If you have always taken a brief playwriting lesson, perhaps you know the nature of a film is often to create a conflict. Both real and imaginary, there should be a simple objective that the character must face. This is why gambling is, in many respects, a strong plot for conflict movies.
There's a chance inherent in gambling; even if you can win big, you are just as likely to lose big as well. Casino movies have an innate drama since, by nature, they are about risk. It does not just present the pleasant view of someone being cautious and careful, but to see someone actively putting their well-being at stake in dire, irrational hope for the One Giant Win.
But whichever way, enjoying a gambling movie is a perfect way of learning a little about your beloved casino game, whether this is craps, baccarat, roulette, or poker. To make the best possible preference, here are 7 Crème de la Crème de la Crème casino gambling movies you should check out:
The Cincinnati Kid is undoubtedly the underrated masterpiece of its era. Genuinely, it should be between this movie and The Hustler. Yeah, you can't match Steve McQueen's "Kid" efficiency. The movie depicts the Boy, a mouthy Depression-era poker player who is possibly not as great as he feels he is, confronting the "best" poker player, Lancey "The Man" Howard (Edward G. Robinson). The Cincinnati Kid is certainly worth watching for all those who at least love McQueen.
A movie that has a lot of humor and inspiring drama is a little difficult to find. Rounders gives you a piece of almost everything, with a drama-filled story and a star-studded crew with the ranks of Matt Damon as the main star, as well as Edward Norton and John Malkovich. Rounders tells the journey of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), who must defeat Teddy "KGB," a Russian gambling baron in high-risk poker.
At home, McDermott is being pushed by his mother, Jo, to call it an end to gambling. However, he must pay his college fees by winning poker. The plug-and-pull between the pair persists till Lester (a friend of McDermott's) gets out of the slammer and must pay off the existing debt owed to the KGB. The contest happens right in front of your eyes, with plenty of table joking and poker bluffing tactics.
Possibly one of the most impressive gambling movies ever made, Casino Royale depicts the adventures of James Bond as he attempts to beat Le Chuffer, a very well-known funder of terrorist organizations. Since he learns that Le Chuffer tries to raise funds for terrorist activity by using high-stakes poker, MI6 enlists Mr. Bond's help to strive to defeat him. Bond not only demonstrates impressive bluffing tactics but also succeeds in breaking the company Le Chuffer.
Many of the scenes in James Bond movies were inspired by the creator of the James Bond character, Ian Fleming. The scene in “Casino Royale”, where Bond loses 50 pounds was inspired by Fleming's similar loss while working as a naval intelligence officer during wartime.
Creator Ian Fleming lost 50 pounds at Estoril Casino in Portugal when working for naval intelligence. He joked that other spies were probably playing. Fleming witnessed secret agents spending thousands of dollars at the tables. He even wrote a book called Casino Royale (1953), which was the same name used in the Bond movie.
Vegas is not the best place to go on your romantic getaway, the simple truth that Jack Singer (played by Nicolas Cage) discovers the hard way. After blowing away his lifesaving $65,000 at the poker table, Jack, who was about to become married to Betsy, is compelled to lend his future wife to the winning opponent and con artist, Tommy Korman.
Betsy, who is like the late wife of Korman, begins to grow feelings for the con man. It's up to Jack to quickly track the "couple" down to Hawaii before it becomes too late.
Hardly any list of successful gambling films is perfect without the 1974 masterpiece, The Gambler. James Toback, who wrote the screenplay, based it on his gambling addiction problems and how he was been accused of sexual abuse and assault by more than 350 women over 40 years. So, you know, this is a troublesome film.
“The Gambler” is about a university professor trying to make money as a gambler. It is a classic film known for James Caan's gritty performance as he deals with some tough decisions in trying to win back his losses. These days, many online casinos and software developers are advocates for responsible gambling.
This Best Picture winner embodies pure joy. Anyway, except you run away from Shaw (Paul Newman) and Kelly (Robert Redford), that is. Those men attempt to take apart a no-good gang leader (Robert Shaw) and their intricate pyramid scheme, which includes card games and horse racing. Comprehending the maneuverings of Shaw and Kelly's scheme doesn't matter — it's just a joy to watch the characters turn The Sting into one huge, electric storytelling sport.
Mississippi Grind is trailing two poker players on a journey to the New Orleans poker championship with a possibly massive payout. If you want to see Ryan Reynolds before Deadpool, this is one movie in which he puts in an excellent performance. Including the synergy with the Ben Mendelsohn co-star, how terrific that was? It is a movie filled with addiction, depression, and disappointment, especially the ride to the Mississippi Grind.
The 1995 film "Casino," directed by Martin Scorsese, delves into the glitzy and often dangerous world of Las Vegas gambling in the 1970s and '80s. It follows the story of Sam "Ace" Rothstein, a gambling expert tasked with overseeing the operations of a major casino. The film, based on true events, explores the intricate dynamics of the gambling industry, organized crime, and personal downfall. Gamblers can glean several lessons from the film, such as the perils of greed, the importance of discretion, and the consequences of letting emotions cloud judgment in high-stakes environments like casinos. It's a tale of excess, power, and the risks inherent in the gambling world.
