Gambling and the movies – a partnership that has lasted decades. The union of the film and games industry will continue to grow, but in this new post we thought we’d look at the relationship between the two through five terrific movies that you can check out via streaming platforms in 2018.
Croupier
This is a film that dates back nearly two decades, but absolutely resonates to this very day. Croupier tells a tale set within the gambling industry from the other side of the table – from the point of view of the casino worker – in this case Clive Owen’s croupier of the title, Jack Manfred. In a career defining role, Owen plays a part-time writer who involves himself in the London gaming industry and then realises that his experiences would make a great novel.
Mississippi Grind
A pre-Deadpool Ryan Reynolds teams with superb character actor Ben Mendelsohn for this 2015 drama about a duo who take to the road to take try and win back an amount of money lost in previous gambling transaction. The film, though set in the modern day, is properly old-school, Reynolds’ Curtis and Mendelsohn’s Gerry physically travelling across the deep South rather relying on the internet and these UK betting sites where they may have found somewhere to play. It’s a great film from filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and well worth checking out.
Casino
The absolute pinnacle of gaming movies is Martin Scorsese’s 1995 masterpiece starring Robert De Niro as a Las Vegas casino manager who works his way up the food chain to become king of the famous strip. The film was Oscar-nominated and featured jaw-dropping performances from De Niro, as well as co-stars Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci and James Woods. A definite modern classic.
Ocean’s 11
Also set in Vegas, this 2011 remake of the Rat Paack classic assembled the likes of George Clooney alongside Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle. The plot is simple – rob three of the huge Las Vegas casinos to seek revenge of their owner, here played by screen veteran Andy Garcia. The film was a huge hit, spawning two direct sequels as well as this year’s spin-off Ocean’s 8, which sees Sandra Bullock play the sister of Clooney’s character Danny Ocean.
Rounders
One of those rare movies which focuses on just one casino game – Texas Hold ‘Em poker, perhaps the most popular game of all. This one also starred Matt Damon as a reformed player who must return to the game to pay off loan sharks who are after one of his friends. The film is renowned for being truly authentic and celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2018.
