What is it about gambling that is so brutally and honestly addictive? Chance, the unknown, and the adrenaline that is rushed through us at the possibility of winning, or even losing? Or the opportunities that lie in front of you, a new life that is right under your nose? Even the luster of gangster films is partly attributed to all the casinos, bookies, money collection, Vegas scenery, and betting in them.

Whatever makes it so enchanting, cinema has shown us all the ins and outs of gambling, and some of the best gambling movies have had us on the edge of our seats from start to finish. Yet, poker players ought to be made aware of what is possibly the best movie about this game, 1998 drama, Rounders. Chances are that you have thought at least once what it would feel like to make that big win, and that is why Rounders is regarded as one of the best movies about poker.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

Rounders

     Miramax Films

The term ‘rounder’ refers to someone who travels from city to city in search of high-stake games. Focusing on the dirty side of underground poker, Matt Damon and Edward Norton show us how easy it is to get immersed in the gambling world. After losing a game of poker and a huge sum of money to a Russian gangster, Mike McDermott (Damon) promises his girlfriend that he will quit gambling, but when his friend Worm (Norton) needs to pay off a debt, they become regular underground poker players. Eventually, it all comes down to one ultimate game.

The great poker scenes shown in Rounders are captivating and considered the greatest in cinema, so let’s see why it is one of the best movies about poker.

Major Losses and Hidden Addictions

There are plenty of life lessons to be gained in Rounders, what the film does well is recreate the suspense of playing the game; the details in the skill as well as the luck that’s involved. For example, at the beginning, Mike McDermott is shown losing miserably. There are obvious disadvantages to offline as well as online poker, but unlike previous films on gambling, Rounders doesn’t necessarily exclusively focus on the dangers of gambling (which may be part of why it’s beloved by actual poker pros).

However, it still subtly highlights the importance and risks of developing a gambling addiction - there is a scenario in which Mike even ponders whether he should risk his whole budget on the game. It goes to show that mindless gambling is not the way to go and playing carelessly increases your chances of losing. When Mike suffers a $30,000 loss in the beginning of the film; this setback and the relational damage it causes leads to his decision to quit playing the game entirely. However, shortly after, everything starts to fall apart for Mike, and he ends up lying to his girlfriend about playing poker and ultimately loses the opportunity for a clerkship because of it, portraying a devestating account of addiction.

By presenting serious elements of the dangers of addiction, the movie becomes even more realistic to the viewers. Despite the fact that the movie only briefly mentions gambling addiction and focuses on Mike helping a friend, it clearly highlights the dangers of gambling and how some poker players are prepared to hide their addiction and risk far more than just money. Not to mention, an equally significant takeaway from the film’s theme is that winning and losing should both be treated with dignity and respect, in other words, no one likes a sore loser.

Learn Your Poker Terminology With Rounders

Of course the movie has us all hooked with the tension and risks of excessive gambling and how to keep a good poker face, but possibly the most authentic part about Rounders is that we get to learn all the terminology used in poker. Phrases like bankroll, fish, splashing the pot, and slow-rolling all make the viewer feel like they are part of the game. Rounders does well not to overuse the slang, rather the colloquial terminology is used to make it more believable and realistic. This is of course helped by the amazing acting, including a wonderful John Malkovich performance. These terms have even been popularized and has caused poker’s notoriety to grow in the pop culture landscape ever since Rounders was released.

Watching hands of poker can get pretty boring for many people, but the reason the film is so beloved is that it keeps it exciting by including the terminology, along with realistic gambling and incredible acting, and understands that it isn’t just the hand that is dealt that creates such a thrill, but the atmosphere, the language, the tension with other players, and the competition within yourself. Rounders has arguably developed poker into an acceptable and popular form of entertainment, and even betting websites opine about its legacy and lasting impact.