Are you feeling as though the experience of playing poker – whether online or in person – has gotten a little stale? Have you forgotten why you even started gambling in the first place?
Many of us were first inspired by watching Hollywood movies about the casino world and were drawn to the atmosphere, the glitz, the glamour, the characters – and films are still the best way to get psyched up for a big game. Here are our picks for must have casino movies that can get your groove back.
Rounders
No gambling movie really teaches you everything you need to know about gambling, but when the actors are great, it can teach you about how to behave like one. From Edward Norton’s slick clothes to Matt Damon’s subtlety and intelligence to John Malkovich’s blustery quirkiness, there is plenty to glean from this movie. Ultimately, it will remind you that you are as good looking and talented as these people – at least in your mind.
Casino
Hands down our favorite movie about the casino business, Martin Scorsese’s epic film follows the experience of Las Vegas casino executive Sam “Ace” Rothstein (loosely based on Frank Rosenthal) and his meteoric rise and inevitable fall. The story is riveting and the filmmaking is nothing short of genius – though this film clocks in at almost 3 hours, you can watch it again and again. And Sharon Stone is even good in this thing – a miracle!
Ocean’s Eleven
While in many respects this is a totally over the top, unbelievable film, the remake of Ocean’s Eleven is like that song that gets you in the mood for the gym. Not particularly complex, not too deep, but filled with all of the necessary beats and notes to get your heart and mind pumping for your night out. This is also great to watch prior to going out with a group of buddies, so that you can all have that ‘Ocean’s 11’ moment or debate whether you are Clooney, Pitt, or one of those other guys.
GO
If your way of life is less Ocean’s and more like a modest pond (or puddle), then GO may be the movie that you fully relate to. Though it is only one of the several intersecting stories (a la Tarantino style), the segment that takes place in Las Vegas feels very much like some trouble you can get yourself into (and in some ways serves as a precursor to The Hangover). This is the low-budget, indie casino film that all aspiring young players should watch.
The Cooler
Underrated for some, overrated for others, ‘The Cooler’ is an interesting tale about a man whose very presence brings bad luck to gamblers. He’s great at his job at a historic-yet-irrelevant casino, at least until he loses his gift when he falls in love with a waitress. Everything is complicated, of course, and the twists, turns and complications keep coming and hold you on the edge of your seat. With top-notch performances from William H. Macy, Maria Bello and Alec Baldwin, this one at least deserves one viewing from all gamblers.
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