A quite satisfying examination of a man caught between his need to feel and his fear of feeling too much.
Croupier (1998)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:53
Fresh:52
Rotten:1
Average Rating:7.6/10
Consensus: The writer slumming for human truths and real experience is a common enough story, but this cool-headed and slick thriller provides a gut-churningly compelling backdrop to a look at our darker sides.
Synopsis: CROUPIER tells the complex story of an aspiring writer who must take a job in order to pay the bills. Experienced as a professional croupier, Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) is hired by an upscale casino... CROUPIER tells the complex story of an aspiring writer who must take a job in order to pay the bills. Experienced as a professional croupier, Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) is hired by an upscale casino in London, where he intends to silently observe the goings on while continuing to work on his latest novel. Tensions begin to emerge between Jack and his girlfriend, Marion (Gina McKee), when he finds himself succumbing to the temptations that the gambling world presents; most notably, the gorgeous Jani (Alex Kingston), whose mysterious intentions eventually make themselves clear. As the story unfolds, Jack begins to realize that he is becoming the immoral hero of his novel, and is, in fact, giving in to these temptations to provide him with subject matter that will make for a memorable work of fiction. Mike Hodges and Paul Mayersberg have crafted a taut thriller that keeps the twists unfolding until the film's very last shot. As a tribute to Mayersberg's script, Hodges insisted that he share the film's author credit with the scribe. This unprecedented decision, combined with Clive Owen's seductive, highly irresistible performance, results in a motion picture that is an intelligent throwback to the crime films of yesteryear. [More]
Starring: Clive Owen, Gina McKee, Alex Kingston, Alexander Morton
Starring: Clive Owen, Gina McKee, Alex Kingston, Alexander Morton, Kate Hardie, Paul Reynolds, Nick Reding, Nicholas Ball, Ozzi Yue, Tom Mannion, James Clyde, Emma Lewis, Kate Fenwick, Ciro De Chiara, Barnaby Kay, Sheila Whitfield, John Radcliffe, Eddie Osei, Doremy Vernon, Claudine Carter, George Khan
Director: Mike Hodges
Director: Mike Hodges
Screenwriter: Paul Mayersberg
Producer: Jonathan Cavendish
Composer: Simon Fisher Turner
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Release:
Mar 9, 2004
Reviews for Croupier
The choice of Clive Owen as the star is a good one. He's got the same sort of physical reserve as Sean Connery in the Bond pictures.
It's a testimony to how well Croupier works for 90% of its running time that the train wreck of a conclusion can't derail the whole film.
Clive Owen conveys a sharp, cynical intelligence that rolls off the screen in waves whenever he widens his glittering blue eyes.
With a sleek look and feel, the movie has stylish atmospherics and a detached approach that is a far cry from the typical in-your-face Hollywood production.
Gambling and gamblers are a movie staple, but Croupier comes at the sport and its population from a fresh and, finally, rewardingly wide perspective.
The real star of Croupier is Hodges, whose ability to create gripping tension and icy humor makes every second of his film infectiously watchable.
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