Poker Face (2022) Poster

(2022)

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6/10
Enjoyable!!!
tkatsoufris8 December 2022
I really don't get the people who did not enjoy the film. Nobody claims that it is a masterpiece. Not even that it is remarkable in any way. Nevertheless,the cast and the plot make it entertaining at least. I think,though I am far from sure the the idea belongs to him, Matthew Arnold once said that any art to be enjoyed begs for suspension of disbelief. Suspend,therefore, any disbelief and go and enjoy a non-demanding,well acted,adequately directed film without compulsively seeking compulsively more where there is not any. Or,alternatively,don't even bother attending the movie. Easily a 6-7 grading. I have seen quite a lot far worse!!!!
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6/10
Not great but not bad either
roexpat14 November 2022
Russell Crowe plays a billionaire who has to confront his own mortality, so he does it in a very billionaire-ish manner. Only problem is his plans are interrupted by art thieves...

It's well filmed and almost worth watching for the scenery and camera work alone. The real issue with Poker Face is that it wants to be too many things and doesn't succeed in any special way at any of them. It's not much of a drama about life and mortality, though it is a little bit; it's not much of a thriller though there's some crime and betrayal; Action? Forget it (though it does try to tease at it with fast cars and a few guns).

It's basically a boyhood to adult buddy film with lots of cash thrown at it. It's okay, you probably won't feel bad for watching it, but you won't be telling many people about it either.
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5/10
Lacking true suspense...and lacking a lot more...
imseeg13 November 2022
The bad: this movie has got an artsy fartsy style to it, that was annoying me from the very start. Why? Because I hate it when a director starts using slowmotion photography flashbacks and supposedly spiritual monologues, that dont make sense whatsoever.

BEWARE: this is definitely NOT a straigthforward pokergame movie. Forget about it. Little to none action. Only a tiny bit of supsense.

SKIP the entire first hour. The (little bit) of suspense that there still is, can only be experienced after an entire first hour, wherein nothing much happens AT ALL, besides Russell Crowe looking deep and mysterious into the distance for ages on end and mumbling to himself about deep thoughts and feelings.

What the heck is this movie about?

Ruined by a director, who just doesnt know how to tell a solid story.

It only lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. I guess they had to cut out a lot of scenes that dragged this movie down even more.

Bad editing. Cheap photography. Even cheaper and ridiculous dialogues. And the story? Pfff, really, this movie is disjointed from the very start.

Not entirely terrible, but definitely missing supsense, missing spark and punch and most of all missing a coherent storyline with credible characters.

Artsy fartsy flop. Sorry...I tried to like it, because I really dig Russell Crowe as an actor, but this time around he couldnt save this movie from failing...
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3/10
Not something you'd expect from Crowe! [+33%]
arungeorge1314 November 2022
Sorry, Mr. Crowe.. writing & directing do not seem like your forte. Poker Face has so little to do with poker.. or friendship, or betrayals, or anything meaninful for that matter. It's just a blandly written, blandly performed, blandly directed film with no takeaways. For a film branded as an action-crime-thriller, it does no favors to any of the genres. Why was Liam Hemsworth (32) cast as Crowe's (58) childhood friend? Every character is painted in broad strokes, not giving us any particular reasons to care - I simply couldn't buy into Crowe's "virtuous, wealthy guy" character at all (a tad too indulgent?). The action itself is surprisingly ordinary, even when a subplot regarding a heist slowly develops.
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7/10
Not great but certainly not bad either!
mitchell_hopper-5710126 December 2022
I found this film to be a mixed bag of good and bad.

The first 20 minutes it tries to be way too clever and some of it is just nonsense. Some of the flashbacks and plots just don't come out later in the film.

Once they get the cars from the garage, it starts to get a lot better. The story really starts to unfold and the game begins.

The ending was good, it wraps it up nicely and the added bonus is that it was only on for 90 minutes! So many films drag on for hours, that it was refreshing to watch one in 90 minutes!

The sets used are awesome, as are the cars. There's clearly been a good budget for the production.

All in all, it was definitely worth watching and nowhere near as bad as some of these reviews are making out.
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7/10
The worst problem with this film may be its marketing
lynglas22 November 2022
. . . as an action/suspense thriller. It isn't, though it has elements of both. If you wanted it to be one, you'll be bored and/or disappointed.

Instead, it is a musing on mortality and a character study; Crowe is at his most compelling portraying a man accustomed to hiding what he feels in a story full of the 'tells' in everything he does and surrounds himself with. Which layers you notice may say as much about you as about Jake.

The film shows the flaws surrounding its production pressures--it should be longer, other characters more developed, the fight scenes are not well lit--but for any Crowe fan, or anyone facing their mortality, it is thoughtful and worth the time.
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7/10
Better than I thought it would be...
bagpussjazz12 November 2022
Russell Crowe's acting near the start was pretty good, and left me intrigued, and I'm not a huge fan. The pacing is fine. The scenes flow pretty well without being abrupt. Some of the baddies acting is seriously over the top though, The plot is rather obvious and has been used to better effect in other films, in my opinion. Some characters were totally superfluous to the story, and since Crowe directed it, I wondered if there had been some nepotism? The conclusion is also fine, and even brought a tear to my eye.. Overall, it was much better than a lot of Sky films. Easily passes an afternoon effortlessly.
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4/10
Not much action, not much crime and not very thrilling
FixedYourEnding22 December 2022
This movie serves you with a triple dose of Russell Crowe. Acting, directing and screenplay. Let me tell you, there are very few people that talented on earth that can do all three successfully, and Crowe is not one of them. Other than beautiful scenery, cars, architecture and art you don't get much here. If you are satisfied with just that you might be ok with this movie, but if you are looking for a good thriller, look somewhere else.

Couple of things I disliked about this movie: 1. It's kinda boring and the overall action is silly. 2. The casting was done based on popularity and not based on fit for the role (RZA, Liam Hemsworth). Also, if you have a group of childhood friends, should they not be at the same age as grown-ups? The characters are all annoying. Morally deficient and thus failing to pull any emotions from the viewers. You are rich and made all the wrong decisions, who cares.

Third thing is the Poker. I think Poker fans will be really disappointed by this movie, having the name and the art suggest it is something to do with high-level card game, but other than a random event here and there, there is really nothing to do with poker, and really doesn't showcase the professionalism behind a Texas-Holdem game for example. In short, if you intend to watch this movie for some nice poker moves, you will be deeply disappointed.

Some good points: If you are an art lover, there are a few dialogues there discussing art in an interesting way and also I really liked the first 10 minutes intro of the movie, unfortunately it goes downhill from there, all the way to a predictable and pointless ending. Even the cars are boring and the car race is pointless and un-exciting, to the point where it feels production was careful not to risk scratching the cars before returning them to the rental car agency.

To sum up- don't spend your time and hard earned money on this one. Exact score: 44 / 100.
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9/10
Slow but good
janedowh14 May 2023
I agree the movie was slow in the beginning. Yet, I kept wanting to watch it. I wanted to see if his plan would work or what would happen. I like the fact that it got to the point and no Hollywood same ol same old movies.

The final scene sums up the movie great.

Something all of us show listen to.

Russell Crowe has been ridicule by Hollywood. He goes against the grain. I feel people will not like this movie because they don't like Russell Crowe. That is a shame. He is a brilliant actor, who should be respected as an artist and human people. He is not a push over to Hollywood's boxed view

Good on ya, mate.
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7/10
Not too bad
trevorblunn-4845717 November 2022
In fairness I only watched this cos it was "free to me" and the slow start nearly made us abandon ship but when it got going it was quite watchable. Sentimental, action, suspense elements were all there. Not the best but still a diverting watch. The plot's a bit convoluted and it has all the elements without necessarily stringing them together very well. As usual the antagonist lacks motivation. I think the worst part of the film was that some character development wasn't great so when issues were revealed you hadn't seen it coming - would have been nice to have been kept guessing a little longer before character flaws were finally revealed.
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5/10
Okay film, took too long to get going.
BenW199912 November 2022
It's okay, but took way too long to get going.

This film is just okay, nothing spectacular and it's very low-key. The acting performances are good enough.

Briefly outlining the plot, it's about a man with cancer who gives money to his friends and family and his house gets invaded and people want to steal his art.

There's not much to the plot at all, this 90 minute film could easily be condensed into 20 minutes and not much of the plot would've been lost at all.

The first 30 minutes are a chore to get through, far too slow to show far too little. Additionally, that first third of the film is very very exposition heavy.

Hemsworth is hardly even in the film so if you're watching for him, then I've got bad news.

Overall, just an okay film.
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3/10
Drama with some action sprinkled in
Silicone5415 November 2022
I expected it to be some action/thriller movie but was pretty disappointed. Its neither a good drama nor a good thriller movie.

Starts out with a group of young boys hanging out playing poker. You see who are the good ones vs bad ones and then movie jumps to the middle-aged version of those kids. Jake the main character is hosting a poker game at his house for these friends and shenanigans ensue. The good and bad grown up versions of the kids emerge as intended.

The story is not particularly interesting as a drama because so little is invested in Jake's life. We only know he is a terminally ill multi-millionaire and he's contemplating the life he will leave behind for his ex wife, daughter and his buddies. None of the characters have any pizzazz to them. Even the bad guys were quite dull except for the art thief. He was the only one that shined in his role.

The action that I had hoped for was minimal and forgettable. Movie ends exactly as you knew it would so no surprises here. Not much to recommend here its another disposable movie that may entertain you for 20 minutes.
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6/10
Better Actor than Director
sajidkhan-3002213 November 2022
Russel Crowe directed this action thriller drama and it was a decent attempt. However, it falls short of the expectations we have from him as an actor at least. His acting also took a dip perhaps due to directorial burden as he was not at his usual best. Movie started off as a fairly good premise and it started to build on the characters but then the plot got very muddled up with too many things going on simultaneously towards the later half. Revenge plot alone could have developed it into a reasonable movie on its own but the addition of the thugs angle made it neither here nor there. Overall a good one time watch and I rate it as 6/10.
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7/10
7.5 Stars for a solid movie...
jackreinbott8 February 2023
This movie was genuinely a good quality film. Sure, the plot was a bit overstuffed in spots, and the dialogue felt a bit clunky here and there, but it had a general story that kept me invested, interested, and really entertained. Crowe and the rest of hist cast deliver solid performances that are entirely serviceable and easy to watch. Granted, the film won't win any awards, but I don't think that's its intent. It's just a good old fashioned movie made for the enjoyment of the audience without any agendas. I would certainly recommend this one as an easy (if not slightly forgettable) watch for anyone looking to pass the time with a solid movie...
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7/10
5.2/10 is harsh
weed_11003 January 2024
I really liked it, i give it 6.5/10 just because its short, if it had been 30 mins longer it would probably be a 7 or 7.5/10.

Its a good story, good acting but the climax where things get revealed was wrapped up too quickly. The characters barely got enough time to sit with the information, things just quickly spilt over and then they quickly moved on to the next act. The character spent more time planning the evening than the reveal. I didnt like that they gave more screen time for the beginning and end than the middle (the reveal and reactions) which i wanted to see more of.

Worth the watch... deserves 6.5/10, they probably spent too much time editing and cutting scenes.
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8/10
I downloaded the wrong Poker Face video
Top_Dawg_Critic22 November 2022
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face by Lady Gaga this wasn't, but it was still a fun ride. Sure Russell Crowe's Aussie film had some issues, but not nearly as bad as the critics say. The main issue was the overstuffed and indecisive narrative with too many themes and subplots attempting to come together. Surprisingly, most do come together, but in the well-paced short 94 min runtime, there were many scenes that weren't needed, and others could've used more time to expand on their subplot. For example, the entire shaman camp visit could've been omitted, and more dynamics between RZA and Crowe's character's been expanded. I'm not a fan of long runtimes, but for this film, I actually wanted more allocated to better character development. Plus all the fine-art and art-gallery subplots didn't really do much for the rest of the film's themes. Nevertheless, all casting and performances were spot-on, the cinematography, landscapes and sets all outstanding, and the score was on point.
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1/10
Absolute bonkers
micz819 December 2022
Nothing makes sense in this movie. Starting with the plot itself, then there's ridiculous overacting, even choice of music is beyond comprehension. I feel like Russell Crowe reading the script, and then writing the screenplay was intrigued by this concept of tense claustrophobic drama taking place in linear fashion told by a strong lead ultra-wise character which holds the mystery by its balls all the time, just to reveal it to the viewers by the end of the movie... And guess what - it all remained only a concept.

This is a bad movie with lots of very basic storytelling mistakes, bad editing, bad direction, bad screenplay, bad acting, and bad ending. It feels like an ego-boosting manouver for Mr. Crowe himself, sorry.
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5/10
Average ... But not Terrible?
jemmabaddock24 November 2022
I think this movie is being absolutely torn to shreds where it probably doesn't deserve that much backlash.

Is it amazing? No. But I didn't finish watching it with a sour taste in my mouth. It was alright.

The Australian shots are spectacular in some scenes, I particularly enjoyed the architecture and homes/apartments that were showcased. Russell Crowe's acting was good, I thought he fit the character well enough and the last 30-60 minutes where the action occurred was actually pretty good.

All of the other characters did have problems being understood and became irrelevant. I was excited to see Liam Hemsworth but became really confused why he was cast as a guy in his late 50s? It just didn't make sense at all. Also the first half of the movie is pretty slow and doesn't really go anywhere.

Overall it's okay to watch.
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6/10
not ...
ops-5253513 November 2022
Exactly impressed by this australian top of the pyramide of the gold coast rich, where the roulette is played by russians, aussies do always fight with a good hand of doug and a poker face attatched to it.

Its a story about a group of men thats been sharing precarious moments together all their life, whenever, wherever and whatever happens. And when death comes with a toll thats too heavy to bear alone, why not invite your buddies to a game of poker and share some of the new gold dreams they had back then in adolescence...

its fairly good acted, just a bit slow, and the story is really very crammed and could be told on a napkin if you ask the grumpy old man, even though its glittering locations, cars, money , chips, clocks, glocks and a crevice full of painted art and a state of the art panic room, it still doesnt satisfy all the needs that i have outta watching a thriller.
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7/10
Not bad
reywho13 November 2022
Watching Russel Crowe from his early movies since The Crossing, The Quick and the Dead, LA Confidential to Gladiator, Proof of Life to Cinderella Man and 3:10 to Yuma, I would say this may not be his best movie. Directing and acting in this movie, I would say Russel Crowe did a good job. There are some holes in the story, but good enough. Liam maybe too young for the role as one of Russel's childhood friend. The scenes, the lighting and atmosphere feels so true to the story. Will I watch this again, I may say not, because this type of movie is when you know the ending that's it. But this is a feel good movie and I will recommend.
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5/10
Seriously?
dutchcourage-0419019 November 2022
I give this 5 because the location filming and scenery are pretty spectacular. Is Russell Crowe running out of steam? Too many loose ends in this film, completely unrealistic story line and a poison that makes no sense at all. Performances are either totally over the top (Tassone), or seemingly just repeating lines (Pataky). This could have been much better written and thought out, for example all of a sudden the story comes to an end very unexpectedly when you're waiting (praying) for something meaningful to happen. Many questions remain, and I truly hope this doesn't mean that Crowe is planning a sequel. 5/10 is pretty accurate IMHO.
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7/10
Pleasantly surprised
melissahmcgrath30 November 2022
Interesting script, couldn't stop watching and I watch a lot of movies so not easily impressed. I'm an English teacher so I look out for interesting elements and it had plenty.

Men and women alike will enjoy I believe. Its there for entertainment, not to be some epic drama like Crowe is known for.

Nice scenery, a mix of characters each bringing their own thing.

Not quite sure what those putting it down want. You will definately enjoy more if Australian due to all the Aussie actors but overall anyone appreciating suspense won't be disappointed. We have to write a ridiculous amount of words here thus why I'm still typing.
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8/10
Messy beginning, great middle and end
clsmartie17 November 2022
The movie starts in pieces which you struggle to put together, obviously welcomed by the legend that is Russell Crowe in a flash back which was a nice and enjoyable piece of film making. However It takes time to gain momentum, feeling a little scatty and uncertain in what should be revealed , leaving it too vague at times throughout the beginning 30 mins.

The movie seems to settle and become more certain in the story telling, building interest in what's to happen next as you warm to each character , elevated by the presence of RZA (possibly a return of favour after being cast in RZA's 'The Man with the iron fists' great movie), you start to realise what Russell Crowe's character is trying to achieve.

Then it finishes with action and reformation. Once the movie ended, I felt it was time was spent, really enjoyable and actually a great movie. Well done Russell Crowe.

Stick with this movie it's worth it!
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3/10
A slow Death
rehmankhilji20 November 2022
You will see the poster, you see some big names and nothing is bigger then when it comes to Russell Crowe, when the same is directing too, you will surely be interested. But it is very much disappointing from the very start, you will find a weak plot, with a weak and predictable story and sorry to say some top notch bad acting. The movie has everything missing and you will not find anything interesting in it. It is slow and dry from the start to the very end.

Disappointing.

A simple advice, don't even bother with this one because it is own of those a legend destroying his own name and the brand which it carries.
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2/10
What a mess
amufan13 November 2022
Russell Crowe needs to stick to acting and give up directing immediately. This movie well I'm not even sure what it was supposed to be. There's this big mysterious set up in the beginning and then we get to the middle and it pulls you in a little more and then all of a sudden the movie completely breaks apart I don't wanna say too much give it a watch yourself I'd be wary if it wasn't for Russell Crowe the actor this movie would be a one star.

I will give you a slight hint of what I'm talking about. There's a wealthy man dying to start a business from nothing along with four other friends and began playing poker and turned into something bigger. As a climactic ending the main character set up a big game of poker to which secrets and lies were to be revealed, mix in some art thieves And you have one big mess of a movie.
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