Today’s quick review: Rounders. After losing it all at the poker table, Michael McDermott (Matt Damon) has sworn off gambling, opting instead to work his way through law school the hard way. But when his old friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison, Michael soon finds himself not only back at the poker table, but on the hook for Worm’s $15,000 debt to Teddy KGB (John Malkovich), a feared Russian gangster, with just days to raise the money.
Rounders is a crime drama about a law student drawn back into the world of gambling by his irresponsible best friend. Rounders follows Mike and Worm as they try every trick they know to raise the money in time. Along the way, Mike shares his thoughts on life and gambling, tries to patch up his strained relationship with his girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol), and seeks the counsel of Abe Petrovsky (Martin Landau), his law professor and mentor.
Rounders has a fascinating pair of leads. Matt Damon stars as Michael McDermott, a chronic gambler who has tried to put poker behind him but can’t deny his love for the game. His struggle to stay on the straight and narrow—or at least bet wisely—is made tougher by the presence of Worm, a loyal friend with a tendency to land himself and those around him in trouble. Their teamwork at the table and the tensions between them are what drive the movie.
The plot is typical for a gambling film: clever plays, striking reversals, and the constant question of when to double down and when to walk away. Matt Damon and Edward Norton play well off each other, credible friends with very different attitudes. The drama between them will wear a little thin for those who aren’t interested in the characters or the game of poker, but for most viewers, the film’s acting and writing will be enough to carry it.
Watch Rounders when you’re in the mood for a solid gambling drama with the cast and the script to make good on its premise. How much you get out of it will depend on the kinds of characters and conflicts you like, but Rounders plays its hand well enough to have broad appeal. For another gambling movie in the same vein, try The Gambler, The Hustler, or Mississippi Grind. For one with a caper-style twist to it, try 21.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for strong characters and a well-constructed plot that explores them in depth.