To me, this movie is perfection.

Boring

Absolutely Fantastic

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Our protagonist is in trouble plenty. It is not enough that he is the heir to one of the richest men in the state, that he has met with success as a writer, and that he is a college teacher. He must work out his own salvation through his own self-destruction, burning his loan sharks(s) (there are several), his family, and his none-too-bright student, with whom he engages in more self-destruction by having sex with her.Yet the line must be drawn somewhere. He is unwilling to sacrifice the life of one of his student athletes, who initially resists a loan shark's offer of easy money, then gives in, and then switches to get a better deal. And, yes! He plays great ball. Then he plays flaccid ball. Then he plays great ball!And all are redeemed.Uh-huh. The sole redemptive moment in the story is John Goodman's character's "F*ck You" speech, which is an illustration of what an idiot the protagonist has been by squandering more than two million, when he could have lived modestly and told the world, "F*ck You!." Goodman really delivers on this, and the moving is worth watching just to catch the wisdom he imparts.A big fan of Mark Wahlberg, I am not sure that as a kid from Southie he is quite able to carry off the look of the disaffected and dissipated rich. Better will be forthcoming, I do hope.

The Gambler is another one of my favorite Los Angeles tales. It centers about a wealthy professor who's gambling addiction gets him deep with the sharks, and he could care less. It's a great vehicle for Mark Wahlberg, as a take away from his straight action movies, to one that is more deep in thought and just outright cool.This is a great watch for movie fans. It's very funny at times, and goes pretty low and deep as well. Very dark movie. It deserves 8 in my book, but I guess 7 works too.7 Stars

In my opinion (and anyone is free to argue with it), I believe that a great character can carry a less-than-satisfactory story, but that a great story falls through with inferior characters.Of course, the perfect combination would be for a film to have both story and character, but The Gambler, for me, undeniably fits the former description. Despite the rather high rating I'm not going to say that the plot was perfect, or that the setting was perfectly accurate for the subject matter. The plot did indeed have some flaws, and some of them were not entirely believable or fully explained, not to mention that anyone looking for a movie that revolves around gambling will be sorely disappointed. However, fans of Mark Wahlberg will more than likely find the film entertaining and a captivating ride. Wahlberg delivers an exceptionally strong performance as Jim Bennett, who runs toward rather than away from problems, has a rather skewed list of priorities, and very black-and-white opinions. It was refreshing to see such a different role played by Wahlberg, and even though the character's message and disposition is one that can be far from likable, it was certainly exciting to watch. Supporting cast Lange, Larson and Goodman also get their moments to shine, both by being expressive foils of Bennett as well as delivering artful pieces of dialog. Overall, the film delivers if you're looking for great acting and an entertaining and stylish- if not entirely realistic- story. The film falls a little flat getting across a lasting message or showcasing the highest standard of film making, but it does portray an intriguing perspective on personality, human nature, and how one chooses to live their life. Don't expect stunning originality or excess sophistication, but do sit back, relax, and enjoy the acting, dialogue, and bright moments the film delivers.

Screenwriter and self confessed compulsive gambler James Toback joined William Monahan to concoct this rather bizarre but ultimately fascinating film about a very bright English Literature Associate Professor who is an inveterate gambler. Rupert Wyatt directs this cross between philosophy of life and the dangers of the life of gambling. Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman in a superb performance), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett's future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance.The strange admixture of classroom teaching with students whose views of learning vary from creativity to going pro-basketball (Anthony Kelley) bring out some interesting philosophical comments from Jim the teacher to the underworld of crime and gambling that is complicated by Jim's addiction to the 'sport' ultimately makes for a thought provoking film. There are some fine supporting roles by Andre Braugher, George Kennedy, Alvin Ing, Richard Schiff, but in the end the performances by John Goodman and Mark Wahlberg are the focus of the odd but compelling drama.