Rounders (1998) 2 stars out of 4. Starring Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich and Gretchen Mol. Directed by John Dahl.
Rounders is like a high-stakes poker game. Sometimes it shows its hand too early, sometimes it holds back some of its cards, but a lot of the time it merely bluffs.
Director John Dahl's drama centers on a law student (Matt Damon) who has a secret night life as a player in high-stakes underground poker games.
After losing it all in a big-stakes game, Mike McDermott (Damon) swears off the cards to concentrate on his legitimate life as well as his girlfriend, Jo (Gretchen Mol).
But an old friend, Worm (Edward Norton), newly released from prison, forces Mike back into the life to help Worm make good on his old gambling debts.
Worm is a complete screw-up. Whereas Mike plays poker for the thrill, to Worm it's all a con to make money. Worm cheats, and in doing so, not only gets Mike deeper in debt but gets him beaten.
Dahl (Red Rock West, The Last Seduction) does what he can with the material. But writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman hedge their bets. They create a part Cincinnati Kid, part good buddy-bad buddy film with a bit of love story thrown in.
The movie, at a bit over two hours, drags in many spots and spends too much time focusing on Mike's determination to stay away from the gambling tables when it is obvious that he really yearns for the game.
And when he is playing, the suspense is diluted by Mike's voice-over narration, explaining the intricacies of the game and how to spot a mark so you can win his money.
Actually, Mike's narration is the most interesting part of the film, as he gives an insider's look at the high-ante games and what is needed to win.
Damon is appealing as Mike. He has that clean-cut, fresh look that makes his double life believable. He has that charming smile that he utilizes to escape from tough situations.
What is hard to understand is his determination to stick with Worm even beyond the point of common sense.
Norton is all posing and vulgarity as the cheating card shark. He is a seedy liar totally lacking in charm. He is a boorish trickster, and it's amazing that a low-life such as him can even find someone to sit at a table with him.
Mol has little to do except berate Mike for his return to his old ways.
John Malkovich, as the gambling kingpin, talks with a thick Russian accent that sounds almost like something from an old vaudeville routine.
John Turturro, as a professional gambler who tries to help Mike, is cool and cerebral, explaining that the game must be looked at as a business or a profession.
Overall, Rounders, though a bit too long, is interesting but uneven. It's more intriguing than a game of rummy, but it fails to reach the high stakes at which it aims.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or cbloom@iquest.net
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