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Excitement is one of the strongest human emotions that can push to rash actions. Under the influence of excitement, many lose the ability to reason sensibly, completely putting themselves in the hands of reckless risk. Of course, world cinema could not ignore such a fertile topic, having shot dozens, if not hundreds of films on it. Today we will consider only 10, among which there will be not only stories about games at the card table, but also about much more dangerous entertainment.
10 “Va-bank” (2013)
This is a story about a young guy named Ritchie (Justin Timberlake) who actively gambles online, spending his winnings to pay for his education at a prestigious college. One day there comes a moment when the white stripe is replaced by a black one, and victories are replaced by losses. Not accustomed to giving up, Richie goes to Costa Rica to learn from the real master of the gambling business – Ivan Block (Ben Affleck). The stakes are gradually growing, and with them the risk of losing not only money, but also life.
9. “Twenty One” (2006)
Probably the most famous film in our selection, which has become almost a cult for fans of card games. The plot tells about the mathematician Mickey Rosa, whose salary is not enough to meet all his needs, so he decides to beat the Las Vegas casino by counting cards in blackjack. When he is caught and banned from gambling establishments in Nevada, he gathers a group of talented students around him, teaching them a risky trade that brings a lot of money. In the thick of things is a new student named Ben, who dared to take such a step only in order to “earn” to pay for education.
8. “Bullying” (2003)
The unfortunate Bernie Lutz (William H. Macy) is not doing well: he lives in a dreary place – a studio apartment in a run-down motel near the Las Vegas Strip; he cannot remember the last time he had physical contact with a woman; he is deeply in debt to Shangri-La casino boss Shelley Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), who “cured” him of gambling years earlier by breaking his kneecap. Suddenly, a waitress from the same casino shows interest in him, and this relationship starts a chain of events that will completely turn the life of the protagonist.
7. “Revolver” (2005)
2005 British-French crime thriller co-written with director Guy Ritchie. Starring Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Vincent Pastore and André Benjamin. The film is dedicated to a clever swindler who served 7 years in prison and was barely released. During his term, he, along with other prisoners, became addicted to reading specific literature on mathematics and probability theory, which helped them create a universal “formula” that guarantees victory in any game. Now, having such a skill, the main character will go to conquer the world of underground gambling entertainment.
6. “Games Night” (2018)
This picture belongs to the comedy detective genre, so it is much “easier” than the previous ones. There is less seriousness and tension, but more humor and enthusiasm. The plot tells about a group of people who entertain themselves with role-playing detective games, until someone kidnaps several of the participants for real. Now the motley team will have to show all their ingenuity in order to rescue their comrades from mortal danger.
5. “Casino” (1996)
Drama by the unsurpassed Martin Scorsese with an amazing cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, James Woods and others. Stone, by the way, was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film, but eventually won the Golden Globe (another one was taken by Scorsese). The events unfold around an experienced sweepstakes player who is entrusted by mafia bosses to run a casino in Las Vegas. For several years, things were only going uphill, but such a business cannot but bring problems, and one day the main character is faced with them.
4. “Beyond Reality” (2018)
At first glance, this film has nothing in common with the previous ones: there are no classic bandits, no card games or sweepstakes, but the main thing is excitement. The main characters are typical young people who want to earn easy money. Such a chance is given to them by the organizers of a reality game in which participants need to complete tasks for money, and at this time viewers are watching them online. Simple and harmless at first, these tasks become more and more dangerous, but it is not so easy to refuse to complete them.
3. Rounders (1998)
Another film that is a real classic for poker fans, but which is also suitable for a casual viewer. Why? Well, with Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich and Famke Janssen in the lead roles, that in itself sounds convincing. It is thanks to them that a rather banal plot does not cause boredom and the picture looks in one breath. And the plot is this: a young student loves poker, in which he has few equals. Once he loses a large amount, and having paid off his debts, he gives himself, as well as his fiancee, the word not to sit at the card table anymore, but because of an unlucky friend, this word has to be broken. What’s next – see for yourself.
2. “Players” (2008)
Alex Stillman (Bret Harrison) is a law student with a serious interest in online poker. He registers for a tournament where the final table is played live on TV. Alex makes it to the final but is eliminated first, losing to Karen “Razor” Jones. Watching the final table broadcast is retired professional player Tommy Vinson (Burt Reynolds), who feels that Alex has potential. Contacting him, he takes on his training, which eventually develops into a classic confrontation between student and teacher.
1. “Lucky” (2007)
Another movie about professional poker starring Robert Duvall, Drew Barrymore, Eric Bana, Robert Downey Jr. other. The main character, played by Bana, will have to play not against bandits, but against his own father (Duval), with whom he has an extremely difficult relationship.