The Gambler

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, George Kennedy, Jessica Lange, Brie Larson, John Goodman, Michael Kenneth Williams, Andre Braugher, Steve Park
Directed by: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A literature professor (Mark Wahlberg) and gambler begins amassing huge amounts of debt that he will have to pay off if he wants to stay alive.

Review:

Tim: The Gambler is probably an unnecessary remake and didn't look all that good to begin with. Critics didn't love the film. So, color me surprised when I found that I actually enjoyed the movie. It's certainly not great, but it does enough to warrant its existence. Director Rupert Wyatt just manages to pull together a film that felt worth seeing.

One of the biggest complaints people have about the movie is that the main character is fairly unlikeable and spends the majority of the movie engaging in the most dangerous self destructive behavior imaginable. Multiple characters comment that it's like he has a death wish. I actually found this aspect of the film intriguing. Why would someone in Jim Bennett's position- clearly an intelligent college literature professor- have this character flaw that basically led him to risk everything over and over until he lost? The fact that we never truly break through the external layer to truly understand this character is one of my chief complaints about the film. Still, there's an almost mesmerizing quality to how badly Bennett is determined to screw up his life. I found it compelling on screen.

The cast is really one that elevates this film higher than it might have been. Mark Wahlberg famously lost 61 pounds for the role. It's a little surprising to see how gaunt he appears in the film. I very much appreciate his dedication to the role, but like my wife asked, "He lost all the weight for this film? Why?" It seems like a move you make when you're gunning for an Oscar, and this film didn't get close. Despite the impressive physical transformation, Wahlberg actually gives a solid performance. I've seen him try to act smart before and it doesn't work. The guy is a bit of a meathead and I've laughed at him for trying (see The Happening). Here's the thing that surprised me- I actually believed his performance here. He has a few monologues that were effective and believable. I actually bought into his performance. I didn't expect that- Wahlberg really delivers in this film.

George Kennedy was billed high in the cast, but has less than two minutes of screen time. Jessica Lange was fine, but I've never been overly impressed with her. She was decent but not great here. Brie Larson had some great moments in the film, but I felt like her character was slightly mishandled. I wanted to dive deeper into this character but we don't get that opportunity. Still, she gives a solid performance. I loved seeing the great John Goodman here- oftentimes I forget what a great actor he is. He just chews the scenery, delivering an incredibly strong performance. I loved every second of his screen time and desperately wished for more. The guy has a small role but squeezes every ounce out of it- he might have been my favorite part of the film. Michael K. Williams also delivers an exceptionally good performance. He just acted the hell out of the role and was great fun to watch. If you're wondering why I liked this movie more than most critics seemed to, Wahlberg, Goodman, Larson, and Williams make up a large part of that.

I will say that one of my big complaints is that most of the movie never needed to happen. Our protagonist could have very easily avoided all the trouble by making a few logical, obvious decisions early in the film. As the story progressed, it felt strange to be asked to care about this elaborate plot to pay off his debts and save his life when he had numerous attempts to do that early in the film. Sure, you can argue that he needed to hit rock bottom to see the error of his ways, but it still made the whole thing feel a bit unnecessary.

While I didn't love The Gambler, I did enjoy it. It might be flawed, but it does enough right to entertain from start to finish. This is a movie I didn't have high hopes for, but am really glad I took the time to watch. It was far better than I expected.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7


If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Gambler (1974), Rounders, The Happening