EVEN MONEY
US, 2006, 113 minutes, Colour.
Kim Basinger, Danny De Vito, Tim Roth, Kelsey Grammer, Nick Cannon, Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Carla Gugino, Grant Sullivan, Jay Mohr.
Directed by Mark Rydell.
Even Money is a film about addiction rather than gambling. It has various intersecting stories (in the Altman tradition or as in its contemporary, the Oscar winner Crash). It was directed by Mark Rydell who had begun in television in the 1960s then moved into feature films with such interesting films as The Fox, The Reivers and the John Wayne vehicle The Cowboys. He also directed The Rose and On Golden Pond.
Kim Basinger is very good as the novelist who has an addiction to slot machines. She encounters a washed-up magician, Danny De Vito, who introduces her to Blackjack. Together they dream of winning big, the novelist repaying her family debt, the magician hoping to go to the big-time. Another strand in the story is that of Forest Whitaker as a mechanic whose brother is a champion basketball player and whom he persuades to shave points so that the matches are fixed.
Tim Roth is at the centre of the film as the bookie, responsible for murders, cruel in his treatment of people, ruthless in his fixing games. Confronting him is Detective Brunner, played by Kelsey Grammer (who intones commentary at the beginning and the end about life and death, risk and money - with some more unexpectedly cynical touches at the end).
Another strand concerns two friends who also act as bookies and become entangled with the Tim Roth character. They are played by Jay Mohr and Grant Sullivan. Carla Guggino is Sullivan's girlfriend who is horrified to learn what he does. Ray Liotta also appears as the novelist's husband. Nick Cannon is the younger brother, the basketball player. The cast is a fine ensemble.
While some of the material is familiar, it is very well done. Kim Basinger is persuasive in her addiction as well as her love for her husband and family. Ray Liotta is quite sympathetic - though his turning against his wife at the end comes somewhat unexpectedly. Forest Whitaker gives a very fine performance, full of enthusiasm as well as self-sacrifice. Tim Roth, using his own British accent, is completely sinister.
The film communicates the atmosphere of gambling in the United States, on sports, in casinos. In portraying the characters so well, the audience is able to understand and feel something of the pressures of addiction.
1.The impact of the film, the strong cast, the different stories, their interweaving?
2.A film about gambling or a film about addiction and its effects?
3.The storytelling, the range of characters, motivations, luck, good and bad? The title - and good or bad luck, even money?
4.The opening, Detective Brunner's voice-over commenting on life? The body washed ashore? Fate, control, truth, right and wrong - and Brunner's comments at the end and his own employment by Ivan?
5.The character of Ivan, unseen, real or unreal, honourable or not? Victor representing him? The consequences? The real Ivan at the end with Detective Brunner?
6.Kelsey Grammer as the detective, the investigations, pushing characters, knowing them all, almost being killed by Victor? His being in the pay of Ivan?
7.Los Angeles, the casinos, homes, the gamblers, the sports addicts? The basketball games?
8.The stories:
(a) Carolyn, a writer, her success, husband and child, her absences from home, writing in Starbucks, the other writers - and the encounter with the man who admired her work? Her gambling, losing, lying, her love for her husband? The encounters with Walter and her resisting him? His sleight-of-hand? Introducing her to Blackjack, her enormous success, luck? Losing all the money? Going through the family savings? Her relationship with her husband? His finding her, her anger and his response? Her admitting the truth? Her loving him - but his wanting a divorce? Walter, the setting up of the sports bet? Its failure? Her realisation that she did have a new book, writing about Walter? The final book-signing - and her husband coming for the signing, for a reconciliation?
(b) Victor, tough, British, Augie and Murphy, the discussions about joining him, the discussions, their being taped, his being responsible for the murder at the beginning, his decision to kill and poison Augie? His interactions with Walter wanting to see Ivan? With the police? His self-confidence? At the match, the defeat, his trying to fix the game? The confrontation with Brunner? Walter killing him?
(c) Walter, the great magician, his tricks and tips, watching Carolyn, helping her, the bond? His past glory, his caravan, posters? His hopes? his wizardry at sleight-of-hand, the various tricks and tips in the casinos? The final bet, his confidence, the confrontation with Victor and killing him, Brunner letting him go, his hanging himself?
(d) Augie and Murph, bets, tough, bashing people, their rationalisation that they were providing a service, Augie and his continued stress, going to the doctors? Murph and his relationship with Veronica? Her finding out the truth, her wanting to break off, the plan, Murph and his boxing, his reaction to Augie, wanting out? Augie and the dinner, the sauna, taping Victor? His being poisoned? Veronica telling him what had happened? His anger - and the possibility of change and support from Veronica?
(e) Clyde Snow, the mechanic, his own business, gambling, his losses, the standover tactics, going to his brother, cheering him, asking for the favour, the pressure? His brother and his character, his championing the team? Relationship with the coach? Victor and his confrontation with Clyde? The plan to fix the game? Clyde and his decision, supporting his brother, telling him there was no pressure? The play, the coach and his suspicions of the brother? The final bet? His cheering his brother on? Driving, singing, his death?
(f) The basketball games, the matches, the winning? Clyde and his brother, the coach? Victor and the fixing of matches? The bets?
(g) Victor, his relationship with Ivan? The fact that Ivan did exist? His control, his replacing Victor? Having Detective Brunner in his pay?
9. The resolution of the stories, some good luck, some bad luck, personal responsibility and choices, control and integrity?
