Rounders

1998 "Trust everyone... But always cut the cards."
7.3| 2h1m| R| en| More Info
Released: 11 September 1998 Released
Producted By: Miramax
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

A young reformed gambler must return to playing big stakes poker to help a friend pay off loan sharks.

Genre

Drama, Crime

Watch Online

Rounders (1998) is now streaming with subscription on Paramount+

Director

John Dahl

Production Companies

Miramax

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Rounders Audience Reviews

Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.
Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!
Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
RealChristian14 Well,IMDb states that Rounders 2 is on development.Matt Damon have already stated numerous times that Rounders 2 is going to happen.He already said in an interview that he has talked to the writers about it and that the popularity of poker will definitely increase interest in it unlike when the prequel - Rounders - was released back in 1998.What was Rounders all about?Rounder is a 1998 film about a Law student named Mike McDermott who also happens to be a poker prodigy. It stars Damon and Edward Norton together with talented cast that includes John Turturro,Gretchen Mol,John Malkovich and the late Martin Landau.The film begins when Mike McDermott decides to change his gambling habits and decided to play in high stakes poker in the underworld casino that is connected to the Russian mob named Teddy KGB.He decided to gamble all his winnings - $30,000 - but unfortunately lost everything to the owner.This made him stop gambling and focus in finishing his Law degree and his relationship with his girlfriend Jo,who happens to be a fellow Law student.Then things change when his friend Lester "Worm" Murphy,played magnificently by Edward Norton, was released from prison.Their activities brought Mike back into poker and he definitely started to get his back life into it.With more time playing cards considering that Mike has vouched for Worm's gambling debt from loan sharks,Mike's passion for playing poker was definitely reignited to the point that he could no longer escape it. Then it came to a point that Jo broke up with him and he was no longer interested in pursuing Law School as he wanted to play in Vegas particularly the WSOP (World Series of Poker) at the conclusion of the film.No wonder that it definitely was a great film.I am aware that the story is definitely incomparable to other great films like "The Godfather" as its film was more about Mike and Worm's activities on card tables playing poker and how Mike regained his winnings from Teddy KGB which just gave the viewers a simple story.But what made it great are many other things.No question that the performances on the cast was great.Damon and Norton have given life to their characters as Mike and Worm respectively.They kept the movie going from the time they met until the time they were punched by the state troopers.The rest of the cast were also good enough like John Malkovich,who was a scene stealer as Teddy KGB,despite his awkward Russian accent; and the late Martin Landau,who played the Law Dean that pursued Mike not to escape from his identity.Another reason is poker.No question that the film revolved around poker particularly with Mike's experience in the card table from beginning to end.The viewer gets to learn more about the game as well as the familiar terms that are involved in it.It also tried to move poker away from gambling in a sense that it is a definitely a game of skills and not a game of luck.This was obviously was the central argument between Mike and Jo which ended their relationship.Aside from that,it was also presented that Mike's experience with Teddy KGB at the beginning when he lost and the end when he regained his winnings back.Finally,it also presented that poker is indeed worthy of one's time as it was presented in Mike and Worm's characters and their activities.No question that it never earned a lot of money - $22 million - when it was released back in 1998.Aside from the fact that both Matt Damon and Edward Norton aren't yet established actors when it was released,poker hasn't yet became popular unlike today with the many online poker sites existing in the internet.But when poker became popular,it became a cult poker film. I expect interest to be renewed in it after almost 20 years when it was released when Rounder 2 is about to be released in the theaters.
Floated2 Rounders sees Matt Damon starring as Mike McDermott, a young law student. Mike is a master at sizing up his fellow players by observing their tells. In the film's prologue, Mike goes up against a formidable Russian player with mob ties nicknamed Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). He ends up losing his entire $30,000 tuition to the Russian. Afterwards, Mike promises his girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol) that he'll give up the game for good and get himself back on track. He is able to get a position as a law clerk thanks to his friendship with Professor Petrofsky (Martin Landau), who is also his mentor.However, this happens to only be the beginning. Once we observed, later things go reasonably well until Mike's best friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison. Mike and Worm had pulled off numerous poker scams in the past together, many of which played upon Worm's ability to trick shuffle a deck, thereby dispensing the good cards in an advantageous way. Worm exits the prison ready to pick up right where he left off. He's still in debt from before his sentencing and the interest has accumulated greatly. Mike refuses to play again, but agrees to help Worm get set up with some games. Before long though, Worm has gotten himself in more trouble. The only way to save him from his debtors is for Mike to win enough money to pay the debt.The film is mainly solely carried by Matt Damon, where Ed Norton does give a good performance (although irritating character) as well, but as seen in the film, his character is supporting (not as a co-lead as some would expect or suggest). The film does drag on at some points but nonetheless, it still is exciting at getting a solid glance at the Poker world.
NateWatchesCoolMovies John Dahl's Rounders is the premier poker movie, an utterly charming, never too serious and surprisingly slight look at the lives of several very different individuals whose lives revolve around the game in New York City. The main focus lands on two young men who are fast friends, yet reside on somewhat opposite sides of the responsibility coin. Poker prodigy Mike (Matt Damon) has since given up his art after a soul crushing loss to local Russian bigwig Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). He's content to simmer in solitude with his perky girlfriend (Gretchen Mol, who never fails to convince me that she's Samantha Mathis until I double check on IMDb). Right in time to disrupt his quiet life is cocky street rat Worm (Edward Norton), fresh out of prison and looking for the type of trouble that landed him there in the first place. It's to long before he's racked up some serious debt to dangerous people with ties to Teddy KGB, and Mike is forced to come out of retirement and risk everything he has once again, this time for his friend. The poker scenes are staged with meticulous eye for detail and mannerisms in attempt to put you at the same table as the players, and it's nifty to see each acting style played to the microscopic hilt as Dahl maintains patient focus on his work. Norton is appropriately scuzzy with just a dollop of endearing, scrappy charm and Damon fills the protagonist's shoes very well. It's Malkovich, however, who pulls the stops out and is my favourite character of the piece. With a muddy Russian accent that rivals his french one from Johnny English, a lazily snarky streak with just a hint of intimidation and a bag of oreos at his side without fail, he's a hoot, holler and a half as the life of the poker party. Sexy Famke Janssen has as great bit as as shady chick with eyes for Damon and connections with dodgy folks, expertly playing the half sweet and seductive, half menacing game. Watch for topnotch work from John Turturro, Josh Pais, Michael Rispoli, Josh Mostel, Adam Lefevre, David Zayas, Goran Visjnic, Lenny Clarke and Martin Landau in an earnest turn as a kindly professor who looks out for Mike. It's short, sweet, concisely paced, tightly written, flawlessly acted and wonderfully entertaining stuff.
impatient-905-37969 This film has a very small target audience. The film is boring as fudge for anyone with zero interest in poker. But it is interesting to watch the actors play. John Malkovich does a horrible job playing a Russian. No Russian speaks with that grotesque accent. Also, we don't eat Oreos, they are disgusting to us. Whoever wrote the KGB's character definitely has no clue about Russians. That made the whole movie difficult to believe.Edward Norton is a pleasure to watch, as always. Matt Damon does his usual thing of vulnerable decency with a hint of civilized manliness. Sadly, the end is predictable, boringly so. I guess it would not be a Hollywood movie if the good guy did not win.