User reviews

Have to first mention the great performances by Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Malkovich, and Martin Landeau. Good story, although Worm was one the biggest jerks I've seen interpreted on film lately. Really liked the narration of what's going on during high stakes poker matches. Talked to poker playing people who thought the game was represented well. The one-on-ones between Damon and Malkovich were terrific.

"Rounders" is about a straight-flying legal student (Matt Damon) who leaves behind his gambling habits to satisfy his moralistic girlfriend. However when his best friend "Worm" (Edward Norton) is released from jail, the two embark on a cards-journey that leads them from success to misfortune after Worm is caught cheating and the man who caught him (John Malkovich) wants his money back.

Whereas Ben Affleck continues to go downhill after "Good Will Hunting," Matt Damon has striven uphill, taking on daring productions such as "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "The Bourne Identity" series, and of course "Rounders," which features one of his best performances. Damon has become typecast as some sort of bad actor in the league of Affleck, but he's much better than his pal, and films like this prove it.

Norton is once again superb as one of his characters you love to hate. He's got the character of Worm down pat, and it really elevates the acting (along with Damon) to a level of greatness.

The film is directed and written very well, offering realistic dialog and gritty environments. However the flaws of the movie are its long running time (two hours exactly), which could have been shortened, and probably the fact that its card playing is sometimes a bit alienating to the audience.

That said, this is still a very underrated movie featuring outstanding performances and a unique spin on gambling flicks. Worth watching at least once in a lifetime.

This film is incredibly focused. There is not one throw-away line or one extra frame in the entire movie. From the first establishing shot to the final line, the production team plays it tight and aggressive. I couldn't help but think of "The Hustler" as I watched, and Damon more than survives this comparison to a young Paul Newman. His swagger and charm and the even, controlled truthfulness of his performance all serve to place him solidly in the game with any of Hollywood's best. Highly recommended.

Rounders is I believe, one of the most widely underrated movies of our time.

I first saw this movie as it was a 'bonus DVD' thrown in for free with my DVD player back in 2000, so naturally I didn't expect much (as the other bonus DVD's were very mediocre), but what I found was a very enjoyable movie.

At that stage in my life, I had only played a little poker as a child growing up, and never 'Texas Hold'em' so to be honest, a lot of the terminology went 'over my head', but even so, the film became an instant favorite of mine purely because of the performances.

The film has so much star power, and yet none of the fine actors try to 'steal' scenes. Damon, Norton, Malkovich, Landau ... and then the fine supporting cast of Turturro, Jansen, and Mol.

In fact, there is a scene with Martin Landau and Matt Damon that is perhaps one of the most beautiful performances I have seen in a long time between two very fine actors.

So even if you're not a poker player, the story is tighter than a lot of Hollywood 'pop fluff' and the performances alone can sell the film as an enjoyable movie capable of multiple viewings.

But ... if you start playing poker and get really into what they are talking about, and reading about poker theory (like Doyle Brunson's book Super System) then the movie moves up to a whole different level.

A lot of the time, Hollywood will attempt to cover a specialized error, and usually fail, or at best only partially succeed, whereas Rounders managed to get everything 'spot on', just look at the US DVD, it has a commentary track from 4 World Champion Poker players, if that's not a stamp of approval then I don't know what is.

When you factor in how the film can be enjoyed by someone who has little to no idea about Poker (as I did when I first saw the film) just because of the tight story and stellar performances and also be 'immortalized' by poker enthusiasts as the best movie ever made on the subject (and truth be told, a big reason why the World Series of Poker has been doubling it's entries year after year) ... what you have here is a true gem that works on so many levels and what I believe is, as I said initially, one of the most widely underrated movies of our time.

Rounders (1998)

A charming idea, almost romanticized: if you are young, clever, good looking, and savvy at playing poker you can be ultra cool and maybe even wealthy. That makes for a pretty good movie, if not a very accurate reality. It isn't quite enough to keep two hours going, however, and so the big picture here is to enjoy what it has.

A quick comparison might be made to "The Hustler" and related pool shark movies. And like that classic, "Rounders" is about charming deceit. Matt Damon is the main man here, an ex-poker champ who has "gone straight" until his former partner in crime, Ed Norton, gets out of jail and ropes him back into the thrills and malevolence. Like the pool movies, and like the glitzier and more ambitious "Oceans" movies, personalities matter most. The setting, the glint of money, and most of all the plots matter less than you'd think.

So everything is pretty good along those lines, partly because Damon is fun to be with and Norton is simply terrific. An embarrassing appearance in the beginning and end of the movie by an overacting John Malkovich gets in the way of Damon's performance, however. And the general attempt at creating a bunch of bad guys behind the scenes is filled with thin clichés and mediocre acting.

This is the result of having to make more of the story that was ever there. The main idea--that the two leads get into money trouble and have to earn a ton of cash in a few days of wild poker games--is eventually actually a bit of a bore. The gamesmanship is always interesting, of course, but the impetus behind it grows old. The addition of Martin Landau as a Jewish lawyer who gives Damon a mitzvah as a kind of honor paid to continue a favor once given him is a touching part of the larger plot, making you wish there was more of this somehow, more of something genuine and a bit different.

It might not have helped that I recently saw "Croupier" with a young Clive Owen as a poker dealer, because that movie, whatever its simplicity and other limitations, actually made the poker scenes more real for me. In fact, one problem with "Rounders" is you never get to actually sense the betting itself, and the cards--the playing and the strategies of playing--are glossed over with some tossing of chips and flipping of cards, all in a vague muddle.

I did enjoy watching overall, but it left me a little disappointed and restless.

Rounders is helped by a rich cast, led by the increasingly more likable Matt Damon. John Turturro adds a quiet strength and dignity to his standard misfit prodigy character. The film has a surprisingly low-key feel, with many scenes filmed in dim rooms punctuated with hushed dialogue. It's an entertaining film, but it seems unlikely that Mike (Matt Damon) could go through what he goes through and maintain such a sunny disposition and steadfast sense of honor. The dialogue is rife with poker references and inside lingo. If a viewer has no understanding of the game of poker he/she will certainly be lost.

Rounders is a story of a pair of prep school buddies, Matt Damon and Edward Norton, who are a pair of poker sharks. Damon's used his winnings to pay for law school and Norton's gone on to other enterprises like identity theft which has landed him a stretch in prison.

Damon after being taken to the cleaners by Russian mob guy John Malkovich has given up poker for law school. Norton's finishing his stretch in the joint and as it turns out he owes Malkovich some heavy duty debt. He's needing some help, especially after leg breaker Michael Rispoli gives Norton a sample of what he can expect.

Damon owes Norton as well for not ratting him out on some prep school scam that could have gotten him expelled like Norton. Needless to say he goes back into the life.

I'm willing to wager (no pun intended) that because Rounders came out right after Good Will Hunting that this was a project intended for Damon and Ben Affleck. I think Ben probably showed good sense in thinking he was not quite right for the role. Certainly Norton who plays some really edgy characters was far better for the role of Lester 'Worm' Murphy.

Damon does all right for himself as the standup Mike McDermott. He also because he discharges the debt he owes Norton, realizes that he should follow his dream as well. What it is and how the film ends I won't say, but if you have a dream you have to follow it because you won't know if you don't try.

In addition to everything else Rounders is quite a look into the world of professional gambling. As Damon says even if you play it honest, it's far more skill than luck. You read the opponent, not the cards.

Rounders was a great career followup to the acclaimed Good Will Hunting for Matt Damon. Even if you're not a gambler by nature, this film will fascinate one.

Here is a movie with a lot of stars, both established and on the rise, that creates a fully believable world of lowly card-sharks, ex-cons, and a straight kid who is in the eye of the storm. Matt Damon is the young man and lead of a cast of actors, who are hidden behind the facade of their characters. This film easily could've been one of those all-star outings where we identify more with an actor's image than with what we are supposed to experience through the story. John Dahl, director of 1993's RED ROCK WEST, keeps the movie focused and does not allow it to stray into a morality play between Damon and his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol). My worst fears did not come true when the girlfriend was placed in the background and the real story involving the friendship between Damon and Norton was told.

Edward Norton is one of the best young actors of his generation. His character is aptly titled 'worm'. Damon proves again that he can play the lead effectively amongst a crowd of monster talent. Martin Landau plays the quiet, vulnerable professor, John Turturro the constant on-looker of the poker underbelly, but the most interesting performance comes from John Malkovich, playing a Russian card player who acts and speaks strangely, but happens to run the Russian mob. The key scenes do involve Norton and Damon. You never wonder why Damon keeps helping his paroled buddy. They seem as if they have been through tough times together.

ROUNDERS is also told in a Docu-drama style, showing us the way the games are played and the consequences you may face if you screw up. The cinematography is sharp and the movie as a whole is an enjoyable romp through this dangerous lifestyle that always seems to clean people out. Gambling is all these people know, thus they continue to make the "rounds".

I have no idea if this movie is at all realistic (certainly so many people inhabiting this strata of the poker world can be so good looking), but at least it has the ring of verisimilitude. Not only does it show us the workings of a somewhat exotic (to me, anyway) part of the world, but it manages to do this stylishly while treating us to an interesting character study and a clever plot.

The story is about a young "rounder" who is trying to go straight by going to law school (although our first glimpse of him shows him losing all his money in a high-stakes poker game with a Russian gangster). He quits gambling for a while until a old friend (played by Norton) returns to his life and lands him in deep trouble. What I especially like about the movie is that is starts off as if this plot line is the main subject, when in fact the movie is about this person learning important things about himself. And there is a lot of information about poker...

Damon is especially impressive among a uniformly good cast.

The movie itself is a very decent showing with some A-list cast in Damon, Norton, and Malkovich. That though is where the movie rises and falls. The strength of the cast is what saves a movie that is somewhat lacking in overall substance.

Was this movie meant to be a gripping tale of addiction and the thrill of money? Or a lighthearted romp where the underdog clings to hope of getting that big win? Either way, it wants to be both and therefore fails to be either.

Nonetheless, it is a movie that I found enjoyable. My personal gripe, and it is one that really throws me out of the movie, is John Malkovich's horrendous Russian accent. It comes across as a man pretending to be Russian, which of course, is what he is, but that doesn't do him any favours.

Would I recommend this movie? Yes, but only if you are a fan of the cast and enjoy seeing their chemistry and interactions, which are great.

If you like poker - and more and more people seem to be playing it or watching it on TV - you might want to check out this movie. Although a fictional story, you get some good insights on the game, the how and whys.

My only warning is that it isn't a family film, that's for sure. There is tons of profanity, beginning with many f-word usages. If you can deal with that, you can deal with the movie (yes, puns intended). Personally, I would have liked to have seen this story cut down on the sleaze factor. I like poker, I like actors Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol, Famke Janssen, John Turturro, John Malkovich and Martin Landau.

With the subject matter and the fabulous cast, this should have been much better but came across a bit too much on the sordid side. Still, for card players this is a movie not to miss.

I knew "Rounders" had something to do with gambling, and that Matt Damon stars in it, but not much more. So, when I watched it on DVD I was pleasantly surprised how engaging a film it is.

I am not a gambler, so maybe that is part of why I found it so fascinating. Basic story - Damon's character is a 2nd yr law student in NYC, and a good enough poker player that he has aspirations of entering and winning the million-dollar prize in the world series of poker in Lasvegas. However, Ed Norton plays his good buddy just getting out of prison. Norton's character is also a poker player, but also incorporates cheating because that just helps you make money faster. This approach gets both of them in some pretty hot water, and also deep in debt!!

Damon's character has a S.O. played by Gretchen Mol. Her distaste for gambling puts a great strain on their relationship. Will she stay, or will she move out??

And finally, John Malkovich does a wonderful job as the Russian gambler nicknamed "KGB". John Turturro is perfectly cast as Damon's friend and "street" advisor.

I simply found myself caught up in this story, anticipating the next poker game, wondering if they would all get whacked, or survive. Plus, Matt Damon has such a relaxed acting style, with that great smile of his, which makes all of his movies easy to watch.

I rate this one 8 of 10 for the well-done gambling drama depicted here.

OK, here we go, as a poker player ( semi professional) I have never seen such an accurate portrayal of life in the underground poker scene. The acting is superb and the story is all to real to those of us that have been there. I cant begin to describe how often I watch this movie and how many of my poker playing friends agree that this is not only the best poker movie ever written, but also a great movie for non players as well. I think that the casting agent did a remarkable job....Matt and Edward play the parts of poker players to an eerie T. All to often a fictional portrayal of so called gamblers put us into a bad light, this film does us justice and shows that poker players have ambition,desire, and skill

I remember back in the 1990s when Texas Hold 'Em Poker reached its pinnacle of popularity. I was even sucked into watching some matches on TV because I was fascinated by the way the professionals could manipulate a table of opponents and win big. Rounders was probably made when all this was big news, to capitalize on the craze. I think the first problem with the movie was that, despite the popularity of the game at the time, they felt the need to talk down to the audience and play to the people that know next to nothing about poker. There are long stretches of this movie, including 90% of the voice-over, that felt like taking an introductory class on Texas Hold 'Em. I'm sure some audience members would appreciate the help understanding, but for me it felt rudimentary and tedious.

That being said, I was still excited by the world they built in Rounders. It is intriguing to see how these guys manage to find games where they can make money, and it is also interesting to learn some of the dangers that await those who play for high stakes. Matt Damon plays a relatable character, and even though his girlfriend is always in the right, you still can appreciate that there's a logic in him pursuing something that he excels at as much as poker. Edward Norton is always perfect to play the unreliable sleazebag, and he delivers that in spades here. It's almost to an extreme where you can't comprehend how Damon was ever friends with this guy, but there's still something likable under all the irresponsible nonsense. John Malkovich, on the other hand, did go to the extreme with his performance and it's almost laughably ridiculous.

I had a problem with how much of Rounders is made up of our main character always struggling. It's hard to take after a while when it seems that everything is falling apart around him. However, it allows us as an audience to forgive him for returning to the game that is the one thing he feels he can control in his life. But I will reiterate that everything Gretchen Mol's character says in the film is 100% right, and if this was reality instead of a movie, the main character would have all the signs of a self-destructive gambling addiction. It's probably not the best thing that this movie doesn't address how dangerous that is, but I'm not someone who suffers from it so I can't say whether it would act as a trigger for others who do have a problem. There's a solid story in Rounders, and I enjoyed the excitement of the poker games as if they were real. I wouldn't say this is the best movie on the subject, but it's one I'm glad I've seen and I might even watch it again sometime.

This film was unjustly panned as lethargic and bleak without a purpose. Considering how Hold 'Em has developed into one of the biggest social fads in the last decade, I would say that this film captures every emotional aspect the 'swings' of No Limit typically carry.

I had absolutely no idea how to play the game when I first saw this movie about five years ago. The dialogue is wrought with jargon that almost makes a mockery of itself. Especially since much of the movie is done with voice-over, I can see where critics are coming from. However, the viewer should not allow themselves to get bogged down with it all, we get the gist with well-developed staging and performances.

Damon and Norton play off each other better than Damon and Affleck. Though the story echoes in the wake of Scorsese's 'Mean Streets', the performances seem more detailed than the Keitel/DeNiro combo. The supporting roles add great depth to the film, and Tutorro shines as the wise-old has-been that successfully provides Damon's character with the cold-hard truth he never seems to adhere to (until it is too late).

Above all, we feel compelled to cheer for Damon's Mike McDermott the ENTIRE time. He acknowledges his 'bad' play but constantly tries to explain that this is a game of skill and not luck. This is an important element considering the widely accepted belief that any success in gambling is the result of luck. This may be true in the bloodsucking casinos, but in Hold 'Em you play the chips AND the man.

Now that baseball is out of the Olympics, perhaps we will see a push for a true "WORLD Series of Poker". Then again, I also wanted to see 'Four Square' made into an official event when I was 8, so maybe I'm just talking out of my ass...

Should be commended as a precursor to a pandemic fad that is costing teens (and their parents) millions daily.

*** (of ****)

I don't understand how people can play poker with no betting limits. Suppose that I have more money than anyone else at the table. You have a good hand, and you bet big. What do I do? I bet my whole pile. It doesn't matter what cards I have; you can't match my bet, so you have to fold. So whoever has the most money can win every hand. Have I missed something? If I have, someone please email me to explain this.

This is probably the best movie I have ever seen. I know what most people will say - another review by another card geek. If so then most people would be wrong. I've seen this movie about 30 times (love it more with each day). Until the 27th time I had no idea how to play Texas hold'em (NONE WHATSOEVER!) or any other game mentioned in the movie.

The reason why I believe it is the greatest movie of all time are : phenomenal cast (everyone seems to agree with that), good story and the sheer moral of the movie (do what you want with your life). Of course this picture has some flaws but show me a movie that doesn't ! I guess it's going to be pretty hard to find anyone who doesn't play cards and likes the movie just as much as I do. But that's not a problem because this review represents only one person's beliefs - that person is ME.

10/10 (fully deserved)

John Dahl's Rounders is the premier poker movie, an utterly charming, never too serious and surprisingly slight look at the lives of several very different individuals whose lives revolve around the game in New York City. The main focus lands on two young men who are fast friends, yet reside on somewhat opposite sides of the responsibility coin. Poker prodigy Mike (Matt Damon) has since given up his art after a soul crushing loss to local Russian bigwig Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). He's content to simmer in solitude with his perky girlfriend (Gretchen Mol, who never fails to convince me that she's Samantha Mathis until I double check on IMDb). Right in time to disrupt his quiet life is cocky street rat Worm (Edward Norton), fresh out of prison and looking for the type of trouble that landed him there in the first place. It's to long before he's racked up some serious debt to dangerous people with ties to Teddy KGB, and Mike is forced to come out of retirement and risk everything he has once again, this time for his friend. The poker scenes are staged with meticulous eye for detail and mannerisms in attempt to put you at the same table as the players, and it's nifty to see each acting style played to the microscopic hilt as Dahl maintains patient focus on his work. Norton is appropriately scuzzy with just a dollop of endearing, scrappy charm and Damon fills the protagonist's shoes very well. It's Malkovich, however, who pulls the stops out and is my favourite character of the piece. With a muddy Russian accent that rivals his french one from Johnny English, a lazily snarky streak with just a hint of intimidation and a bag of oreos at his side without fail, he's a hoot, holler and a half as the life of the poker party. Sexy Famke Janssen has as great bit as as shady chick with eyes for Damon and connections with dodgy folks, expertly playing the half sweet and seductive, half menacing game. Watch for topnotch work from John Turturro, Josh Pais, Michael Rispoli, Josh Mostel, Adam Lefevre, David Zayas, Goran Visjnic, Lenny Clarke and Martin Landau in an earnest turn as a kindly professor who looks out for Mike. It's short, sweet, concisely paced, tightly written, flawlessly acted and wonderfully entertaining stuff.

I don't see why this movie isn't well known and up there known as one of the greats. I mean, the acting, filmography, the story and the film score. I loved the way poker was used as a metaphor for different things like life and a relationship. Its a movie that I can't stop watching because it toys with your emotions and finally rewards you as a viewer whos been there when our main character is at his low points in life but also at his highs. It makes us feel attached to Mike and his feelings about other people. And also what a great poker movie, growing up playing poker makes me wanna find the old poker set and start playing. Great movie

ROUNDERS is a simplistic movie with its showcasing of poker matches, playing cards, and tons of chips. This is the kind of movie some folks would enjoy because of such an amusing display of recreation. Yet this is made so simple that it's too hard to sit through a lot of repetition and play-by-plays of gamblers sitting at the table and folding cards, and especially a lot of talk. Then, you're asked a question like "When is this movie going to be over?". The classy touches behind the authentic gambling environment looks real nice along with Matt Damon in his sensitive role as a law student who becomes "The Gambler". Seriously, this isn't my kind of movie except the ones starring Kenny Rogers. Not bad, but not for everybody.