OK film fans, tonight may be my shortest post yet, but don't despair we have the Oscar's approaching rapidly and gloriously worded diatribes are soon to follow. The reason for the short post tonight is also our subject, so without further fanfare...
Rounders is a simple tale of the world of gambling, complete with all the stereotypes. Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is the preternaturally talented gambler who has turned his back on the game, going straight and attending law school. The aptly named Lester "Worm" Murphy is his obsessive, self involved low life buddy from back in the day. He's just gotten out of jail and manages to remind Mike of his former life just enough for him to start down the path again. Along the way we meet Jo (Gretchen Mol), the girlfriend with a heart of gold, Knish (John Turturro), a lifelong grinder of the game, Petra (the always lovely Famke Janssen), a gambling club errand girl who has the hots for Mike, an enforcer named Grama and his Russian pseudo mafioso boss Teddy KGB (John motherfing Malkovich), who turns the screws on Mike over Worms debt and mocks him regarding a previous hold 'em beat down.
There is nothing too flashy here, some good performances and a paint by numbers plot. Even the final scene is a wildly improbable set up, but thanks to Malkovich and Damon it's also one of the best poker scenes ever filmed. Wish me luck tonight because, unlike Mike, I need it.
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