Rounders was maybe just a little bit ahead of its time. The film came out in 1998, while poker, specifically Texas hold ’em, was still a few years away from really becoming big. And that’s a shame, as Rounders could be considered the best poker movie ever made. Granted, there’s not a huge collection to pull from, but still.
Rounders follows Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) as he feels forced back into his gambling ways to help recently released from prison friend Worm (Edward Norton) earn money to pay back a large debt. Mike puts his future, his relationship, even his life on the line to help his friend. Working with limited time, Mike and Worm find game after game to play in, scratching and clawing their way close to paying off Worm’s debt.
While part of what makes Rounders good is the Mike/Worm dynamic (a great example of how hard it can be to let go of a shitty friend), what really makes it work is its realistic portrayal of the poker games themselves.
Much needed realism
Think about any poker scene you’ve seen in a movie. Maybe the final hand in Casino Royale, perhaps.
Simply ridiculous. This is a problem with most movies that showcase any amount of poker. The odds of it playing out that way are astronomical to a hilarious level. Even more so when you consider that each hand improves as they go around the table.
But Rounders takes a more realistic approach to the game. For those that don’t understand hold ’em, it may prove less dramatic than the elevated stakes of a Casino Royale-esque scene. But for those that do understand the game, even if only moderately, the way Rounders handles the gameplay is much more accurate, thereby creating a more reliable and familiar sense of drama.
But even further than the gameplay itself, Rounders is able to capture the feeling of a poker game. I’ve never played anything even remotely resembling high stakes, but I understand the rush of hitting a hot streak of a few hands in a row. And I likewise know the crushing defeat of not being able to buy a hand, literally and figuratively. It’s an atmosphere most other films fail to replicate.
“Look how smart I am”
Ah yes, the Judges’ Game scene. This is maybe the one instance where Rounders’ grip on reality loosens a bit. There is no possible way that Mike can just walk into this room and know exactly what each player is holding within a matter of seconds. And yet, it doesn’t really matter. Sure, part of that is Damon’s talent and charisma, where you get lost in the character. But it’s also because it helps establish Mike’s ability as a card player in a fun and lightweight manner. There are no stakes involved, he’s just a guy doing his job getting a chance to show off.
Teddy KGB
John Malkovich is a legend, plain and simple. He’s completely over the top, bad Russian accent and everything. But it just doesn’t matter. He’s having a blast with this role, and the audience is having a blast right along with him.
But it might be one of the subtler (except any eagle-eyed viewers) parts of Teddy that stand out. Of course the big moment in the final hand between Teddy and Mike is when Mike discovers Teddy’s tell. But if you were paying close enough attention, you would have already known that. From way back in the beginning of the movie. In the first scene between the two. Teddy and his Oreos are shown to be a fun little quirk of the character.
But it’s his tell! Right there in front of us for all to see! I missed it, as I’m sure many others did. But if you were able to catch it, it’s just one small little thing that could add quite a bit of enjoyment to the movie.
Final scene
This is great. Mike’s journey comes full circle, he gets another chance at Teddy KGB, he’s putting everything on the line.
Best scene
Give me John Turturro and Matt Damon at the bath house all day. It’s a little more understated than some of the other standout, higher energy scenes, but just watch, it speaks for itself.