I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

Film Perfection

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

The rapidly growing numbers of Matt Damon fans have probably been anxiously awaiting the release of his latest film Rounders. This is a film that really is worth waiting for. That is, I would recommend waiting until it comes to video, cable, or network (this is one film that might actually be improved by being dismembered to accommodate commercials). The good news for Matt Damon is "it's not your fault, it's not your fault."The acting is one of the better ingredients in this somewhat predictable and poorly written film. Matt Damon and Edward Norton Jr. both turn in solid performances as two friends who were hustling card sharks until Worm (Edward Norton Jr.) gets sent to prison. While Worm is in prison Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) loses his law school tuition, rent money, and everything else when he gambles $30,000 dollars in a high-stakes poker game. McDermott's girlfriend convinces him to give up gambling and walk the straight and narrow. When Worm gets out of prison, McDermott discovers that his friend is deep in debt and in serious trouble with loan sharks. This sets up the central tension of the movie. Should he be faithful to his friend and exercise his gift with cards to help him out or should be keep his promise to his girlfriend and let Worm fend for himself?This is also the point at which those betting on the film would be wise to fold. When McDermott's girlfriend leaves him, nobody really seems to care, including the couple themselves. Plot points and characters are seriously underdeveloped so that the suspense and drama comes in bits and pieces. There are moments of writing that are inspired. There are even more moments that are seriously flawed. The central theme of the movie is provided by one of McDermott's law school professors (played by Martin Landau) who tells him "you don't choose your destiny, your destiny chooses you." It is hard to resist comparing this to another Matt Damon film where he has an unusual gift. In Good Will Hunting Damon is a mathematical genius that minimizes his gift as his way of being loyal to his friends. In the end he must choose between capitalizing on his gift or pursuing love. Here Damon's gift is poker, and he must choose between poker on the one hand and love and law school on the other. The themes of the films are almost antithetical, and Good Will Hunting is so much better written.If you must have a fix of Matt Damon, I would recommend another look at Good Will Hunting, Rainmaker or Saving Private Ryan. In spite of some great performances here, when all is said and done Rounders is quite a bit short of a full house.

This film was suggested to me in a podcast, so I thought I'd give it a shot.Didn't know anything about it, except for Matt Damon was in it and it is about Poker. Watched it on a Sunday afternoon, and that's why I enjoyed the film the way I did - It is smoothly told, very unagitated shot film with little (but intense) physical action and lot of action on the poker table. I consider myself an amateur, but I know the basics and I know the World Series- but I get that when this film was released, Texas Hold'em didn't enjoy the popularity it does today. In this sense, the director is right in explaining the ground rules of the game in the films first minutes. After that, we have a rather typical "must get x in short amount of time" kind of plot, but it very slowly unfolds. Actually, it really gets going 50 minutes in when the main character is left by his girlfriend. Some shots and scenes are too "slow" for modern cinema and show the age of the movie (was released 18 years ago). Also, some sub-plots seem important in the beginning, are completely dropped in the middle and are somewhat disconnected from the rest of the film (the whole lawyer-subplot felt rather unnecessary in it's extent). The main character wants to pursue a career playing poker? OK, that's fine but we never get to know that before he actually makes this decision - in the beginning. poker is made up to be a means of earning money for the guy. In the end, we learn that he played Johnny Chan and won one single hand - that is his main motivation for his new career? Somewhat implausible!In the end, still very enjoyable and is able to transport the feelings and anxieties during a poker match very well7/10

Rounders is not a bad movie, but does not stand out either. Rounders is about hold 'em poker, and Matt Damon trying to help a friend, Edward Norton who Matt owes. The Norton doesn't seem to learn his lesson and always relies on others' good nature to help him out of it. He uses his friends and does not seem to care. A couple of side stories where Matt ruins a love interest, and his university. The main story line of Rounders is about dealing with, reading, and playing poker with people. The directing, acting, and story is so so! I watched Rounders off a cable channel. Would I watch Rounders again? No! Just okay. Something to do on a cold February late night. Rounders is a six out of ten. Not a good hand which one would have to bluff their way through.

Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is a card player who loses it all to KGB (John Malkovich). He vows to quit to his girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol). However when his childhood friend Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of prison, he pulls Mike back into the life.The card games can get very boring if done incorrectly. The games here are done pretty well. At least, the movie doesn't dwell on the games too much. It's the acting which makes this a superior movie. Matt Damon is really solid which allows Ed Norton to play the wild man. Their relationship is the center of the movie. Norton really has the skills to play the darker half of the duo.Some may have difficulties with the message of the movie. The idea of using your god given skills no matter what those skills may be is an unconventional message. I doubt there is another movie where the movie roots for the lead to play poker instead of studying law school.