An average movie

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect from this flick but since there was a pretty cool cast, I thought I should give it a try. I always had a weak spot for movies about poker which is a fascinating game and this movie definitely had some potential. Apparently, in spite of its attractive cast (Stuart Townsend, Sylvester Stallone, Gabriel Byrne, Jamie Foxx Melanie Griffith, Thandie Newton), it was apparently barely seen when it was released and it was another flop for Stuart Townsend whose career was once promising but never seemed to take off. So, I really liked the mood, the characters, the card tricks but it is honestly difficult to care for a poker movie which deals with cheaters. I mean, to see a guy winning a game because of his skills, his experience or even his luck is much more intriguing than to see someone winning because he is actually cheating. It makes the whole thing much more predictable and not really rewarding in my opinion. Eventually, it is more a movie about cons than poker. Still, in spite its flaws, it remains an entertaining thriller and it is worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

6/10