The Gambler

A difficult spectacle where the main hero doesn't appreciate anything or anyone, least of all himself. Perhaps every crossroads he comes across ends with him making the wrong decision, and he completely misjudges the situation even at the most crucial moments. However, all of his escapades are filmed so provocatively and dynamically that anyone who even sticks their head into the cinema will be nervously tapping their foot and waiting to see what other mess Mark Wahlberg will get his head into. Many thanks for the fantastic soundtrack and for the fact that in Jim's eyes, Brie Larson is the golden compass. (23/01/2020)

I still can’t decide if this movie was about gambling or self-destruction… because, no, it isn’t the same thing. The story has a classic structure, but Wyatt intentionally doesn’t give quite enough information (artificially creating a snare), so it automatically seems better than it is in reality, but it works. Brie Larson looks fantastic here. (27/12/2016)

Nihilism as a cure for an existential crisis is not something you see every day from the overseas film hegemony. This film is not about gambling, but about freedom from responsibility, about realizing the non-existence of everything that defines a person. Of course, then the girl crashes the party, but there's nothing you can do about that, plus Me + Brie Larson = VSL (18/04/2015)

This movie is too weird to be truly great, and it has a very strange ending that doesn't quite amaze you. However, Mark Wahlberg delivers a very good performance for me, and it is at least partly an excellent example of how a person can be self-destructive to the point of destroying those close to them. Sometimes it's too late when someone realizes this. Sometimes there is still hope. (18/02/2015)