My Wife and I just got back from a week long stay in Vegas to celebrate my birthday and we had a great time. After spending some time down on the Casino floor and being surrounded by all the lights and sounds that make up the Vegas strip, we had gone back to our hotel room for the evening to rest our feet and count just how much we lost at the tables. Flipping through the channels I noticed that one of the channels was playing The Gambler (1974). Now I had never seen the original in it's entirety and I didn't that night either but it did give me an idea of giving a top 10 Greatest Gambling Movies that everyone should see list.
10. The Hustler (1961)
This movie's last release was it's 50th Anniversary Edition that you may be able to find at your local Target or Safeway store. A well written story about a young pool shark played by Paul Newman, who strives to be the best billiards player in the game. This means taking on the top player named Minnesota Fats. Other famous names include, George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason as "Fats." The movie stands out because it shows the grittiness of the gambling world along with the personal risks and costs associated with the lifestyle.
9. Hard Eight (1996)
Paul Thomas Anderson's directorial debut is a good one as Anderson does a good job bringing a cast who's names could have over shadowed the story being told. Instead PT Anderson shows an intellegent style to his story telling abilities. With what would be considered standard tracking camera movements today was not common place in the mid 90's. He frames shots as good as anything Scorsese has done. Great performances by Phillip Baker Hall, Samuel L. Jackson, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Gwyenth Paltrow show life of a professional gambler.
8. Vegas Vacation (1997)
The fourth outing for the Griswold family brings them to the Las Vegas strip. The Griswold kids find that they love the night life of the city and not having to spend this vacation with Mom and Dad at their side the entire time. Randy Quaid also returns as Cousin Eddy. The scenes involving Marty (Shawn Wallace) as the blackjack dealer become some of the most memorable parts to the movie.
7. The Gambler (2014)
While I was tempted to put the original 1974 version on this list instead of the remake I personally didn't see all of it to be able to make a good enough comparison between the two. However that being said Mark Wahlburg does a great job in this movie about a gambler who just doesn't know when to quit. Showing the troubles of gambling addiction and even when someone has the ability to pay off their debts owed that it's still not enough to give up the grind.
6. Oceans Eleven (2001)
Danny Ocean played by George Clooney has a plan to knock over 3 of the biggest casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. The Mirage, The Bellagio, and MGM Grand. While this film is loosely based on the original movie of the same name, this movie is for fans of both gambling as well as a good caper film. This one is a great popcorn flick to enjoy that features comedy, action and suspense all wrapped up in a fun story that will leave you satisfied.
5. The Cooler (2003)
The Cooler is a movie that most people have probably not seen. However it still remains one of my favorites even if it has been a while since I last seen it and unfortuantly has not been released on Blu-ray. A Cooler is someone who, just by their presence alone, makes everyone around them become unlucky. William H. Macy does terrific in his role as Bernie Lootz. A former gambling addict who works a dead end job at the Shangri-La Casino in Las Vegas. He eventually meets a cocktail waitress who becomes his lucky charm.
4. Casino Royal (2006)
Besides being my favorite of the Daniel Craig Bond films, this movie is an excellent poker movie as well. The way in which the scenes and the drama plays out at the table between Bond and Le Chiffre is only matched by the importance of what Bond is trying to accomplish with his mission. After all these years of hearing how Bond is such a master card player, this is the first film in which we really get to see the full extent of his talents.
3. 21 (2008)
What's interesting about this movie is that it is based after true events. Several MIT students who used their brains to help them win millions of dollars by playing Blackjack by counting cards. One thing I find odd was the choice to replace the group of MIT students (of mostly asain decent) was replaced with a cast of mostly white kids. While it doesn't detract from the story I found it an unnecessary change that the studios may have felt would play to more audiences in the U.S. With some great performances by Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and of course Kevin Spacey as the teacher who brings the group together bring the audience a movie that is definitely worth doubling down on.
2. Rounders (1998)
Hands down my favorite poker movie as well as many of my friends who also enjoy a game of Texas Hold'em. While this movie will appeal mostly to people who are familiar with the game, the movie does a good enough job explaining how it works for any audience member to get a grasp of the rules. Matt Damon and Edward Norton do a great job as Rounders who are poker players who "don't gamble". Damon struggles in the seedy world of underground poker. After becoming in a huge debt to Russian poker club owner Teddy "KGB" Damon's character must come up with $15,000 in 5 days.
1. Casino (1995)
Yes I know what your're thinking. "How surprising another one of these lists with Casino as the number 1." Well my friendly reader there are many good reasons for that which I will let those of you who have yet to see the movie find out for yourself after watching this movie. Everything from the amazing acting, characters, and story all serve greatly to this movie and make it enjoyable. Even from the technical aspect this film is a masterpiece. I remember in film school the teacher showing us different scenes in this movie as examples of great cinematography. One of course being the tracking shot through the back of the night club that stars outside at night, moves through the kitchen and into the night club. 3 different sets of lighting that is all adjusted on the fly through the camera for each of the lighting set ups. In 1995 most of this had to be done by masterful camera operators. As one of Martin Scorsese's best works this movie is one everyone should see in their lifetime.
There are many other movies out there worth mentioning but I felt they may be better served by a more narrow audience. However that doesn't mean they are not worth watching or not as good as others on this list and could easily be replacing many of them. Below are a few others that if your in the mood for some gambling action be sure to check these out as well. You won't be disappointed.
Honorable Mentions:
- Saint John of Las Vegas
- Holly Rollers: True Story of Card Counting Christians
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
- Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrells
- The Cincinnati Kid
- California Split
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