PokerSoup Forums > General > The Best Gambling Movies

The Best Gambling Movies

• Page 3 of 3
• « First
• ‹ Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3

1. • Posted by Teresa 2008-03-28 17:50:39
   • 

   • happy hour!!!

2. • Posted by Pokermom 2008-03-29 20:39:13
   • 

   • Saw "21" this morning (yes - 10:30am showing if you can believe it).

     Ho hum. Mildly entertaining, but not that great. And I realize why...

     Blackjack is BORING. You don't need to be an MIT student or Harvard Medical School wannabe to count cards. And they don't even explain the strategy - which is probably good since it is so utterly simplistic that it would take away a lot of the mystique of the story.

     Anyway, the team has spotters who play the table minimum and count cards and the "big players" who come over when the count is such that the deck is now loaded with quality cards. A huge disconnect for me was the movie trying to differentiate the "spotters" from the "big players". Dude, all you gotta do is keep the count straight, and the spotters were doing that just fine. The only difference is not calling attention to yourself. Going from betting the minimum to making big bets while the deck is hot is lighting up a neon sign saying "I'M COUNTING CARDS." So spotters don't do that. They keep the count and they signal for the "big player" to come over and make big bets during the hot part of the deck - basically good teamwork.

     But the movie tries to infer that the "big players" are somehow better or smarter than the spotters. And then contradicts itself by having the "spotters" signal the big players to leave when the deck cools down. If the big players are so smart and good at counting cards, why do they need a spotter to tell them when the deck is cooling off?

     huh?

     Because, it's simply good teamwork to have a backup. The big players are no more talented than the spotters. Maybe better actors or more invisible or whatever, but not necessarily smarter (at least it's not required).

     Stupid. And trust me, having an IQ north of 100 is enough to count cards. You just need to have a good attention span and short term memory.

     So, yeah, I was underwhelmed.

     I'll take hold 'em any day of the week. As I like to say, hold 'em is one of the most elegantly dynamic card games out there.

     -

3. • Posted by Jason M 2008-03-29 21:57:13
   • 

   • Thanks for the review, it seems like it would be right on. I read "Bringing Down the House", so I have a feeling I will also be underwhelmed, but still entertained, when I go see it. In real life, the BPs (big players) and spotters were all the same people and they rotated jobs.

     It would be really interesting to see some of the other tricks they used like card tracking, etc.

4. • Posted by Craig 2008-03-29 22:43:05
   • 

   • I read the "21" review in the Merc. 1.5 stars out'a 4. They said it had a lot of plot holes and one should wait for it on cable. Too bad 'cause I wanted it to see it this weekend.

     I agree with Alexis on blackjack being much more boring that poker. Even without counting cards, if you memorize the basic strategy tables (when to hit or hold based on how many decks used, what the dealer shows and what you have), there's not much to it. Counting cards can give you an edge but good luck trying to find a shoe with less than 5 decks in now days. Possible but counting gets less reiable (unless there's a huge count difference). Or if you do find a single deck, they re-shuffle each game so counting doesn't go too far when only about a third of the deck gets used.

     Poker has a lot more to it. Plus I like the fact that you're playing against other people, not the house. There's the whole bluff/trap factor with poker. There are so many more possibilities.

     btw, I read the 6/5 payout for CA blackjack gives a much bigger advantage to the house. It"s normally 3/2 but CA casinos do only 6/5.

5. • Posted by uzjedi 2008-03-29 22:49:36
   • 

   • Saw it last night. They barely even mention shuffle tracking or cutting to an Ace. It's not even explained. Ugh.

     I also read the book and was disappointed when presented with a dumbed down/super Hollywood version of the story. But it was still "mildly entertaining."

     I don't recall spotters telling a BP to leave in the book. I could be remembering wrong. What was tough about being a big player was maintaining the act while being completely aware of the count and what to do based on that info. A spotter just kept the count. They didn't have to know when to split tens and such. But you're right that you didn't have to be smarter to be a BP. Not the way they emphasized in the movie. Maybe you just needed to be a bit more talented.

     I just wish it wasn't presented as this thing far off in smart people land that you are supposed to admire and not really understand. I get that they only have a couple hours to do this, but it's possible to write and direct a movie in such a way that allows the average audience member to feel as though they understand and are elevated to that level of expertise.

     But I am kind of a movie snob. You can still have fun with two-dimensional characters, silly dialog and cliche plot points as long as you aren't expecting much going in. The rags to riches and Vegas glamor aspect of things is still there. I suggest an early showing or waiting to rent.

6. • Posted by Jason M 2008-03-29 23:09:01
   • 

   • Word, and you are right on about the spotter/BP differences. I don't recall the spotters telling the BP when to leave the table, either.

7. • Posted by Pokermom 2008-03-30 00:19:34
   • 

   • One thing I did like was the snappy sound of the cards hitting the felt. Damn, I love that sound.

8. • Posted by Jason M 2008-03-31 23:48:09
   • 

   • Now I'm not so sure I'm going to see this in the theater. Boo :/

9. • Posted by Graham 2008-04-30 18:56:24
   • 

   • So, did anyone actually see The Grand? I hear it's not so grand and not even in theaters anymore...

10. • Posted by Jason M 2008-05-01 00:16:19
    • 

    • I didn't even see 21 :( And I didn't even realize "The Grand" was in theaters. It has a good IMDB rating. Putting on Blockbuster Q. Woo woo!

11. • Posted by Jason M 2008-05-01 05:01:01
    • 

    • Blockbuster just delivered "The Cincinnati Kid" to my mailbox, so I'm watching that right now. So far, it seems pretty good. I especially enjoy that the main character does indeed look like a guy I play with, who in fact calls himself "The Cincinnati Kid" :)

12. • Posted by Jason M 2008-05-01 19:10:13
    • 

    • I conclude "The Cincinnati Kid" is a decent movie. The end of the movie is a bit predictable and yet very unlikely. Overall, I'd say it's good enough to recommend to fellow poker players. I am jonesing to play some 5-card stud, that's for sure!

      Lots of good quotes...

      Lancey Howard: Gets down to what it's all about, doesn't it? Making the wrong move at the right time.

      Cincinnati Kid: Is that what it's all about?

      Lancey Howard: Like life, I guess. You're good, kid, but as long as I'm around you're second best. You might as well learn to live with it.

      And

      I recollect a young man putting the same question to Eddie the Dude. "Son," Eddie told him, "all you paid was the looking price. Lessons are extra."

      -Lancey Howerd, after being asked by his opponent how he could make a call

      Also, a young Rip Torn is one of the main characters. Weird!

• Page 3 of 3
• « First
• ‹ Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3