A quartet of hardcore extreme poker players -- laid-back, pragmatic Futura (Audrey Bailey), hip, cocky No Show (Manuel Caneri), loud, excitable All In (a deliciously manic portrayal by Matt Farris), and sexy, assured Starling (Kimberly Pena) -- get together to participate in a high stakes game of Texas Hold 'em. Things get very hairy when everyone starts to bet their most valuable assets in a heavy duty game none of them can afford to lose. Writer/director George Flanigan astutely nails the wildly obsessive and impulsive nature of devout gamblers who are willing to put everything on the line for a chance to win big. Flanigan specifically captures how addiction can really do someone in and depicts these colorful personalities in an entertainingly outrageous manner. Moreover, Flanigan coaxes enthusiastic performances from his eager cast, with Farris in particular a stand-out as All In; watching this guy's noisy bravado slowly give way to shrill panic makes for very fun and hilarious viewing. The brisk editing and lively cinematography with its constantly roving camera create a thrilling sense of crackling energy and mounting tension. The thrashin' bluesy score likewise seriously smokes. The surprise revelation of the true identity of one of the players is a total pip. A cool little short.
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