Croupier

Released 1998
Stars Clive Owen, Gina McKee, Alex Kingston, Kate Hardie, Nicholas Ball, Nick Reding
Directed by Mike Hodges

Croupier is one of those overlooked movies that, once you see it, you wonder how so many distributors could have let this one get away. With its fascinating, multi-layered plot, intelligent screenplay, and subtle-yet-undeniable tension building, Croupier is an engrossing, stylish thriller that never threatens to wear out its welcome. The world of the croupier (casino dealer) is seen through the eyes of Jack Manfred (Clive Owen), a writer who's looking for material to put into a new novel. By nature, Jack is an observer, not a participant. He doesn't gamble, because he knows the odds aren't good. For the most part, he likes to play by the rules. And he has a perverse addiction - he likes watching people lose. He drinks defeat like a stimulant, and the experience of dealing often leaves him shaking afterwards. As the story unfolds, Jack begins to blur the lines between his real-life self and his fictional alter-ego, Jake. Sometimes, it's Jake, not Jack, who steps behind the tables and begins to shuffle the cards. However, while Jack is cold and detached, Jake believes in taking risks and getting involved - two things that lead to trouble.

Summary by James Berardinelli