CROUPIER

UK, 1997, 95 minutes, Colour.
Clive Owen, Gina Mc Kee, Alex Kingston, Kate Hardie, Nicholas Ball.
Directed by Mike Hodges.

Croupier has had an unusual release history. Copyright 1997, it received limited screenings in London in mid-1999. Reviews were favourable. The distributors did not have confidence in the film, despite its being directed by Mike Hodges, now held in high critical regard for his 1971 gangster thriller, Get Carter. Croupier disappeared. In 2000, news crossed the Atlantic that it was doing well at the US box-office, collecting several million dollars. In May 2001, the distributors expressed their regret at what had happened to the film and its was given a more extensive UK release.

Croupier is quite an impressive character study, written by Paul Mayersberg who wrote such films as The Man Who Fell to Earth, Eureka and Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence. Taciturn Jack (a taciturn Clive Owen) is a writer. He accepts a job as croupier in a small London casino - strings pulled by his father in South Africa who had trained his son for casino work when he was young. Jack observes (as do the audience) the range of gamblers and is fascinated by their losses. His girlfriend (Gina Mc Kee) is a former police officer who is disappointed with his novel. He disobeys the strict Casino code on fraternising in an encounter with another croupier, a former prostitute (Kate Hardie) as well as a South African gambler (Alex Kingston). While he decides to create a central character, a croupier, he observes how sometimes he acts like his character, Jake, rather than himself. His integrity is tested when he is asked to turn a blind eye when the casino is robbed.

The outcome of the plot is not predictable, even to an unexpected twist at the end which shows that Jack, despite his wanting to be his own man, is not. Not exactly, a sparkling entertainment. Rather, a serious and solid character drama in the microcosm of the casino.

1.The reputation of the film? Its commercial history?

2.Mike Hodges, his work on thrillers? The UK, London as a setting?

3.The title, meaning: Jack and his work, Jake and his character? Skills, integrity or not? Control, power?

4.The portrait of Jack and the portrait of Jake? The interconnections?

5.The device of writing the novel: Jack as a writer, his publisher, the commission, his ideas, his father’s offer for the job, the interview with the owner of the casino, his skill at his work? The voice-over and the commentary about Jack and about Jake? The chapters? Marion and her reading the manuscript, her reaction, saying it had no hope? Her apology?

6.Clive Owen as Jack, his appearance, serious? His life so far, his writing, his father being a conman, the South African background, the phone calls, Marion and his life with her, their discussions? His being hired, work at the casino, learning? The encounters with Jenna? The cheat, the confrontation? The later bashing and fight in the carpark, his viciousness? Giving the money to the inveterate gambler, his comments? His personal integrity, not gambling, his mixing with people? The challenge to his integrity with Jenna’s plan?

7.Bella, her work, her previous life, seeing the fight with the cheat, helping, the relationship, the drugs, her arrival at his door, her being sacked? Reunited at the end?

8.Jenna, South African background, playing, winning, the tip? Having the drink with Jack? The bond? His taking her to the weekend party, the tennis-playing? The injuries? Her sad story, wanting Jack to help her, the robbing of the casino, the phone call with the information? Back in South Africa, the phone call, her engagement – and the irony of his father at the other end of the phone?

9.Matt, his wanting to get the most out of everything, cheating, his philosophy of money being laundered at the casino, at the club, with the Greeks?

10.Marion, her attack on Jack, her working in the store, Jack talking with her, her going to him in the hospital, her death – and the policeman and his love for her?

11.The casino boss, his running of the establishment, his admiration for Jack, dealing with the cheat, allowing Jack leave of absence?

12.The issues of gambling, the types who gambled?

13.A portrait of human nature?