Playing cards isn’t only an enjoyable activity in itself, but also provides a great fodder for some of the most entertaining movies. The suspense that is built in card games rivals those of blockbuster movies and the tricks of skillful players add another layer of enjoyment to the experience. While it is rarely possible to pick up a game from a movie without any prior experience, there are some films that allow viewers to discover a new side to a familiar game or find out about tricks and strategies previously unknown. This article lists some of the best movies about card games that might prove useful for the audience in terms of advancing the playing skills (full list available here).
Rounders 1998
Rounders centers around a young poker player played by Matt Damon, whose success in the game allows him to pay for his education. After losing a game to a famous Russian gangster, he decides to quit poker, until an old debt of his friend forces him to go back to the game. The movie culminates with a showdown between the protagonist and the Russian gangster. Rounders is extremely enjoyable to watch. It’s not very heavy on poker, which is why the less experienced players might have more luck finding new tricks and strategies in the movie.
Casino Royale 2006
This installment in the James Bond movie series has proven to be one of the most enjoyable of the recent times. Per usual, the movie follows a British Secret Service agent portrayed by Daniel Craig. The majority of the movie focuses on a single poker game that gathers together some of the richest people around the world. The audience is treated to some of the strategies set out by Mr. Bond in an attempt to win against Le Chiffre, a man behind several terrorist threats. Casino Royale is full of all the things that make James Bond movies entertaining, a lot of action, luxurious lifestyle and charming actors.
The Cincinnati Kid 1965
This classic movie is about a young player played by Steve McQueen who is driven by the desire to challenge and win against the best players in the world. The main game in the movie is played between the protagonist a.k.a. the Cincinnati Kid and Lancey Howard a.k.a. “The Man”. The final game is full of suspense and might open up a new perspective on the game for the audience. Even before the game, there are various challenges in the way of the main character that he will have to overcome, which makes for a great movie.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story 2003
This movie is based on a true story, which makes it so much more interesting for people who are trying to find out about the secrets of skillful card players. As the title suggests, the movie centers around the life of Stu Ungar, who was a professional poker, blackjack and gin rummy player in the late 20th century. Many find Stu Ungar to be the greatest poker player of all time, being one of only two people to ever win the World Series of Poker Main Event three times. What makes the 2003 movie even more interesting is its depiction of Stu’s life from different points of view.
The Sting 1973
Another classic movie The Sting gives an inside look into one aspect of the card games that might not always be discussed – cheating. The movie follows a story of Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff, who team up after the murder of their mutual friend and try to bring down a crime boss. The movie has many twists and turns and an unpredictable storyline that should make it interesting for the audience. Furthermore, those who want to find out more about the ways someone can cheat in poker can learn a lot from the movie.
Maverick 1994
Maverick another one of those movies that center around a poker game. The movie was based on a TV series and features Mel Gibson in the role of the protagonist. The main character wants to join a high-stakes poker game but before he gets a chance to play at that table, he has to come up with the money. This journey of the protagonist involves some references to the poker game itself and doesn’t avoid talking about the rules of the game much like other films might do in order not to alienate some of the viewers not familiar with the game. Nevertheless, what happens in the game might not always be realistic, which is understandable as the movie needs to be more dramatic than the real life, but it can still be enjoyable and educational.
