ROUNDERS

US, 1998, 122 minutes, Colour.
Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Gretchen Mol, Famke Janssen, John Malkovich, Martin Landau, Michael Rispoli, Josh Mostel.
Directed by John Dahl.

Rounders is a slang American word for gamblers. This is a film about poker and the psychology of the men and women who are addicted to gambling.

Matt Damon is the earnest law student who has an ambition to win the poker championship at Las Vegas. We see him obsessed, winning and losing, influenced by his friend, Worm (Edward Norton), who spoils his chances and gets him deeper into debt. He clashes with a Russian expert, John Malkovich with an affected and overdone accent, and is protected by his law professor friend, played with sympathy by Martin Landau. John Turturro also appears as a gambler who is successful but has learnt some wisdom and control in his games.

The film takes place mainly in darkened rooms, tension with games, the confrontations, the players trying to learn the giveaway tics that mark some kind of decision in the game of their opposition. For non-card players and non-gamblers, this can be sometimes confusing. However, the intensity of the game, the ambition to win, the addiction communicates itself very well from the performances.

This is also a man's film, the main rounders being men (with the exception of Famke Janssen). The only other significant woman in the film, Matt Damon's girlfriend played by Gretchen Mol, cannot take the competition between his attention to her and his obsession with the game.

The film was directed by John Dahl who made his name in the 1990s with a series of very strong film noir, Kill Me Again, Red Rock West, The Last Seduction, Unforgettable.

1. The impact of a film about gambling? Gambling professionals, addicts? The re-creation of the narrow and enclosed world of the gamblers? The rooms, the clubs, the contrast with Las Vegas and the championships? The film offering insight into the phenomenon of gambling, the psychology of gambling?

2. The New York settings, the apartments, the law firms, the places for playing poker, lighting and mood, in secret, locked away? The contrast with going on the road? An authentic atmosphere? The musical score?

3. The title, the reference to the professionals? Michael and his being a rounder, the aim and objective of his life? The portrait of the other rounders including Worm, K.G.B., Joey Kinish, Petra? Audience understanding of these characters, empathy, critique?

4. Mike and the voice-over, his descriptions, his self-confessions, his advice? The judge and the importance of his story about vocation and sense of vocation? The impact for Mike, the judge giving the money, Mike's final decision? Joey Kinish and his advice? Mike and his listening to advice, not taking it? The nature of his own vocation to poker and to winning?

5. The voice-over and the explanation of the moves in the poker game, behaviour, bluff, knowledge, giveaway tics and mannerisms?

6. The introduction: Mike and Jo, the need for money, his taking the money where it was hidden in the house, going to the room and confronting K.G.B., aiming to get money to go to Las Vegas? His losing, Jo and her response, hanging on, finally going? Mike and his law studies, his inability to concentrate? The professor and the game, his help? The job during the break, the briefs, his not working at them, ill-prepared for the court case, his failure, Jo leaving him? At a crossroads in life?

7. The poker games themselves, audience knowledge? Within the law or not? Joey Kinish and his trying to stay within the law? The visit to Petra, the discussions with her, her ambitions and staying within control?

8. The arrival of Worm, as a character, his friendship with Mike, his time in prison, his past? His interactions with Mike, friendship? The other side of poker addiction? Participation in the games, the bluffs? His owing money and somebody buying his markers? His need for getting the money, borrowing, being bashed? Mike and his help? The games with the police, his cheating, their finding out, bashing them? Mike and his wanting to separate from Worm?

9. Mike taking the debt, his becoming a different character, more ruthless, the decision to follow his vocation, to borrow the money from the judge, to go to K.G.B., confront him, bluff him, discover his tic in the breaking of the biscuits?

10. The judge, his character, friendship with Mike, support? The job? His story of the vocation? Giving the money? His being repaid, his trust being repaid?

11. Mike and his approach to Joey Kinish, asking for the money? The baths, Joe and his words of wisdom, refusing to lend the money?

12. Going to the creditors, K.G.B. and his control of the creditors? The build-up to the game with K.G.B., K.G.B's personality, mannerisms, obsessions, the bluff, the biscuits, Mike winning?

13. K.G.B. and his reaction, giving the money? A bad loser, admitting his loss, giving the money?

14. The payment, the story of the champion, Mike connecting again with Jo, his going to Las Vegas, the confrontation with the champions, his wanting to win?

15. The tradition of stories of gambling, insights into gamblers, their downfalls and obsessions? The tradition of films about gambling - and their offering moral lessons? How much moralising in this film?