3 of the Most Unique Gambling Movies of All Time
The three amazing gambling movies we bring you here have one thing in common. They all have interesting and unique premises that make them stand out.
The Cincinnati Kid, 1965
The Cincinnati Kid flaunts fantastic performances. It stars the iconic Steve McQueen and follows his character, Eric Stoner, as a newcomer to the stake games who is willing to go up against Lancey Howard.
Howard is the best poker player around and he knows that the kid has made a name playing backroom games. He agrees on the challenge since he feels like it’s finally time for Eric to take on some serious competition.
However, several distractions, including a charming girl and a blackmailer, hinder the chances of the young promising gambler to win the poker game. At the exciting climax of the movie, the two players raise their stakes. One will come out victorious.
The Cooler, 2003
In this original and accomplished movie by Wayne Kramer, William H. Macy plays a very interesting character.
Macy is the cooler, a gambler whose luck has been so poor that casinos hire him to stand by the tables on high streaks. Curiously, the cooler always prevents players to hit big payouts and continuously restores the house edge.
Eventually, though, the luck changes for the cooler. And he ends up becoming the lucky charm for countless gamblers in Las Vegas. You can imagine how that affects the temper of the casino operators. Will his new luck cost him his job?
The creative premise of The Cooler makes up for an interesting dive in the world of casino superstitions. Throughout the movie, the director and the cast know how to masterfully play with the perception of luck.
The Gambler, 1974
With its straightforward title, The Gambler follows the journey of addiction of Alex Freed, a university professor, portrayed by the fascinating James Caan.
His gambling addiction leads him in a spiral of self-destruction and mental instability. His life has simply fallen apart. The depiction of how the mind of a gambling addict works is incredibly raw and heart-wrenching.
However, the gambler can’t seem to stop increasing his debt and prevent his dangerous need for the gambling thrill. The movie builds in a crescendo to a spectacularly memorable climax.
Anyone who has had gambling problems will immediately connect with the story. Those who have not encountered addiction in their lifetime will be given a powerful reminder of why they should never let that happen.
As an extra suggestion, Tropfest would like to present you an amazing gambling documentary you can watch on Netflix.
Life on the Line, 2013
Life on the Line is a fabulous documentary filmed in Las Vegas over the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.
The feature analyzes the daily activities of players who gamble professionally for a living. As the documentary moves along, their successes and failures are tracked.
You will get a spectacular inside look on how professional bettors lay out massive bankrolls and put their personal and family lives on the line, all to win big on Super Bowl Sunday.
Life on the Line is as fun and exciting as it is educational and thought-provoking.
Come back to Tropfest as more of our fantastic picks will be revealed!