The Last Casino (2004 TV Movie) User Reviews

The Last Casino - review

[jonathanruano · 8/10 · 20 February 2009]

Before "21" came along, there was Pierre Gill's "The Last Casino," which is about Professor Barnes (played very well by Charles Martin Smith) creating his own card counting team to win a huge fortune in Canada's major casinos -- and, oh yes, Barnes also needs the money to pay off his booky Mr. Orr who has his own peculiar way of ensuring the prompt repayment of outstanding debts. "The Last Casino" has half the glitz and thrills of "21"; it even had to do without Kevin Spacey, Lawrence Fishburne and Rihanna's single "Shut up and drive." Yet, it was so much better and far more original than "21" ever was. Many factors contribute to making this under-appreciated film a jewel. To begin with, you can tell the writer Steven Westren put a lot of thought into his screenplay. He created original characters, including the ones that only had small parts. He put the protagonists -- essentially the team of card counters, Elyse (Katherine Isabelle), Scott (Kris Lemche) and George (Albert Chung) -- in the kinds of situations you (or I) would never expect in a film like this. But most importantly, Pierre Gill and Steven Westren succeeded in filling the scenes at the gambling table with tension and thereby conjured up the feelings and impulses of the people who were prepared to put tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table on a single bet. I also appreciated the surprise at the end of the film, which is so cleverly done that it may leave many of the viewers scratching their heads.

The other factor that makes this film great are the performances. Charles Martin Smith does a great job as the professor whose deep in debt, because his gambling via card counting finally got the best of him. Katherine Isabelle puts in a good performance as Elyse, as does Kris Lemche and Albert Chung as her companions so that, by the end, we (as an audience) are able to sympathize with all of them. But the one person who almost steals the show in this movie is Julian Richings whose performance as Mr. Orr must go down in the history books as one of the best (if not the best) villain roles in recent times.

Enjoyable little flick

[dean2900 · 7/10 · 18 August 2007]

As a person who has been "asked" to leave a casino for keeping a running bias count, I obviously have a interest in the subject matter.

The plot centers around a college professor who has been banned from the casino(s) in his area for counting cards. He owes a good bit of money to the "investors" who has been banking him. He recruits kids good at math from the university to win money back from the casino.

I always like the idea of someone sticking it to the casinos as the casinos give such horrible odds to players.

The fun of the movie is how the kids react and handle the pressure of using a system to beat the casino. The systems they use in the movie would not work in Casino's in Vegas and Atlantic City but variations of the system has been used for a long time by card counters.

This is a fun little movie for anyone who has been to a casino especially anyone who plays blackjack.

Dean

Gambling

[Aiike · 8/10 · 20 April 2006]

Honestly this movie is one of those made just for college kids. I personally don't think it is that bad of a movie, more to the contrary i think it is one of those quality film production from first time movie directors.(i think he is email me if i am wrong). However i wonder why the movies pace was all over the place. It went fast and slow and then all over the place. More to the point if you wanted to watch this movie it is a great 90 minutes of passing time. However if your looking for a movie more based on drama in the casino go watch the movie Casino.

This movie more or less touches on many subjects involved with the casino. How people cheat casinos and so on! But the thing about this movie that bugs me the most is the stereo types portrayed in the movie. They put the movies players in roles whereby we all know exactly what they are and how the movie will involve them when we first meet them. Enough ranting. End of the day. Good movie.

Canadians CAN make good movies!!

[Robert_duder · 7/10 · 5 June 2005]

Alright I admit...I have been known to poke fun at "uniquely" Canadian films. This seems to mean that it has to include Beer, Hockey, horrible East Coast accents, boats of some kind, winter, and Native Americans. For the first time EVER I come across an ACTUALLY unique Canadian film, that doesn't force feed the world stereotypes by our own people.

The Last Casino is the story of a gambling addicted card counting University Professor who works for professionals who have been bankrolling him up until his latest Casino catches on to him as a professional and bars him for life. His financial support pulls out and wants their bankroll back but unfortunately Professor Doug Barnes has blown the bankroll on his own obsession...horse racing. Barnes encourages his financiers to give him another shot by training a team of top University Math Students, genius' to count cards and work together to triple the profit. They give him some time to do such. Barnes begins to assemble the best possible team he can find. Elyse, a photographic memory, outspoken, independent and smart. Scott a brilliant Math student who is as smooth as he is brilliant and finally George a nervous, shy but astounding analytical mind. Barnes teaches them everything they need to do from the counting to the disguises and sends them out promising them a 50% split between them which would make them rich. The plan is foolproof until the team starts to slip and Barnes gambling addiction gets worse. When it comes down to it, Barnes will try to double cross the team while paying back his financiers but are they too smart for him??

A truly dark comedy with a unique and talented cast. There were some familiar faces for good measure in the necessary character roles. The freakishly frightening looking Julian Richings as the guy with all the cash and Charles Martin Smith as the pitiful but brilliant Professor Barnes. The kids are the real shining point though. The strangely seductive Katharine Isabelle in a very outspoken role, a strong female lead. Kris Lemche as the cocky Scott who adds a certain amount of male hunk to the film and the comically funny, and yet tragically entertaining George is played by Albert Chung. The three of them, although very different characters play off each other and have a great chemistry as a team. Their constant fights and squabbles show of their differences in character but in the end working together as a team works best. They need each other and the three of them are more loners than they care to admit in different ways. The Last Casino takes you into a very dark, broody, yet flashy world of cards and gambling with an overtone that makes it suspenseful and interesting. It's definitely a good watch for anyone looking for something different and something Canadian with actual Brains for once. 7.5/10

Exceptional Film on all levels

[DClarke-2 · 10/10 · 29 October 2006]

I don't have the words or the talent to write a brilliant review. I am not even capable. I can be dead pan honest and simply say this is an excellent movie in which each character is a real as real gets. Every single one of them feels and looks totally real and the story is completely brilliant in what it draws you into. These kids, these hard working smart kids get dragged into the casino slums along with all the lies that comes along with it.

Get it .. watch it. Make popcorn.

This is a perfect little movie and I wish I could find the drawbacks. There are none.

21 Is Better I Think

[peteradisaputro · 7/10 · 25 December 2018]

Before watch this movie, I have 21 another version of this movie. In my opinion I still love 21 movie. I think 21 is better in many aspects than this movie, especially in movie's plot, actors and actresses, etc. Overall I believe that 21 movie is better than movie. But this movie is also another good option for gambling movie.

Canada catches up

[Beautiful_Disaster · 10/10 · 3 October 2004]

Usually, Canada is known for it's movies with heart and feeling, but lacking in entertainment. Now that many companies are coming up north to film, it seems Canada is making some great movies on their own with The Last Casino.

The premise of the movie is provocative, and the writing is genius. The Last Casino was both entertaining and credible. There are specifics to this movie, where it is apparent that a lot of thought and effort was put into the plot.I loved the suspense and closeness that was created through the types of shots the director used.

I suggest that everyone try to see this movie (it not widely available), and as Canadians we should be proud this is one of our products.

Superb movie, a must-see. Movie genius in all aspects!

[leper03 · 10/10 · 13 December 2004]

I second the comment that this movie is one of the best of 2004. I'll actually go as far as to say this is THE best movie of 2004! The brilliant writing, convincing acting, skilled directing, and all other aspects of this film come together wonderfully to create a masterpiece. The plot is fresh and fairly unconventional, releasing its pathway from the overused movie plot clone formulae of Hollywood (ugh). The characters are all very lifelike and are performed masterfully by the actors! The music is also well done. I never felt myself distracted by flamboyant themes, but instead was drawn in by the music which worked perfectly to enhance the action on screen. I can't wait to see future movies by this relatively new director, skilled writer, and these great new actors.

I recommend this movie whole-heartedly! Bravo Canada!

Good story

[mechdiff · 9/10 · 12 June 2005]

After reading all the great reviews on this film I decided to rent it. Not only is it about gambling, one of my favourite movie subjects but it is a Canadian film. I have watched a few Canadian films in the past and haven't been too impressed with the stories. This is not true with The Last Casino. I would recommend this to anyone who likes gambling themes in movies. This film definitely had a good story and good character development. Cinematography is great with different shades and hues depending on the locations.

The actors are not very well known which adds to this films allure. I feel that you really get into the characters if you don't have any sort of pre conceived ideas of what they are all about, or if they haven't been type casted. Well worth the rental and I would even suggest a purchase of this DVD for your home collection. It does however lack extra features, meaning there are none whatsoever.

To summarize the story...

The movie centres around a math professor with a gambling problem, he is bankrolled by a mafioso type character that looks like he has a heroin problem. Things start to go bad when the professor gets banned from the casinos and his disguises are not fooling the eye in the sky. This is when he recruits 3 students to become part of his gambling ring to count cards and bet big to pay back his gambling debts. Various twists and turns in the movie makes this an interesting viewing.

Total nonsense.....

[merklekranz · 1/10 · 24 June 2009]

What a respected actor like Charles Martin Smith is doing in this Canadian clunker, is a true mystery? Adding his name to the DVD case can get your attention, but unfortunately, the story itself is so badly written, Charles Martin Smith surely must have regretted his involvement. A lot about "The Last Casino" is annoying, including the totally unrealistic premise, casino security, motivation, and rapid camera movements. No one will be pleased here, not the gamblers, because it is so trivial, and certainly not the Charles Martin Smith fans, because his talents are totally wasted. You have been warned. - MERK

Better than a lot of American movies nowadays!

[philchao · 10/10 · 13 July 2005]

When I first tuned into this movie on the movie network, I didn't expect much because it is a Canadian film. But by the end of the movie, I had a different appreciation of what Canadian film makers can accomplish. This movie kept me interested throughout, and didn't need a huge budget to do so. The storyline is well written and the direction is top notch. The subtle humor and mature language was also well-placed. If you like cards, or casinos, or movies involving scamming money, this is the film for you. The fairly new cast does a great job. I liked the investor character of Orr, but I especially liked Katharine Isabelle as Elyse. She is a talented actress and beautiful to boot. If you're looking for a good Canadian film, this has got to be one of the best. This is a definite must-see.

Money oh ya!

[Tsai-Weerasethakul · 9/10 · 8 June 2006]

Its a story about a professor called Barnes who got a 40.000$ debt. Thats why he recruits 3 students Elyse (Katharine Isabelle), Scott and George and teaches them the art of card counting. Its really fun to watch the friendship of 3 totally different people to grow so fast, watch them getting better and better in card counting and winning all the money.

The reason i watched this movie was because of Katharine Isabelle (favorite actress) but in the first minutes of the movie i saw that this is going to be fun because i always liked movies about casinos, money and this kinda cheating. Its not so popular probably because its a TV movie and made in Canada (No offense or anything) but it should be.

If you get the chance to see this awesome movie than do it!

Superb!

[cozmo-9 · 10/10 · 17 May 2005]

Stumbled across this movie by chance - how lucky! I was entertained from the very first to the last minute. The plot was genius, and the acting was very good too, especially by Katharine Isabelle who plays one of the three students being dragged into a world of gambling and mathematics by a gamling-addicted professor.

Half way into the movie I thought I'd figured out how it all would turn out, luckily the ending wasn't what I thought - neither with respect to the economics or the relationship between the students... Great! Who haven't been in need of some extra cash ? __Is_ there after all such a thing as "easy money" ? Watch the movie and find out. It grabbed me from the first minute spinning up the plot using familiar situations and quick lines combined with humor as well as a genuine interest for the mathematics involved.

This is a 10 in my book !

One of the great gambling movies of all time

[russontour25 · 8/10 · 4 October 2005]

A great watch because you can tell a great deal of time was spent getting the gambling details and terminology correct. A non gambler may watch this movie and not pick up on that, but for die hard, committed, everyday punters like myself, the movie comes off as a great snapshot of what would happen (and does everyday) in the gambling world.

The essence of the movie is this - a gambler must try and put the odds in his or her favour before they make a bet. Otherwise in the long run (unless they are extremely lucky) the percentages will work against the player and a loss will be generated. For example, at blackjack if the player plays sensibly at level stakes without counting cards, the house edge is about 1 to 2%. So if you outlay $10,000 in one session, you can expect to lose on average $100 to $200.

However, in this movie the college professor behind the blackjack team gets them to count cards to put the odds in the long run in the players favour, not the casinos. The 3 students in the movie learn how to keep a running count of cards. When the count is in the players favour (ie when there are more tens to aces in the remaining deck rather then low value cards) it is time to increase the bet to take advantage of the count. Likewise when the count is in the casinos favour, the bet should be reduced to the bare minimum.

After a few teething problems, the maths genius team of youngsters hit their straps and the system brings in big reliable profits. The movie captures the problem of gambling addiction very well. The professor who teaches the students the system loses nearly all of his share of the profits from the blackjack team on the horses and trots. Why does he do this?? Because of the adrenalin rush gamblers get from gambling. He knows the odds are against him when he plays the horses (it is very difficult to beat a 20% takeout edge that the betting agencies take out of the pool before paying out winning customers, unless you are an astute judge of form or have fixed a race). But he cannot help himself. He must be gambling all the time to get his fix, similar to the high of a drug addict I would imagine. He puts the odds in his favour with the blackjack but gives it back on the ponies. He's a gambling addict. And there's the rub because people can and do make money from gambling. Casinos on a whole do very well, bookmakers generally do and there are a few dedicated professionals that make a decent living from simply betting. They win by putting the odds in THEIR FAVOUR. This is a storyline that the movie catches beautifully.

Eventually the students are shut down by the casinos because they want losers in their casinos not winners. They go their separate ways but you can tell they all seem to have been bitten by the gambling bug. Who wouldn't be attracted to working for yourself, working your own hours and only having yourself to blame if things turn nasty. The reality is then that gambling would turn out to be more like a job, the glamour is taken away by the fact that you have to be concentrating all the time to maintain your competitive edge. However it's a job that is a lot more entertaining and enjoyable than your standard office or factory job where there is limited freedom or flexibility. Plus the world is your office.

All in all, a well written, well acted movie. The female student lead was especially hot, and I hope big things are in store for her down the line.

I would certainly rate The Last Casino up there with other great gambling movies such as The Runner, Let It Ride, Rounders and Bookies.

Counting cards? I was counting the minutes!

[ChaosEngine · 1/10 · 6 June 2005]

Even by Canadian movie making standards this movie is absolutely horrible. The casino sets were very badly done, I've seen better casinos at stags set up in banquet halls. I will throw a positive in here though, the loan shark's hairdo, positively hilarious! Now, the leads were passable but the movie is so horribly written there really wasn't a lot they could do with it. The real crime was the supporting cast, welcome to the only casino on the planet where they openly laugh at you when you lose playing blackjack, and I want to make special mention of the hotel security, about as threatening as a school guidance counselor giving you a scolding. If you do somehow have your converter go on the fritz and you simply must watch this, have a copy of Casino, or The Gambler with James Caan, or even Rounders handy. You can use them sort of like casino anti-venom to get this out of your system. One reviewer did however hit the nail on the head, he/she mentioned this is one of Canada's best movies, can't argue with that statement. At the time of this review the other reviewers had written exactly one review each, all about this movie, all glowing reviews! I wouldn't suggest cast and/or crew, but you could.

One of the best gambling movies to date!

[danno4 · 26 December 2004]

I was watching a bit of wind down TV just before kicking off to sleep when I stumbled upon the Last Casino. I must say I was immediately captivated by the introductory scenes and story line. I was kept awake because of the pace of the movie, it got my attention right away. I've been a fan of the movie "Rounders" with Matt Damon and Edward Norton, and most recently the TV series "Vegas", so I was naturally curious to see which way this would go. I have to say this movie was awesome.This is a must see as it shows a most interesting side of gambling not seen often. I've always been intrigued by gambling and felt there is much more than luck involved.I was also delightfully surprised that this was a Canadian flick and nice to see our colored money. Especially to see it being won in large sums. All of the actors/actress were most impressive and I recommend this show over and over.