The Gambler

Name: The Gambler
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 25, 2014
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Brie Larson, Jessica Lange, John Goodman, Mark Wahlberg, Michael K. Williams

2014

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Mixed or average reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 112 Ratings

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The Gambler

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2014 | R

Starring: Brie Larson, Jessica Lange, John Goodman, Mark Wahlberg, Michael K. Williams, Richard Schiff

Summary: Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves hisJim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance. [Paramount Pictures]… Expand

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Drew McWeeny

Nov 11, 2014

This is a film that is quietly confident. Everything's well-composed. Everything's put together right. There's a very sure hand on the wheel here, and at this point, I'm sold on Rupert Wyatt as a guy who can tell a story with a certain kind of intelligence, both towards his subject and towards his audience. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Dec 23, 2014

Dialogue, we seem to have forgotten, matters, and the words — by the brutally funny screenwriter of “The Departed,” William Monahan — are electric eels, slithering and sinister and nasty. They sneak up and sting you, or sometimes tickle your toes. Lowlifes don’t actually talk this way? Yeah. But if only they did. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Nov 11, 2014

In nearly every scene, Wahlberg carries off the central role with what could be called determined elan. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Dec 23, 2014

Some fragments of that Dostoevskian romance linger on here: Just enough so that Wyatt and Wahlberg nail the climactic scene, when Jim is literally playing for his life, and make it momentarily seem to mean something. But not quite enough that you’ll remember what that something might be the next day. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Odie Henderson

Dec 27, 2014

The Gambler should have been called “Three Supporting Characters in Search of a Lead.” A gaunt Mark Wahlberg stares out from the poster, his name is above the title, and he’s in almost every frame of this remake, but his character may as well be non-existent. Read full review

The Playlist Charlie Schmidlin

Nov 11, 2014

A genre exercise such as this needs invention, and while Wyatt trots out a slick stamp on proceedings with a game cast, his version never works up steam enough to render the effort worthwhile. Read full review

Rex Reed

Dec 17, 2014

Richard Brooks made a tougher and much better film about the tragedy of compulsive gambling in his 1985 film "Fever Pitch," and in 1949’s "The Lady Gambles," even Barbara Stanwyck made a more convincing fall from respectability into casino hell than Mark Wahlberg does here. Read full review

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User Reviews

lmboone

Dec 26, 2014

I give the Gambler 10 stars out of 10 I thought Mark Wahlberg was excellent as the gambler I thought his mom was superb I recommend this movie to everyone.The sound score was off the chain !we went to see into the woods earlier I am so glad that we went to see that first cause if weI give the Gambler 10 stars out of 10 I thought Mark Wahlberg was excellent as the gambler I thought his mom was superb I recommend this movie to everyone.The sound score was off the chain !we went to see into the woods earlier I am so glad that we went to see that first cause if we wouldntwewould've had a very unsatisfactory evening.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

GraysWay

Dec 28, 2014

I saw "The Gambler" tonight, and I thought it wasn't a bad film at all. I really don't understand the bad reviews some have given it. I totally concur with the more positive reviews, and I would agree somewhere around the 82% mark review from the leading Metacritic reviewer, though I doI saw "The Gambler" tonight, and I thought it wasn't a bad film at all. I really don't understand the bad reviews some have given it. I totally concur with the more positive reviews, and I would agree somewhere around the 82% mark review from the leading Metacritic reviewer, though I do realize it won't make everyone's Top 10 List of 2014. The parts with Lange were absolutely electric. If she had one, ESPECIALLY two more scenes, she would definitely be in the conversation. I am frustrated she didn't have a scene towards the end of the film, but not too frustrated to be grateful to have been a part of seeing the film. The theater was surprisingly a packed house, and there was SEVERAL ''oohs'' and ''aaahs,'' mixed in with laughter, but the ending, which should have been a momentous awakening style shot, was left very lukewarm (shot of the vacant lot for 35 seconds), so the anticlimactic aspect kind of left the audience w/the tiniest of a puzzled murmur, considering it was intended to be the sentimental/feel good way of ending.

- I am going to go out on a limb (and if I'm wrong, who really gives a $hit), and predict Lange in my 5th slot ... not b/c I'm a super fan, but I really feel she did the best she could have w/the screen time allotted, and I'm not one to bet against her, in any acting race/scenario, because I have seen her magic happen before, come awards time). Who knows, maybe Lange could be more 'in the conversation' had "The Gambler" been released a month ago. Also, when you watch the film, let me know if you feel that her deep/whiskey voice is as alluring as Kathleen Turner's voice, back in the 80s.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

theoffice

Jan 1, 2015

Very good movie! 7.5 out of 10. The story was new, engaging, and relatable I think to a lot of people (we all have our demons). The acting was top notch from Wahlberg and the rest of the cast. There really wasn't a lot wrong with the movie. I do think the end was a little predictable but itVery good movie! 7.5 out of 10. The story was new, engaging, and relatable I think to a lot of people (we all have our demons). The acting was top notch from Wahlberg and the rest of the cast. There really wasn't a lot wrong with the movie. I do think the end was a little predictable but it doesn't take away much.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

DawdlingPoet

Nov 28, 2021

This is a crime drama film with themes including hope, desperation, greed and risk. Its one of those films whereby the main character isn't very likeable from the start but there is more than meets the eye. I found this film to be a slow watch - the plot is quite slow in terms of pace andThis is a crime drama film with themes including hope, desperation, greed and risk. Its one of those films whereby the main character isn't very likeable from the start but there is more than meets the eye. I found this film to be a slow watch - the plot is quite slow in terms of pace and build up generally. I felt that, while the film is called what it is and features gambling quite heavily, its not, ultimately, about gambling but moreso about hope - more specifically losing hope. The main character, Jim, comes across as clearly quite apathetic, feeling like he'll be permanently stuck in a rut. He does seem someone who at first isn't greatly bothered about what might come to him but I don't think thats necessarily entirely true. There is a definite numbness about his character, so I felt anyway. He seems a bit of a mysterious enigma type character, with very little in terms of character development or, more specifically, his background, shared with the viewer in the first hour or so. I didn't feel that this was a greatly immersive, stylish film which really intrigued or fascinated me but it was ok. I gather its received a lot of negative reviews and I can certainly understand that but I think that its a film which isn't entirely about what it seems to be about, as I say its more a tale of apathy and also of consequences, it just so happens that its in relation to gambling debts. I imagine that many people nowadays can relate to the situation that Jim finds himself in, having had to turn to any and everyone for financial help to pay loans and feeling like he has no control over what will happen. I think if you can relate to his circumstances, rather than all the details involved, then you may find this a poignant watch. There is a certain element of morality in it, its perhaps an adult urban warning story of sorts, not for young kids due to the strong language (more on that later).

It is regarded as a thriller film but I'm not sure I'd classify it as a thriller as such, in as much as there is little in the way of fast paced action type scenes - no big explosions or the like. Its much more dialogue based, although I didn't think the dialogue was particularly sharp witted. There is a lot of swearing present, I guess to add to the gritty urban feel, although it did make it seem a bit lazy to me.

Cast wise, Mark Wahlberg plays the main character, Jim Bennett. As I've said, he isn't particularly likeable, certainly at first, although I don't think the film was unwatchable because of it. Its a bit difficult to explain how, or why, the film works but in one sense I think it does. Anyway, Wahlberg does alright at playing a jaded, often low key adult, who comes in to his own in certain circumstances but who is shown to be clearly out of his depth, regardless of numerous things. Aspects of his character probably appeals to some people but I wouldn't say thats a good thing(!) - think smugness and the like. I wouldn't say this Wahlbergs best performance by any means but there are probably worse people out there for such roles, I suppose - he portrays the down and out desperate guy not too bad, although you could argue if its a good thing or not. Meanwhile, Brie Larson plays Jims love interest, a student called Amy Phillips. Again, she does ok but isn't especially great as such. Other cast members include Jessica Lange as Roberta and Michael Kenneth Williams as Neville, plus John Goodman as a gangster called Frank. The music wasn't particularly distracting, although it was perhaps mildly cheesy on ocassion. It didn't strike me as overbearing though - mind you, if you don't like music with a strong bassline then some scenes may be off putting. It features some good use of incidental music in key tense moments, to obviously add to the atmosphere at that time.

Content wise, there is a lot of quite strong language present throughout, as previously mentioned. It also contains some moderate violence, including bloody violence, with injuries shown on the relevant character. There are a few scenes whereby there's a sense of tension, with arguments and the like taking place. The film carries a 15 rating to reflect this.

I wouldn't say this is a stylish film in the way that the Oceans films are but the camerawork used, with shots shown from inventive angles (far corners or from the floor up and the like) plus the low lighting and so on did help add to the tension and made it, I felt, a bit more interesting and watchable somehow.

This isn't really a greatly memorable film as such but it is alright. The story is hardly original I suppose but I did feel like it had a wider message than the obvious one hinted by the title and I thought that for those who can relate to the main themes, they may quite appreciate it. Enjoy it wouldn't seem like the right kind of wording but appreciate does.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tvnewsguido

Dec 26, 2014

Understated and kinda nice.

The Gambler isn't so much about a guy addicted to gambling as it is about a guy who's allergic to his life. See this one for the performances (they're great especially John Goodman) not the story - it just left me feeling hollow.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

MovieGuys

Dec 28, 2014

The Gambler is one depressing, worthless movie. It takes the original 70's James Caan version and spits it out like wood from a wood chipper. mark Wahlberg talked about how this was the "role of his life" and he actually lost 61 pounds for it. Now I don't' know what Marky Mark saw in thisThe Gambler is one depressing, worthless movie. It takes the original 70's James Caan version and spits it out like wood from a wood chipper. mark Wahlberg talked about how this was the "role of his life" and he actually lost 61 pounds for it. Now I don't' know what Marky Mark saw in this movie, but I can tell you that there are no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Any message trying to poke through in this movie is squandered by bad screenplay, a clumsy script, and a depressing atmosphere. Some people hate these types of movies, but here's the thing: I usually don't. When they're this bad though, I don't see how anyone could find anything wholesome about them.

Here's how the movie goes (no spoilers, but no one should see it anyway): lit professor Jim Bennett (played by Wahlberg) takes out gambling loans from people you don't want to screw with, blows it all in one night, can't pay it back, and gets beat up for it. The thing is, he is suicidal and doesn't even care if he lives or dies. This happens over and over again, without variation. The only reason at all that I'm giving this movie a 4/10 instead of a 0 is because of the performances, with were the reason I sat through it until the end in the first place. Marky Mark plays his usual "guy angry at something all the time" role, and John Goodman stoically sits on a pool bench with fat hanging off of him like President Taft in a bathtub, threatening to kill Mark if he doesn't pay back his money. What an original character he is, ain't he?… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Thegodfatherson

Dec 28, 2014

The Gambler had something going for it. It had a talented director- Rupert Wyatt who brought us 2011's Apes and a talented actor- Mark Wahlberg. But, it was an unexpected mess of a movie. The story dragged on and on and on! Mark Walhberg, oh my gosh man! What went wrong there! He is a mess,The Gambler had something going for it. It had a talented director- Rupert Wyatt who brought us 2011's Apes and a talented actor- Mark Wahlberg. But, it was an unexpected mess of a movie. The story dragged on and on and on! Mark Walhberg, oh my gosh man! What went wrong there! He is a mess, he can't deliver the snappy lines and the acting smirks that others can. The highlight of the movie is John Goodman as a casino boss. Ignore this movie, but if you like Marky Mark and long movies, give it a rent.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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