The wholesome pup's poker face alone, however, hardly accounts for the film's failure to thrill. Damon's character doesn't really have that much stake in the story's outcome.
Rounders (1998)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:18
Fresh:7
Rotten:11
Average Rating:4.9/10
Consensus: Richly atmospheric and colorful performances contributed to the movie's entertainment value.
Runtime: 2 hrs 1 min
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of New York's high-stakes underground poker world, Roundersis the tale of Mike McDermott, a master card player who trades the poker-playing rounds for law school and a shot... Set against the backdrop of New York's high-stakes underground poker world, Roundersis the tale of Mike McDermott, a master card player who trades the poker-playing rounds for law school and a shot at a new life with his girlfriend Jo. For Mike, the new life he's staking out seems like a legitimate road to success, but it's short on the thrills and excitement of back room poker games. But when Mike's longtime friend Worm is released from prison, Mike is faced with the high-stakes dilemma of his life: to keep on the straight and narrow, or deal himself back into the world of the Rounders. Rounders also stars John Malkovich as the seedy Russian card shark Teddy KGB, who runs the biggest and most dangerous game in town; John Turturroas Joey Knish, Mike's old-time poker mentor, and Martin Landau as Professor Petrovsky, Mike's law school dean. As the stakes rise, each one of these men also deals a hand in Mike's ultimate fate. [More]
Starring: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Famke Janssen
Starring: Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Famke Janssen, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich, Martin Landau, Chris Young
Director: John Dahl
Director: John Dahl
Screenwriter: David Levien, Brian Koppelman
Producer: Ted Demme, Joel Stillerman
Composer: Christopher Young
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Reviews for Rounders
Gretchen Mol, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Martin Landau, and Famke Janssen costar; they're all pretty good, but not good enough to make this 1998 feature worth seeing.
Though it's a good-looking flick with some smart acting and a few flashy runs, it barely breaks even dramatically, and feels, overall, like a good chance wasted.
In fighting to show the psychological complexities in Mike that the script ignores, Damon plays it like a rounder instead of a grinder. This kid still has surprises up his sleeve.
Though Damon is an actor who's flatly impossible not to root for, the longer this film lasts the less patience we have to stay with him.
Rounders is not breakthrough material, but it makes for an entertaining evening out.
Norton's acting and Dahl's gift for sustaining a tone save Rounders from completely floundering.
Rounders' script is pretty shabby going. Well, not shabby, really, just simplistic.
According to director John Dahl's Rounders, professional poker players are very, very interesting people -- for about five minutes.
It's a movie of character and milieu, both of which it evokes brilliantly.
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
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