Not once does Hoffman surrender to theatrical facial reactions. Even when faced with maximum distress, his terror is internalised. Amazing restraint. An amazing actor.
Believe me, I would never question his chops, but it feels like he underplays it here almost to the point of catatonia. The movie is OK, but it's just so bland. It could have used more scenery chewing.
@@andrewyancy8639 It may be the first film ever made where the actor takes you inside the individual by not acting. This isn't signposted. It's as close a depiction to real life as you'll get outside of real life. It's not for everyone.
@@present3348 Like I said, I'm not questioning his abilities as an actor. I'm saying that Hoffman and the filmmakers could have found a better balance between realistically portraying gambling and creating more compelling cinema.
One of the best movies ever created. As a gambling addict, I relate to this movie strongly. It's one of the only movies that actually captures gambling in its addiction form
I really like how he described his moments of gambling to be 100% best time he ever had in his life and the next most incredible moment in his life was only 20% on that same scale. I can understand that.
As a former gambling addict, I agree about this movie. It really captures the downward cycle and very much resonates with me. I can so identify with the whole psychology shown here.
Depressing is an understatement. Years ago, I saw a friend gamble away everything. His big home and all the money he could get his hands on were gone. Lost his wife and kids, his job, everything. He was stealing things to feed his habit. Fortunately, after he hit rock bottom, he did manage to turn his life around somewhat. Has a steady job at Home Depot. Shares an apartment with a friend. It all went to a casino.
Intense. My stomach churned all through the movie but I couldn't turn away. And that's what Philip Seymour Hoffman can do: pull you in, grab your undivided attention until you have to remind yourself to breathe.
The interpretation of Philip Seymour Hoffman is amazing. When he loses I can feel the pain and the desperation so much that I have to take a break for a few minutes. A few actors only can trasmit such strong emotions. The fact that he doesn’t even smile when he wins, who would have thought of that? But it makes the scene even more uncomfortable.
You see it time and time again in a casino. Gamblers who are "down" don't smile with a few wins and they often say, if only you knew how much I am down.
@@hybae17 Same here, I loved to gamble since forever in my life. One thing did strike me though, in the Baccarat session, he didn´t squeeze the cards at ALL, took him 0.00001 sec and turn the cards over and throw them casually..... What I am trying to say is, I think if you are a experienced gambler, you also seek alot of action in the squeezing, or is it just me?
@Mr. T I think the way he played this was accurate. PSH's character was not a baccarat player. He was just a pure gambler who decided to try baccarat hoping his luck would be better on it. He doesn't need the drama. He just wants to know the results and get that rush whether it is a win or a loss. 2 different rushes.
OMG I've been looking for this movie for such a long time, Mr Hoffman stood out so well, I knew given enough time I'd be more than happy to rewatch it! And as many probably agree, he stood out in almost every film he was in! RIP....thanks for your dedication and skills, hoping you are at peace?!💝
This movie is not available on streaming sites. There’s only a DVD of it which is 480p with no special features. This 720p stream is better and it’s free.
First time I was forced to watch this in drug rehab. (I guess it was for all the gambling addicts we also had.) Tough movie to watch from an addiction perspective.
I saw an interesting interview with the filmmakers, where they said that the real Mahoney never won anything - all he did was lose. They made up his big win in the film for dramatic effect, because the reality was just too depressing.
I can believe that. I actually wrote a separate post opining that the two massive streaks strained credulity. I'm glad to have my skepticism vindicated.
In another movie, there's this great line: "I used to think gambling addicts were out to destroy themselves. But now I know they're too selfish to do that. What they're REALLY after is to destroy everyone around them." Thank you so much for this upload.
Gamblers aren't selfish, there sick, this kind of thinking is why so many gamblers kil l themselves because they blame themselves when really their minds have been tripped
@@tc6070ALL addicts are selfish. If they weren’t the pain they cause in the people around them would make them stop. At some point addicts have to be humble enough to admit they are capable of living without the thing they crave because they regularly do so when they run out of funds to get their drug of choice. The brain loads the gun with chemical triggers but it the addicts moral character or lack thereof that pulls the trigger.
I love the soundtrack when he finally makes it and is walking into the casino with two girls even though it's not his girls they just work for the casino but still he gets to take that walk of a millionaire going to play with that chilling haunting energetic background music
I was in the mood to watch a PSH movie and was really happy to find this as I've never seen it before. It turned out to be one of his best films!!! Thank you so much for uploading this to YT.
yeah, that's a dream girlfriend. She wanted to stay with & help him after eveyrthing... seems unrealistic. who knows? the whole story is hard to believe.
...saw it the night it opened at a movie theater in Boca Raton, Fla.. A review in that morning's Sun Sentinel piqued my interest. It's one of those films you see for the first time you tell everyone you know that they have to see it. I put the DVD holder of this film at his memorial in front of the Picwick building where he lived after his passing.
Reminds me of when I was young, pulling 12+ hour sessions at the casino, never stopping. One time I was up over 3k and gave it all back within a 24hr period, never stopping. I feel all the emotions Hoffman's character does throughout this movie. Every. Single. One.
Hoffman was an incredible chameleon and arguably the greatest actor in all of film history. The only one who could do any role and do it to perfection every single time. His sudden death was a sad loss.
Such an amazing actor. Gone before his time and sadly missed. And hats off to Minnie Driver. A really complex role to play and amazing that she stuck by him to the end.
There’s something about Mr. Hoffman’s portrayal of gamblers. Hard 8 was a brilliant rockstar at the craps table playing against someone like the casino owner in this. This was him reversed in a sense. Accuracy comes from experience. Rest In Peace you beautiful soul. All the best
I laughed too! I think he actually says, "over two hundred dollars." I assume it's some kind of limit over which it becomes a different level of crime (like grand larceny vs. petty larceny).
This movie was a study in characters. I felt every emotion as Dan flushed his life down the drain. Loved the John Hurt casino manager. But my fave was Ian Tracey as the detective that finally stops the tidal wave that was Dan Mahowny. Thanks for posting!
At 5:37 she tells him how grateful she is, then literally two seconds later she shows how grateful she is by insulting him: "One of these days, I'm going to take you out and get you a decent suit."
" what am I supposed to do, go to the track and watch '? Ahahhahaha fkng movie is great. If you even gambled big you can taste the authenticity of this guy's plight
Thank you for posting !!, What a fantastic movie, Hoffman and Hurt are Maury Chaykin a great character actor are all gone from us, what a hidden gem on RU-vid, im surprised they haven't tried to take it down, hopefully they will leave alone, thanks again.peace..
Thanks for saving me money on a rental! I absolutely love this movie seen it before about to watch it again. Philip Seymour Hoffman was such a great actor. I feel like not that many people seem to know about this movie.
Excellent movie! This movie ranks up there with the Days of Wine and Roses. Should be shown in schools to prevent anyone from becoming addicted to gambling.
@@jj5962 But did he not win $9 million near the end? And lose the whole of it that same day? He had figured out a way out and then, after pondering the alternative, he chose to gamble it away. How anyone can win such a sum and not get up and stroll out with it will forever remain a mystery to me. I don't gamble and I feel sorry for anyone with an addiction - whatever it may be.
1:24:50 made me absolutely sick to my core seeing him keep on playing after that first loss. This film finally gave me the push I needed to quit gambling. If this film doesn’t make you stop, then it’s only gonna be worse for you.
Nobody suspected a thing because Dan dressed in cheap suit, and drives an old car. He does not seem to be they type that would steal a nickel because he lives modestly. It helped that he seemed to be good at what he does too. This made it easy for him to conceal his gambling addiction, and that he was robbing the bank he works in to feed it. It is not about living large, its simply about the thrill of winning and losing for Dan. It got to a point where he is no longer gambling to win. He is just gambling while he still can
Most realistic gambling movie ever made , the end says it all. But the greatest high for any degenerate gambler is being stuck a ton and getting out . Only thing they didnt explore in the movie . This guy is me to a t . Its crazy , greatest high in the world for me but the lows are brutal . Im 52 i searched it out when i was a kid now its jammed down your throat with casinos literally everwhere, the mobile gambling apps and the constant advertising . Legalizing it everywhere was a horrible idea
Almost everyone in the film is committing or enabling fraud in one way or another but its the man with the decease who gets prison. Our justice system has a lot to learn.
I knew someone who manufactured shells for slot machines. He said they put facial recognition software into hardware. They can tell when someone is “fresh” their eyes are looking all around, and expression changes more than someone who is “zoned in”. When they are “zoned in” their eyes stay focused on the corner of the machine, and facial features rarely change. Casinos employ a whole team just to watch you, just like in this movie.
It always cracks me up at the part Mahoney and his friend go to atlantic city and he tells his friend to hold his chips and don't give it to him no matter what ...an hour later he wants the chips back , and when his friend refuses Mahoney get angry at him until he gives in ...😂😂😂
Amazingly well crafted film...almost beyond description. PSH...truly a great great actor. John Hurt...Minnie Driver...Maury Chaykin...all played very well with one another...you're almost glad when the flick ends...the building tension and stress...whew...what a movie. Thank you for this upload...
Yeah but some dark places make you feel alive and helps you forget about all the other bullshit the world throws in our faces. I really miss playing cards and I felt so alive and it's a great feeling when you know your about to take someone out of the game and they have no business even playing cards!
Made Roger Ebert's 10 best movies of 2003. According to Wiki, his real name was Brian Molony. He did get 6 years in prison, and had children. The Casino settled out of court with the bank and was shut down for one day for, I guess an audit
totally agree blipblip, i have to see the best of siskel and ebert of 2003 if they dont a review of this movie, but easily a good movie, going on a philip seymour experience, watching all his movies, so this is my favorite one, and one of its time, poker was big in the early 2000s, and this was taken very seriously which i like about with some moments of comedy. This movie establishes why gambling is to addicting and can ruin a life, such a good performance, thanks for posting this movie, RIP Philip Hoffman;
Hoffman was a legend ,father of acting ,like Robert deniro & Anthony Hopkins This one is his best performance like in Savages & Before the Devil knows...
