The deck was stacked in favour of this movie succeeding. The cast was anchored by such masters as Ed Norton, John Malkovich and John Turturro, and yet, it fell shamefully short.
My primary complaint with "Rounders" is the casting of Matt Damon as a hard-core, habitual gambler. That's about as believable as Sharon Stone bedecked in Versace flipping burgers at McDonald's.
My second complaint is the women in this film. Were they simply placed on screen as "filler". The characters were utterly superfluous and added nothing to the plot. A plot that was as thin as Famke Janssen's legs.
My final complaint was Malkovich's over-the-top portrayal of a Russian "mobster". It was completely ree-DEEK-u-lose! I have utter respect for him as an actor. His range is awe inspiring. But this was just laughable. Last I checked, "Rounders" was not intended to be a comedy.
So, that's what's wrong with the movie. Norton and Turturro were the only things "right" with it. They flowed so effortlessly into their parts. Every movement, expression and sound they made exuded the appropriate characteristics and nuances required of them.
This movie is not an entire waste of time if you can get past the poor casting, weak plot and predictable ending.
My primary complaint with "Rounders" is the casting of Matt Damon as a hard-core, habitual gambler. That's about as believable as Sharon Stone bedecked in Versace flipping burgers at McDonald's.
My second complaint is the women in this film. Were they simply placed on screen as "filler". The characters were utterly superfluous and added nothing to the plot. A plot that was as thin as Famke Janssen's legs.
My final complaint was Malkovich's over-the-top portrayal of a Russian "mobster". It was completely ree-DEEK-u-lose! I have utter respect for him as an actor. His range is awe inspiring. But this was just laughable. Last I checked, "Rounders" was not intended to be a comedy.
So, that's what's wrong with the movie. Norton and Turturro were the only things "right" with it. They flowed so effortlessly into their parts. Every movement, expression and sound they made exuded the appropriate characteristics and nuances required of them.
This movie is not an entire waste of time if you can get past the poor casting, weak plot and predictable ending.