Matt Damon

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Movie Review: The Instigators

August 9, 2024 0

Movie Review: “The Instigators”

“The Instigators” poses an interesting question: is the dream of the ‘90s cinema alive in…

Movies

February 21, 2024 0

Movie Review: “Drive-Away Dolls”

“Drive-Away Dolls” is an inspired throwback to a very particular type of film that was…

Movies

Cillian Murphy and Matt Damon in "Oppenheimer"

July 20, 2023 0

Movie Review: “Oppenheimer”

“Oppenheimer” is unstuck in time. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, the film is a…

Movies

Matt Damon and Adam Driver in "The Last Duel"

October 14, 2021 0

Movie Review: “The Last Duel”

Stephen King wrote “The Shining” as a way of dealing with his destructive alcoholism and…

Movies

Matt Damon and Christian Bale in "Ford v Ferrari"

November 14, 2019 0

Movie Review: “Ford v Ferrari”

We first meet Caroll Shelby (Matt Damon), one of the two central characters of James…

Movies

December 21, 2017 0

Movie Review: “Downsizing”

The official trailer for “Downsizing” does an impressive job of convincing the viewer that the…

Movies

Movie Review: Contagion

September 9, 2011 0

Movie Review: “Contagion”

It would have been very easy for a movie like “Contagion” to push the panic…

Movies

I n the late 90s, Miramax earned a reputation for taking chances on a number of great films, but they never achieved much at the box office. A majority of these movies went on to become cult classics on video and earned the Weinstein brothers a lot of money and respect in the process. One of these films was the John Dahl drama "Rounders," which not only featured a fantastic cast of talented up-and-comers and screen veterans, but also helped in launching the poker craze that's sweeping the nation today. "Rounders" offers an inside look at the world of high-stakes gambling through the eyes of Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), a New York City law student with a natural talent for a good hand and the ability to read virtually any opponent. After dropping $30,000 one night to local poker thug Teddy KGB (John Malkovich), Mike turns away from the game forever to focus on his studies, much to the approval of his girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol). Working a dead-end job to pay off his school loans, Mike remains clean for nine months until his best friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison with a giant gambling debt to his name. When Mike takes a stake in the debt, putting his own head on the chopping block, he must return to the card table and play the game better than he ever has before in order to meet Teddy KGB's 48-hour payment deadline. "Rounders" is without a doubt one of the best poker films ever made, but it's also a really great movie about brotherhood. Though Norton's foolish Worm is nothing but trouble from the minute he's introduced, there's a reason why such an upstanding guy like Mike is still hanging around with a cheating lowlife: friendship. They have a history that goes all the way back to high school, where Worm took the heat for a poker game gone wrong so that Mike's promising future wouldn't be ruined. His debt to Worm is worth more than just money, and playing poker is Mike's way of finally paying him back. Most women will never fully understand this kind of unspoken act of brotherhood, just like most men will never understand "Sex and the City," but it's because of these rich and complex relationships that "Rounders" is such an enjoyable movie. Matt Damon, Edward Norton and a gleefully over-the-top John Malkovich deliver solid performances, while David Levin and Brian Koppelman's smart and stylish script does a great job of bringing an authenticity to the poker scenes without alienating those who've never played a game of Texas hold 'em. "Rounders" is a classic buddy film in the same vein as "Swingers" and "Sideways," and one that deserves a place in every guy's collection. Single-Disc Blu-ray Review: Walt Disney's Blu-ray release of "Rounders" features a majority of the bonus material from the previous DVD release, including a pair of audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a brief look at the world of professional poker, and tips from past World Series of Poker champions. The two commentary tracks are the best of the bunch, including one with director John Dahl, actor Edward Norton and writers David Lean

August 23, 2011 0

Movie Review: “Rounders”

In the late 90s, Miramax earned a reputation for taking chances on a number of…

Movies

Movie Review: The Adjustment Bureau

March 4, 2011 0

Movie Review: “The Adjustment Bureau”

It might look like another “Run, Matt, Run!” conspiracy thriller, but “The Adjustment Bureau” is…

Movies

Movie Review: True Grit

December 22, 2010 0

Movie Review: “True Grit”

Joel and Ethan Coen have always favored the unusual, so it struck me as a…

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