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jmills
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January 21st, 2020 at 11:08:41 AM permalink
Uncut Gems was fantastic. Best depiction of a degenerate gambler since Owning Mahoney.
aceofspades
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January 21st, 2020 at 12:04:01 PM permalink
I watched this a couple of weeks ago - it was a good escape for 90 minutes (definitely not Oscar worthy lol)


TigerWu
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January 21st, 2020 at 1:11:39 PM permalink
I can't stand Adam Sandler. He's one of my most hated actors. The godawful comedy schtick he did back in the 90's just totally ruined him for me.
EvenBob
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January 21st, 2020 at 1:26:50 PM permalink
Quote: TigerWu

I can't stand Adam Sandler. He's one of my most hated actors. The godawful comedy schtick he did back in the 90's just totally ruined him for me.



Anger Management with Jack Nicholson
is good, I've seen it 3 times. Reign Over
Me was good, so was Punch Drunk Love.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
unJon
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January 21st, 2020 at 1:36:37 PM permalink
Quote: TigerWu

I can't stand Adam Sandler. He's one of my most hated actors. The godawful comedy schtick he did back in the 90's just totally ruined him for me.



This is supposed to to Adam Sandler what Pulp Fiction was to Travolta. Google Adam Sandler Oscar snub. Plenty of people thought he should be nominated for this role.
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet.
Vegasrider
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January 21st, 2020 at 1:52:45 PM permalink
Although it was a documentary rather than a movie, the three part documentary on Showtine last year called "Action" featuring the world of sports betting should receive some points.
aceofspades
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January 21st, 2020 at 1:55:16 PM permalink
Quote: Vegasrider

Although it was a documentary rather than a movie, the three part documentary on Showtine last year called "Action" featuring the world of sports betting should receive some points.




Oh yeah I hope they bring it back fro another season
Wizard
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January 27th, 2020 at 1:48:27 PM permalink
Quote: jmills

Uncut Gems was fantastic. Best depiction of a degenerate gambler since Owning Mahoney.



Quote: TigerWu

I can't stand Adam Sandler. He's one of my most hated actors. The godawful comedy schtick he did back in the 90's just totally ruined him for me.



I just saw Uncut Gems yesterday.

Let me start by saying that the movie isn't for everybody. It's dark, uses the F word hundreds of times, at times violent, does not have a strong plot, and does not have anything positive to say about anybody or anything. One might comparisons to Joker in that respect.

However, I also thought it was fantastic. I like dark movies like Taxi Driver and Scarface -- don't ask me why.

Like Owning Mahoney, the movie is about a compulsive gambler who is deep in debt, yet continues to movie money around, robbing Peter to pay Paul, in hopes of a big score. In this case, the movie centers around a small-time jeweler, Howard Ratner, in New York who gets a hold of a opal-laden rock from Ethiopia, shows it to an NBA player, Kevin Garnett, who is attracted to it like Gollum to the Ring of Mordor. Given it's perceived power, Garnett plays better basketball, which Ratner bets into. Meanwhile, Ratner is trying to maintain a somewhat normal life with his wife, kids, and mistress. That is about as far as I'll take it.

Dislike of Adam Sandler or his movies should not be a reason not to see it. I didn't care for Adam Sandler either before this movie. The only movie of his I could make it through previously was 100 First Dates and even that I could go without seeing twice. However, this movie shows a completely different side of him. This will likely be the movie he is remembered by. Somebody else compared this role to John Travolta's in Pulp Fiction, which is a good way to put it.

I have to take issue with some of the unrealistic gambling scenes. The movie shows the main character making incredibly correlated parlay bets, like the winner of the first half to winner of the entire game, in the NBA. At the risk of a spoiler, the movie shows the Mohegan Sun taking an over-the-counter all-cash 3-leg parlay bet for about $120,000 that was extremely correlated. That aspect was just ridiculous, but did fit into the characters needs to get roughly 10 to 1 odds on a bet.

In conclusion, despite the unrealistic bets that were being accepted, I recommend Uncut Gems. I'll give it an 8+ on the 0 to 10 scale.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
TigerWu
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January 27th, 2020 at 3:42:03 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard


However, I also thought it was fantastic. I like dark movies like Taxi Driver and Scarface -- don't ask me why.



I do too. I'll give this one a shot if it hits a streaming platform I subscribe to. Maybe it will change my opinion of Sandler.
Wizard
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January 27th, 2020 at 5:03:20 PM permalink
Quote: TigerWu

Maybe it will change my opinion of Sandler.



It can't help but do that, whether you like the movie or not.

"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
MDawg
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September 4th, 2021 at 8:14:24 AM permalink
If the following pop up for viewing again on YouTube or anywhere on the 'net, please let us know:

Reality series (an episode here and there is available online of the below, but not every episode):

The Casino (2004)
American Casino (2004 - 2005)
Caesar's 24/7 (2005)

Documentary:
High Roller's Vegas (Discovery Channel, 2000)



If you're interested, Casino Confidential (2012) about Binion's Horseshoe is available in its entirety on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ZPew-Z1tY&list=PLwyhDyJ3VORZmTWtiuBlLjNXBE3JLrSNu
I tell you it’s wonderful to be here, man. I don’t give a damn who wins or loses. It’s just wonderful to be here with you people. https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/betting-systems/33908-the-adventures-of-mdawg/
rxwine
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January 23rd, 2022 at 8:34:26 PM permalink
Watched part of a movie titled "Never trust a gambler." (1951)

Didn't see any gambling in the part I watched, but in one scene when a couple is stopped at a gas station, the lady tells the attendant she will pay with a credit card. Since this movie is from 1951, I wondered when credit cards came into use. According to Wikipedia, the first was a Diner's club in 1950. So, this may very well be the first reference to a credit card in the movies.

Just some useless trivia. (unless you hear it in final Jeopardy, then you know)
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
Dieter
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January 24th, 2022 at 3:31:10 AM permalink
Quote: rxwine

Since this movie is from 1951, I wondered when credit cards came into use. According to Wikipedia, the first was a Diner's club in 1950. So, this may very well be the first reference to a credit card in the movies.

Just some useless trivia. (unless you hear it in final Jeopardy, then you know)
link to original post



I believe earlier "cards" and functional equivalents were in use before that; Diner's Club may have been the first to be accepted by more than one merchant.
It would surprise me little if each of the big oil companies had a charge card that was accepted at any of their affiliated filling stations before this.
May the cards fall in your favor.
billryan
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January 24th, 2022 at 6:59:20 AM permalink
I have several 1940s gas cards, but they are made of tin or some light metal. They also state that the monthly bill must be paid in full or the account is not valid. Plastic wasn't used for many consumer products until the 1950s, so what we see as cheap disposable plastic was seen as revolutionary back then. I'm not sure how much is true and how much is an urban legend but supposedly the originator of the "credit" card was rejected by dozens of financial organizations because they felt that Christians don't buy things they can't afford to pay for. Many early cards- Diners and American Express were more charge cards than credit cards as the balances were due in full. I don't think Amex had true credit cards until the 1980s. It's hard to believe in today's environment, but when I was commissioned in 1982, AMEX sent a rep to talk to my graduating class of some two hundred. She took about an hour explaining how to use credit properly and gave numerous examples of why and when using a card was a good option. She also gave us each a thick guidebook to success in life. There was a whole section on why we should avoid drunken women and how having a wife who is an alcoholic is bad for advancing up the corporate ladder. It also recommended that we switch from beer to whiskey and mentioned that while many senior execs don't look kindly on subordinates who don't drink, many a career has been ruined by getting drunk at company functions.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
rxwine
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January 24th, 2022 at 7:25:01 AM permalink
Quote: Dieter

Quote: rxwine

Since this movie is from 1951, I wondered when credit cards came into use. According to Wikipedia, the first was a Diner's club in 1950. So, this may very well be the first reference to a credit card in the movies.

Just some useless trivia. (unless you hear it in final Jeopardy, then you know)
link to original post



I believe earlier "cards" and functional equivalents were in use before that; Diner's Club may have been the first to be accepted by more than one merchant.
It would surprise me little if each of the big oil companies had a charge card that was accepted at any of their affiliated filling stations before this.
link to original post



I hadn't considered the exact definition of a credit card. Though I would have to say "credit" implies letting you have money available that you don't actually have. Whereas pre-filling a balance is not credit (at least doesn't seem to be)
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
Dieter
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January 24th, 2022 at 11:34:28 AM permalink
Quote: rxwine

Quote: Dieter

Quote: rxwine

Since this movie is from 1951, I wondered when credit cards came into use. According to Wikipedia, the first was a Diner's club in 1950. So, this may very well be the first reference to a credit card in the movies.

Just some useless trivia. (unless you hear it in final Jeopardy, then you know)
link to original post



I believe earlier "cards" and functional equivalents were in use before that; Diner's Club may have been the first to be accepted by more than one merchant.
It would surprise me little if each of the big oil companies had a charge card that was accepted at any of their affiliated filling stations before this.
link to original post



I hadn't considered the exact definition of a credit card. Though I would have to say "credit" implies letting you have money available that you don't actually have. Whereas pre-filling a balance is not credit (at least doesn't seem to be)
link to original post



I believe if I'm giving you Net 30 terms on your invoice, that is me extending you credit.
If you prepay an account with me then charge against the prepaid balance, that is debit.

Thankfully, being fully fluent in GAAP isn't why they keep me around, and we have accountants that let me think about the fun stuff instead.
May the cards fall in your favor.
billryan
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January 24th, 2022 at 11:48:19 AM permalink
With a regular AMEX card, you can charge this month but the bill is due in full at the end of the billing cycle. I refer to them as Charge cards. With their Optima cards, you can extend payments out of an extended period. These are credit cards.
Thirty day billing is more charge than credit, in my opinion.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
unJon
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January 24th, 2022 at 1:05:46 PM permalink
Quote: billryan

With a regular AMEX card, you can charge this month but the bill is due in full at the end of the billing cycle. I refer to them as Charge cards. With their Optima cards, you can extend payments out of an extended period. These are credit cards.
Thirty day billing is more charge than credit, in my opinion.
link to original post



That’s also the opinion of Amex, who offers both charge cards and credit cards.
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet.
rxwine
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December 29th, 2022 at 9:11:17 PM permalink
The Great Sinner (1949) based on a story by Dostoevsky.

Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner never looked better. Ava's character and her father are degenerate gamblers and lose a lot of money. Peck is initially trying to save her from her compulsion.

The casino owner complains that he doesn't mind gamblers committing suicide but doesn't like it happening at the tables. The casino has guys walking around the casino like a human pawn shop willing to trade money for whatever valuable the patron at the table has on him. Right at the table, now that's handy.

You hear plenty of gambler fallacies about luck, wins due, etc.,

Peck instead of saving her falls into the same hole. He's almost broke then has a ridiculous streak at roulette. He breaks the bank. He makes $231,750. Pretty good money for 1949. He plans to bail out the father's 200k IOUs that the casino holds.

Next time he visits the roulette wheel, he's only going to stay a few minutes. Hours later...

I didn't see the end of the movie.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
odiousgambit
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December 30th, 2022 at 6:26:25 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

... in 1982, AMEX sent a rep to talk to my graduating class of some two hundred. She took about an hour explaining how to use credit properly and gave numerous examples of why and when using a card was a good option. She also gave us each a thick guidebook to success in life. There was a whole section on why we should avoid drunken women and how having a wife who is an alcoholic is bad for advancing up the corporate ladder. It also recommended that we switch from beer to whiskey and mentioned that while many senior execs don't look kindly on subordinates who don't drink, many a career has been ruined by getting drunk at company functions.
link to original post



most of us could have used a visit by her.

As for most Americans drilled in life to avoid credit, that certainly used to be a 'thing'. In my family, a grandfather on one side got himself out of a partnership because his partner wanted to expand the business and to do so needed to go into a lot of debt. This was just not something my ancestor was going to do. His partner went on to become a millionaire many times over, successfully navigating The Depression. Our side of the family, meanwhile, survived the Depression I don't know how, very poor.
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
Gandler
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December 30th, 2022 at 7:34:17 AM permalink
I would say "The Sting", also one of my favorite movies of all time.
FatGeezus
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December 30th, 2022 at 8:28:46 AM permalink
Quote: rxwine

The Great Sinner (1949) based on a story by Dostoevsky.

Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner never looked better. Ava's character and her father are degenerate gamblers and lose a lot of money. Peck is initially trying to save her from her compulsion.

The casino owner complains that he doesn't mind gamblers committing suicide but doesn't like it happening at the tables. The casino has guys walking around the casino like a human pawn shop willing to trade money for whatever valuable the patron at the table has on him. Right at the table, now that's handy.

You hear plenty of gambler fallacies about luck, wins due, etc.,

Peck instead of saving her falls into the same hole. He's almost broke then has a ridiculous streak at roulette. He breaks the bank. He makes $231,750. Pretty good money for 1949. He plans to bail out the father's 200k IOUs that the casino holds.

Next time he visits the roulette wheel, he's only going to stay a few minutes. Hours later...

I didn't see the end of the movie.
link to original post



I made reference to this movie on page 2 of this forum.

Great movie with a surprise ending!
lilredrooster
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December 30th, 2022 at 8:31:15 AM permalink
Quote: rxwine

The Great Sinner (1949) based on a story by Dostoevsky.

link to original post




Dostoevsky was one of the greatest writers ever - and one of his major works is entitled "The Gambler"



he himself was a compulsive, addicted gambler
he pawned his wedding ring and other valuables to purchase a ticket home from casinos - but before he got home he turned around and went back to the tables
roulette was his thing - and he wrote about it in "The Gambler"
he gambled his family into debt and appealed to his relatives and friends for funds
he then took these loans back to the roulette wheels
he was ashamed of himself but the shame didn't stop him from gambling



.
Please don't feed the trolls
rxwine
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December 30th, 2022 at 10:24:22 AM permalink
Quote: FatGeezus

Quote: rxwine

The Great Sinner (1949) based on a story by Dostoevsky.

Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner never looked better. Ava's character and her father are degenerate gamblers and lose a lot of money. Peck is initially trying to save her from her compulsion.

The casino owner complains that he doesn't mind gamblers committing suicide but doesn't like it happening at the tables. The casino has guys walking around the casino like a human pawn shop willing to trade money for whatever valuable the patron at the table has on him. Right at the table, now that's handy.

You hear plenty of gambler fallacies about luck, wins due, etc.,

Peck instead of saving her falls into the same hole. He's almost broke then has a ridiculous streak at roulette. He breaks the bank. He makes $231,750. Pretty good money for 1949. He plans to bail out the father's 200k IOUs that the casino holds.

Next time he visits the roulette wheel, he's only going to stay a few minutes. Hours later...

I didn't see the end of the movie.
link to original post



I made reference to this movie on page 2 of this forum.

Great movie with a surprise ending!
link to original post



Got too late for me to see the end.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
rxwine
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December 30th, 2022 at 10:33:03 AM permalink
Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: rxwine

The Great Sinner (1949) based on a story by Dostoevsky.

link to original post




Dostoevsky was one of the greatest writers ever - and one of his major works is entitled "The Gambler"



he himself was a compulsive, addicted gambler
he pawned his wedding ring and other valuables to purchase a ticket home from casinos - but before he got home he turned around and went back to the tables
roulette was his thing - and he wrote about it in "The Gambler"
he gambled his family into debt and appealed to his relatives and friends for funds
he then took these loans back to the roulette wheels
he was ashamed of himself but the shame didn't stop him from gambling



.
link to original post



‘Crime and Punishment’ though it isn’t about gambling in retrospect somewhat feels like it could be about a troubled gambler of life itself. And I’m still disappointed I’ve never seen a satisfying version of that book in movie form. I think maybe it’s trying to get a proper feeling of all the inner dialogue from Raskolnikov that doesn’t work for me. Perhaps if a director abandoned the inclusion and instead turned it all into proper symbolism. That might make the movie more unintelligible to an audience, but it might be more satisfying.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
gordonm888
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December 31st, 2022 at 6:30:54 AM permalink
Here's that very interesting classic move on casino gambling that seems to be all but forgotten: The Great Sinner (1949). (I just discovered it myself.)


Set in the 1860's there's lots of beautifully filmed scenes of roulette and baccarat in European casinos. A movie depicting gambling addiction based on Dostoyevsky's novel The Gambler.

If you like bosom-heaving, you might enjoy this.
Last edited by: gordonm888 on Dec 31, 2022
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
AZDuffman
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December 31st, 2022 at 5:23:15 PM permalink
I had thought of this as a thread but since this one was dug up well here.

We need a poker movie for this generation. Using my "time since to time before" talked about elsewhere here, "Rounders" which came out in 1998 has about he same relevance today that "The Godfather" did when "Rounders" came out.

So, what would be a good plot for a poker movie today? Not a remake or sequel to "Rounders" per se. I keep thinking along the lines of a few buddies who could do more with their lives but just gravitate to spending time at the poker room and sportsbook. Maybe they have another buddy who day trades. And somehow tie it all together to show it is all the same person who does this kind of speculation.

But what of the story? What do they do? Or other ideas?
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
darkoz
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December 31st, 2022 at 5:54:45 PM permalink
Quote: AZDuffman

I had thought of this as a thread but since this one was dug up well here.

We need a poker movie for this generation. Using my "time since to time before" talked about elsewhere here, "Rounders" which came out in 1998 has about he same relevance today that "The Godfather" did when "Rounders" came out.

So, what would be a good plot for a poker movie today? Not a remake or sequel to "Rounders" per se. I keep thinking along the lines of a few buddies who could do more with their lives but just gravitate to spending time at the poker room and sportsbook. Maybe they have another buddy who day trades. And somehow tie it all together to show it is all the same person who does this kind of speculation.

But what of the story? What do they do? Or other ideas?
link to original post



"The Ultimate X Generation"

Or "The Vultures".

All about the cutthroat world of Ultimate X Poker.
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
AxelWolf
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December 31st, 2022 at 8:38:57 PM permalink
Quote: darkoz

Quote: AZDuffman

I had thought of this as a thread but since this one was dug up well here.

We need a poker movie for this generation. Using my "time since to time before" talked about elsewhere here, "Rounders" which came out in 1998 has about he same relevance today that "The Godfather" did when "Rounders" came out.

So, what would be a good plot for a poker movie today? Not a remake or sequel to "Rounders" per se. I keep thinking along the lines of a few buddies who could do more with their lives but just gravitate to spending time at the poker room and sportsbook. Maybe they have another buddy who day trades. And somehow tie it all together to show it is all the same person who does this kind of speculation.

But what of the story? What do they do? Or other ideas?
link to original post



"The Ultimate X Generation"

Or "The Vultures".

All about the cutthroat world of Ultimate X Poker.
link to original post

Just call it bumb fights, the casino addition.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
gordonm888
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January 1st, 2023 at 8:43:36 AM permalink
Loosely base the top-level plot on something that actually happened. A female behavioral scientist approaches a top level poker professional and asks for coaching on poker so that she can write scholarly papers on the behavioral psychology embodied in poker.

The audience can then follow the behavioral scientist as she is introduced to poker, learns about the game of poker, and as she gradually becomes a decent high-level player. We can see, through her eyes, the behavior of poker players - their addictions to betting against each other on weird prop bets, their cheating schemes, their ups and downs -perhaps their drug use. The behavior of poker celebrities. The huge amounts of cash that are involved in high-stakes games. The psychology of losing, of bluffing, of going on tilt, of addiction to poker.

Throw in sex, personal time gambling other games in casinos, strife with family members about degrading yourself by becoming a poker player. Police seizing cash because they suspect you're a drug smuggler. An attempted theft in a casino parking garage. Then throw in even more sex.
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
darkoz
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January 1st, 2023 at 8:46:08 AM permalink
Quote: AxelWolf

Quote: darkoz

Quote: AZDuffman

I had thought of this as a thread but since this one was dug up well here.

We need a poker movie for this generation. Using my "time since to time before" talked about elsewhere here, "Rounders" which came out in 1998 has about he same relevance today that "The Godfather" did when "Rounders" came out.

So, what would be a good plot for a poker movie today? Not a remake or sequel to "Rounders" per se. I keep thinking along the lines of a few buddies who could do more with their lives but just gravitate to spending time at the poker room and sportsbook. Maybe they have another buddy who day trades. And somehow tie it all together to show it is all the same person who does this kind of speculation.

But what of the story? What do they do? Or other ideas?
link to original post



"The Ultimate X Generation"

Or "The Vultures".

All about the cutthroat world of Ultimate X Poker.
link to original post

Just call it bumb fights, the casino addition.
link to original post



Hollywood will spice it up.

An aging mathematician rounds up a group of teenage college kids. He reveals to them a secret about Ultimate X no one knows. If you can grab leftover multipliers, you call over the attendant who then activates a double up.

The team makes millions. Other Ultimate X teams can't figure it out and alert the casinos in revenge.

Casinos call in the FBI who winds up in a three state car chase after a double up wins at a casino and everyone refuses to show ID.

There is a trial where the Ultimate X double up bug is exposed as a purposeful "accident" put there by a company worker who wanted to steal for himself and it turns out to be the aging mathematician so he is the real villain. The teenagers are innocent dupes and released.

They all get hired by casino security to make certain this never happens again.

The End.
For Whom the bus tolls; The bus tolls for thee
AxelWolf
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January 1st, 2023 at 1:33:27 PM permalink
Quote: darkoz

Quote: AxelWolf

Quote: darkoz

Quote: AZDuffman

I had thought of this as a thread but since this one was dug up well here.

We need a poker movie for this generation. Using my "time since to time before" talked about elsewhere here, "Rounders" which came out in 1998 has about he same relevance today that "The Godfather" did when "Rounders" came out.

So, what would be a good plot for a poker movie today? Not a remake or sequel to "Rounders" per se. I keep thinking along the lines of a few buddies who could do more with their lives but just gravitate to spending time at the poker room and sportsbook. Maybe they have another buddy who day trades. And somehow tie it all together to show it is all the same person who does this kind of speculation.

But what of the story? What do they do? Or other ideas?
link to original post



"The Ultimate X Generation"

Or "The Vultures".

All about the cutthroat world of Ultimate X Poker.
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Just call it bumb fights, the casino addition.
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Hollywood will spice it up.

An aging mathematician rounds up a group of teenage college kids. He reveals to them a secret about Ultimate X no one knows. If you can grab leftover multipliers, you call over the attendant who then activates a double up.

The team makes millions. Other Ultimate X teams can't figure it out and alert the casinos in revenge.

Casinos call in the FBI who winds up in a three state car chase after a double up wins at a casino and everyone refuses to show ID.

There is a trial where the Ultimate X double up bug is exposed as a purposeful "accident" put there by a company worker who wanted to steal for himself and it turns out to be the aging mathematician so he is the real villain. The teenagers are innocent dupes and released.

They all get hired by casino security to make certain this never happens again.

The End.
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One of the villains could be a fast-talking low-life creator scamming tourists on UX.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
unJon
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January 1st, 2023 at 9:06:15 PM permalink
Quote: AZDuffman

I had thought of this as a thread but since this one was dug up well here.

We need a poker movie for this generation. Using my "time since to time before" talked about elsewhere here, "Rounders" which came out in 1998 has about he same relevance today that "The Godfather" did when "Rounders" came out.

So, what would be a good plot for a poker movie today? Not a remake or sequel to "Rounders" per se. I keep thinking along the lines of a few buddies who could do more with their lives but just gravitate to spending time at the poker room and sportsbook. Maybe they have another buddy who day trades. And somehow tie it all together to show it is all the same person who does this kind of speculation.

But what of the story? What do they do? Or other ideas?
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Have you seen Molly’s Game? Very solid and enjoyable. Not seminal like Rounders was, but poker isn’t seminal to vast swaths of the population like it was back then either.
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet.
AZDuffman
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January 2nd, 2023 at 2:44:20 AM permalink
Quote: gordonm888

Loosely base the top-level plot on something that actually happened. A female behavioral scientist approaches a top level poker professional and asks for coaching on poker so that she can write scholarly papers on the behavioral psychology embodied in poker.

The audience can then follow the behavioral scientist as she is introduced to poker, learns about the game of poker, and as she gradually becomes a decent high-level player. We can see, through her eyes, the behavior of poker players - their addictions to betting against each other on weird prop bets, their cheating schemes, their ups and downs -perhaps their drug use. The behavior of poker celebrities. The huge amounts of cash that are involved in high-stakes games. The psychology of losing, of bluffing, of going on tilt, of addiction to poker.

Throw in sex, personal time gambling other games in casinos, strife with family members about degrading yourself by becoming a poker player. Police seizing cash because they suspect you're a drug smuggler. An attempted theft in a casino parking garage. Then throw in even more sex.
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Not bad but the only sex I would throw in would be to show the angle of the life of a hooker working the casino or casinos. Sex for no purpose cheapens a movie.
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WigginsAr
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January 20th, 2023 at 8:07:30 AM permalink
Ocean's 11. Adore this movie.
Mental
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January 20th, 2023 at 5:40:53 PM permalink
I am still waiting for a good gambling movie to be made.
This forum is more enjoyable after I learned how to use the 'Block this user' button.
YouCanBetOnThat
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June 9th, 2023 at 4:58:43 PM permalink
I would say California Split is the best gambling movie ever. However, it was directed by Robert Altman, whose style is not for everyone.

I've been maintaining a list of gambling, Vegas, et al., movies at our website. I'm trying to make it as comprehensive as possible. The list doesn't include non-English language movies nor TV movies, with some exceptions.

https://youcanbetonthat.com/movies
YouCanBetOnThat.com, a podcast for the recreational gambler
gordonm888
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June 10th, 2023 at 9:55:43 AM permalink
Quote: YouCanBetOnThat

I would say California Split is the best gambling movie ever. However, it was directed by Robert Altman, whose style is not for everyone.

I've been maintaining a list of gambling, Vegas, et al., movies at our website. I'm trying to make it as comprehensive as possible. The list doesn't include non-English language movies nor TV movies, with some exceptions.

https://youcanbetonthat.com/movies
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It's an interesting list but the summaries of the movies are rather poor and not as tailored to the theme of the list as they should be. (and some or most of the summaries are copied from IMDB, which is inappropriate use of copyrighted material).

For example, the list calls out that Francis Gifford or Edmund O'Brien are in certain movies, but when it lists "the Misfits" there is no indication that the main characters are Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. "Viva Las Vegas" is described as "A swimming instructor (Ann-Margret) detours a singing auto racer (Elvis Presley) in town for the Grand Prix." and I think it is a much better movie than that description would indicate. It is often cited as being the best Elvis Presley movie (which may be weak praise) and as being very high in sexual chemistry -it was often called the best, most iconic film about Las Vegas.

Also, the list mixes
- films which have something to do with horse racing (and why is Seabiscuit not on the list?)
- films that have an incidental poker scene
- films about billiards
- films in which an action sequence occurs in Vegas
- films involving foreign casinos
- films with gambling scenes in Vegas
- gangster films in other cities
- films that have bizarre gambling (You list Quintet but not The Squid Game? Why?)
- films in which there is a prop bet (but not Smokey & the Bandit?)

So, the list becomes very long and unwieldy and it is hard to use it. It would be nice if it was searchable, but if that is too hard it might be reasonable to provide a secondary list where films are categorized by the gambling game or in some other way (location? or time period depicted in the film.)

Lastly, when making a list like this, it is useful to put a lot of work into defining what does and does not qualify an item to be on the list. Where is Godfather 2 - which has many major Vegas storylines and scenes? What about Vegas in Space? Fast Lane to Vegas? Vegas Nights? Vegas Skyline? Vegas, City of Dreams? Divorsio a Las Vegas? Gods, Gambling and LSD (includes Las Vegas scenes)?

What about Gambling Man? Plot is: "The exploits of real-life casino boss Gary Green's exploits from his days with "underworld" kingpin Meyer Lansky to his time as Donald Trump's vice president to being a developer / operator of Indian casinos all across the country."
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
YouCanBetOnThat
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June 16th, 2023 at 1:37:15 PM permalink
Thanks, goddonm888, you make some excellent points.

Quote: gordonm888

It's an interesting list but the summaries of the movies are rather poor and not as tailored to the theme of the list as they should be. (and some or most of the summaries are copied from IMDB, which is inappropriate use of copyrighted material).
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Obviously I haven't seen all the movies, so I rely on descriptions other than my own. In most cases, I use the description provided in TV listings from Schedules Direct, which I believe are free from copyright. Even if it is a movie I've seen, I'll still use the TV-listings description just for consistency. But, you're right, there are some that are lifted straight from IMDb which I need to remove.

Quote:

For example, the list calls out that Francis Gifford or Edmund O'Brien are in certain movies, but when it lists "the Misfits" there is no indication that the main characters are Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable.

This is the "fault" of the TV-listings descriptions. I need to go through the list to make things more consistent.

Quote:

"Viva Las Vegas" is described as "A swimming instructor (Ann-Margret) detours a singing auto racer (Elvis Presley) in town for the Grand Prix." and I think it is a much better movie than that description would indicate. It is often cited as being the best Elvis Presley movie (which may be weak praise) and as being very high in sexual chemistry -it was often called the best, most iconic film about Las Vegas.

I love, love, love watching Viva Las Vegas, but I also think it's a pretty bad movie. Still, point taken.

Quote:

Also, the list mixes
- films which have something to do with horse racing (and why is Seabiscuit not on the list?)

Seabiscuit is on the list. (Scared me for a second.)

Quote:

- films that have an incidental poker scene
- films about billiards
- films in which an action sequence occurs in Vegas
- films involving foreign casinos
- films with gambling scenes in Vegas
- gangster films in other cities
- films that have bizarre gambling (You list Quintet but not The Squid Game? Why?)

Because Quintet is a movie, and Squid Game is a TV show. The list is only movies.

Quote:

- films in which there is a prop bet (but not Smokey & the Bandit?)

So, the list becomes very long and unwieldy and it is hard to use it.

I still want to cast a wide net when it comes to different types of gambling (including billiards, horse racing, etc.), but you've forced me to ask myself a question: "What is the purpose of the list?" Originally I would have answered, "To include every movie that has some sort of gambling, or that has a scene in a gambling location like Las Vegas." But now I realize the answer should be, "To provide options to viewers who want to watch a gambling or gambling-location-centric movie." Is 1989's Batman a good option for viewers because it has a short scene with a craps table? No. It shouldn't be on the list.

So I'm going to do some serious pruning.

Quote:

It would be nice if it was searchable, but if that is too hard it might be reasonable to provide a secondary list where films are categorized by the gambling game or in some other way (location? or time period depicted in the film.)

Our website is basically just a landing page for the podcast, so it's pretty bare bones. If I ever get ambitious I might upgrade to something that allows searching, but for now, let's just see how my edited-down list turns out.

Quote:

Lastly, when making a list like this, it is useful to put a lot of work into defining what does and does not qualify an item to be on the list. Where is Godfather 2 - which has many major Vegas storylines and scenes? What about Vegas in Space? Fast Lane to Vegas? Vegas Nights? Vegas Skyline? Vegas, City of Dreams? Divorsio a Las Vegas? Gods, Gambling and LSD (includes Las Vegas scenes)?

This will continue to be subjective. Again, I'll try to keep viewers in mind when choosing which movies belong.

Thanks again for the advice. Watch for an updated list soon.
YouCanBetOnThat.com, a podcast for the recreational gambler
Dieter
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June 16th, 2023 at 4:26:52 PM permalink
Many, many pages in this thread... no God of Gamblers.

You probably have to enjoy 1980's Hong Kong cinema (and subtitles). It's not really about gambling so much as clever cheating.

I was only reminded of this series of films after noticing a family member watching excerpts a few months back.

It is fun for the preposterous moves that our hero makes; moves that James Bond would have trouble pulling off.
May the cards fall in your favor.
7NeverWins
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June 16th, 2023 at 9:08:27 PM permalink
I was hoping the recent movie Air would have touched more on the Matt Damon character's Gambling problem, but they didn't!

Same with Elvis and Col. Parker's legendary Gambling woes! But I guess not enough people would understand what the problem is in a scene where an old, fat guy is betting almost every spot on a roulette wheel?
rxwine
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July 23rd, 2023 at 8:08:09 PM permalink
There's 1955 movie called "House of Bamboo" It mentions pachinko several times, I went and looked at Wiki to see more about it. Saw this.

Quote:

As of 2015, Japan's pachinko market generates more gambling revenue than that of Macau, Las Vegas, and Singapore combined



Anyway, pachinko started as a child's game in the 1920s.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
darkoz
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July 23rd, 2023 at 8:15:40 PM permalink
Quote: rxwine

There's 1955 movie called "House of Bamboo" It mentions pachinko several times, I went and looked at Wiki to see more about it. Saw this.

Quote:

As of 2015, Japan's pachinko market generates more gambling revenue than that of Macau, Las Vegas, and Singapore combined



Anyway, pachinko started as a child's game in the 1920s.
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I have pachinko machines in my collection.

My latest one is a Friday the 13th Pachinko
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TigerWu
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July 24th, 2023 at 8:18:19 AM permalink
Quote: rxwine

There's 1955 movie called "House of Bamboo" It mentions pachinko several times, I went and looked at Wiki to see more about it. Saw this.

Quote:

As of 2015, Japan's pachinko market generates more gambling revenue than that of Macau, Las Vegas, and Singapore combined



Anyway, pachinko started as a child's game in the 1920s.
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I don't think that's true anymore. Pachinko revenues have been declining since the early 2000s while other gaming revenue has been increasing.
lilredrooster
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rainman
July 24th, 2023 at 1:50:15 PM permalink
.
my personal fave scene - Casino - Ace catches a 2 man team "spooking" at blackjack - and deals out his personal brand of justice

the spook saw the dealer's hole card at a different table and signaled his buddy electronically as to what that hole card was

below the clip is a link from Arnold Snyder indicating that in 1984 the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada took up a case re spooking and the article discusses its legality





https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/is-spooking-legal/

.
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NSKOwen
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July 25th, 2023 at 2:53:49 AM permalink
Quote: WigginsAr

Ocean's 11. Adore this movie.
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I've watched it and the other sequels. Yup, great movie!
MrV
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July 25th, 2023 at 12:04:54 PM permalink
Not a movie, but an excerpt from a classic "Twilight Zone" episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFC4GjqyY-g
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rxwine
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September 7th, 2023 at 8:33:29 PM permalink
I think I might have seen the possible origin (at least on film) of a common game of chance. In a 1951 movie called "The Mob" the bartender has a large jar full of water on the bar. At the bottom is a shot glass. There's a slot cut in the top where you can drop a coin. If it lands in the shot glass you get a free drink.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
Ace2
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September 7th, 2023 at 9:18:46 PM permalink
Quote: lilredrooster

.
my personal fave scene - Casino - Ace catches a 2 man team "spooking" at blackjack - and deals out his personal brand of justice

the spook saw the dealer's hole card at a different table and signaled his buddy electronically as to what that hole card was

below the clip is a link from Arnold Snyder indicating that in 1984 the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada took up a case re spooking and the article discusses its legality




https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/gambling-with-an-edge/is-spooking-legal/

.
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From back before the mirror was invented
It’s all about making that GTA
gordonm888
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February 1st, 2024 at 7:57:04 AM permalink
Has anyone seen '5 Against the House'?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048077/reference/

Apparently its a heist movie, like the Sinatra version of Ocean's Eleven but considered to be better. Sounds interesting.
Last edited by: gordonm888 on Feb 1, 2024
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
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