hang with the big boys.

"Lucky You" Haven't seen this one, just on my list. Reviews welcome.


I would like to add to this list as I am sure it is quite incomplete, if anyone can add some ... good or bad !
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
DJTeddyBear
DJTeddyBear
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November 23rd, 2009 at 9:34:07 AM permalink
Regarding the lack of dealers in Rounders:

KGBs place seemed to grungy to bother with the expense of a dealer. There was enough chance of loosing a few teeth to keep people honest. I don't remember the other place featured in the movie. Was there a dealer on those tables? It was a higher-class place, but again, I think the expense probably precludes having a dealer.

Has anybody here ever visited an underground card room? Oh, sure, if it's anything other than poker, where the house money is on the line, you have to staff it. But poker? Do they use dealers at the poker tables?

As for the State Trooper game, it seemed like a casual game. Mid-level stakes. A once-in-while sort of thing. Same as any home game. No dealer.
I invented a few casino games. Info: http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ ————————————————————————————————————— Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
Wizard
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Wizard
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November 23rd, 2009 at 9:50:31 PM permalink
As I recall, they didn’t employ dealers at KGB’s place in Rounders. The players took turns dealing. I think the same about the Chesterfield. That is why Worm won by cheating there.

A comment I often make about movies is, “I should have liked it, but I didn’t.” The English Patient is a good example. However, Lucky You is the opposite. I don’t know why I kind of like it, but I do. For example, the Guts scene I can watch over and over, soaking in details of every single second. Another poker movie that I think is overlooked is Stuey.' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338467/]Stuey. Not the greatest, but kind of a guilty pleasure, like Lucky You.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
SplittingAA
SplittingAA
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November 24th, 2009 at 6:29:31 AM permalink
I agree with the Wizard on "Lucky You". There's something about it that makes it very appealing. The story line is very Hamlet like. A very talented gambler with all of the skills necessary to be successful in Vegas can't seem to put aside his ambition and desire to out do his father long enough to achieve his full potential. Robert Duvall makes almost every movie better.
Phil: I'm pretty sure that's illegal too. Alan: Yeah, maybe after 9/11, where everybody got so sensitive. Thanks a lot, bin Laden.
odiousgambit
odiousgambit
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November 24th, 2009 at 10:27:19 AM permalink
Thanks for the other movies for the list. I know a video store that has em all.

Talking to a friend, he said to add the Dean Martin flick "5 card stud"
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
DorothyGale
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November 24th, 2009 at 10:32:41 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Another poker movie that I think is overlooked is Stuey.' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338467/]Stuey. Not the greatest, but kind of a guilty pleasure, like Lucky You.



I don't know if many understood that the character in the room the whole movie with Stuey is death (or possibly the devil). That's hard to get until you think about how much this stranger knew about Stuey. I absolutely loved the movie Stuey.
"Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness!"
Wizard
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November 24th, 2009 at 11:14:54 AM permalink
Quote: DorothyGale

I don't know if many understood that the character in the room the whole movie with Stuey is death (or possibly the devil). That's hard to get until you think about how much this stranger knew about Stuey. I absolutely loved the movie Stuey.



I wondered about that. There was a similar episode of Family Ties where Alex is questioned by an off-camera voice the entire episode. In both cases I thought it was a psychiatrist, who was never seen for dramatic effect. However, I could easily be wrong. I should watch it again to form a more informed opinion.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
PlayHunter
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December 16th, 2012 at 7:30:50 AM permalink
The Ultimate Winner (2011) - The movie starts with a few poker games but ultimately it is about gambling and money management.
vendman1
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December 16th, 2012 at 8:01:05 AM permalink
There is an old movie from the 60's I think called " A Big hand for the Little Lady"... about a high stakes back room poker game that a women reluctantly gets involved in. Star studded cast. Very entertaining film.

Edit: Just Googled it: 1966, Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward..bunch of other top rate actors. Well worth a look if you haven't seen it.
paisiello
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AxiomOfChoice
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December 16th, 2012 at 2:35:39 PM permalink
Quote: DJTeddyBear

Has anybody here ever visited an underground card room? Oh, sure, if it's anything other than poker, where the house money is on the line, you have to staff it. But poker? Do they use dealers at the poker tables?



I have. There has always been a dealer.

Dealers are cheap. Any raked game can easily afford to pay a dealer. Besides, without one, who will collect the rake?

I've even played in legal (unraked) home games with dealers. The dealer would deal for tips (and not tipping would obviously be frowned upon an probably guarantee that you wouldn't be invited back; it was never a problem)
Buzzard
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December 16th, 2012 at 3:06:29 PM permalink
1957 I was 17 and dealing 5 card stud in back room of Henry G's poolroom in Baltimore. Henry was a bookie who beat the Feds and
The Kefauver committee as a big time book in Miami previously. My Dad drove a cab and the card game at the cab lot was Pinochle.

Out front of the pool room guys often played Gin Rummy? How big was Gin Rummy back then. Well in 1964 the movie
Goldfinger came out. The girl who got painted gold and died had been helping Goldfinger cheat at Gin Rummy.

The Cincinnati Kid did not come out until 1968. Funny thing about the king of poker now, Hold'em. It never got really popular
nationwide until the 80's. Back as far back as the 30's there was a poker game called Cincinnati. Just like hold'em today. Well except for each player getting 5 card hands. LOL

Up until 1990 there were lots of illegal card rooms all over Denver. Besides the veteran's club, some were in strip malls. Unfortunately when gaming was legalized in 1990. most of the dealers were barred from dealing in casino's in Colorado.

You could be an ax murder, but 5 years past serving your sentence, you could get a license to deal. But id you ever had a misdemeanor ticket for gambling, you were barred for life.

There is a crime worse that takng a life. It's the unforgivable offense of recreation without taxation.
Shed not for her the bitter tear Nor give the heart to vain regret Tis but the casket that lies here, The gem that filled it Sparkles yet
SACR
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December 16th, 2012 at 3:53:15 PM permalink
Anyone else like "The Grand"?

Woody Harrelson movie, very much like Best in Show in that it is a mockumentary following a group of people trying to win The Grand, which is a poker tournament. Harrelson is a ne'er-do-well who inherited his grandfather's casino in downtown Vegas, The Rabbit's Foot. His grandfather looks suspiciously like Benny Binion.

It is a very funny movie, but not many people have seen it.
tringlomane
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December 16th, 2012 at 3:55:35 PM permalink
Quote: SACR

Anyone else like "The Grand"?

Woody Harrelson movie, very much like Best in Show in that it is a mockumentary following a group of people trying to win The Grand, which is a poker tournament. Harrelson is a ne'er-do-well who inherited his grandfather's casino in downtown Vegas, The Rabbit's Foot. His grandfather looks suspiciously like Benny Binion.

It is a very funny movie, but not many people have seen it.



I want to say I turned the channel after 10 minutes after finding it on one of my cable channels.
slyther
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December 17th, 2012 at 9:46:12 AM permalink
Im going to add the Daniel Craig iteration of "Casino Royale" to the list... yes the poker is way obvious and over the top, but it's still poker and still fun.
DRich
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December 17th, 2012 at 1:39:47 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

As I recall, they didn’t employ dealers at KGB’s place in Rounders. The players took turns dealing. I think the same about the Chesterfield. That is why Worm won by cheating there.

A comment I often make about movies is, “I should have liked it, but I didn’t.” The English Patient is a good example. However, Lucky You is the opposite. I don’t know why I kind of like it, but I do. For example, the Guts scene I can watch over and over, soaking in details of every single second. Another poker movie that I think is overlooked is Stuey.' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338467/]Stuey. Not the greatest, but kind of a guilty pleasure, like Lucky You.



Wasn't it right after Stuey came out that Andy Glazer committed suicide? Or, maybe it was while they were still working on the movie?

I really liked the movie Maverick.
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
Ayecarumba
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December 17th, 2012 at 4:37:44 PM permalink
Anyone for "Cool Hand Luke"? Paul Newman, George Kennedy, and a bunch of boiled eggs...
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
Buzzard
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December 17th, 2012 at 4:56:47 PM permalink
And the worst can be seen here, with video clips. http://www.pokerology.com/poker-articles/worst-poker-movies/
Shed not for her the bitter tear Nor give the heart to vain regret Tis but the casket that lies here, The gem that filled it Sparkles yet
thezone
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December 17th, 2012 at 5:15:05 PM permalink
Lets not forget 'The Cooler' . Not as good as some of the others mentioned, but definitely worth watching.
gameterror
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January 3rd, 2013 at 5:25:55 AM permalink
i think the mini series tilt was pretty good. nothing special but worth a watch
Things have never been so swell I have never failed to fail
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