Search

The Gambler

1974, Movie, R, 109 mins

The Gambler: Review

starstarstarstar
Uneven but interesting drama documenting the anger, frustration, and self-destruction of a gambler. Caan is good as a college professor so deeply in debt to his bookies that he must borrow money from his mother, Brookes, in order to keep Sorvino from killing him. Caan runs off to Las Vegas with girlfriend Hutton and wins a bundle at the tables, but his desire to lose is so strong that he squanders it all on dumb sports bets. (One of the flaws of the film is that writer Toback says that all gamblers want to lose, an oversimplified analysis of a complex problem.) We now see that we are in the presence of what George C. Scott called Paul Newman in THE HUSTLER (1961), a "loser." Caan comes very close to being killed but gets out of it by convincing a student of his to shave points in a basketball game that is getting heavy play from the bettors. Suddenly, the picture takes a left turn, and Caan inexplicably winds up in a tough black area where he picks up a hooker and then gets beaten up by the woman's pimp. This sequence has almost nothing to do with the picture save to show that Caan is on a downward spiral that can only end in tragedy. Good acting from all concerned and an excellent job by Carnovsky, as Caan's rich grandfather who refuses to lend Caan any money. Young, a pal of Caan's in real life, is excellent as a quietly brutal collector for a loan shark. Woods is seen in a small role, and several sports announcers play themselves, including Lakers' broadcaster Hearn and Schaap. Lee, the Catskill comic, proves that he should stay there and forget about acting. This could have been a great movie had the filmmakers stuck with the story instead of piling on the pretentiousness. leave a comment
Advertisement

Shop

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler
Buy Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler from Amazon.com
From Kino Video (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 1 to 2 days
Buy New: $35.99
The Gambler - Prokofiev / Staatskapelle Berlin
Buy The Gambler - Prokofiev / Staatskapelle Berlin from Amazon.com
From KULTUR VIDEO (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarhalfstarstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $26.99

more The Gambler products

Advertisement

Most Popular TV Shows

  1. Dancing with the Stars
  2. The Game
  3. NCIS
  4. American Idol
  5. Wife Swap
more popular tv shows

Most Popular Celebrities

  1. Tiger Woods
  2. Pamela Bach
  3. Heidi Klum
  4. Jake Gyllenhaal
  5. Reese Witherspoon
more popular celebrities

Most Popular Movies

  1. The Twilight Saga: New Moon
  2. The Blind Side
  3. 2012
  4. Old Dogs
  5. A Christmas Carol
more popular movies

Top Videos

  1. The View
  2. Nip/Tuck
  3. Desperate Housewives
  4. NCIS
  5. V
more top videos