A Raw Character Study about a Degenerate. A Fully Fledged Gambling Addict that has Lost virtually all Connection with the Flesh and Blood Reality that is His Privileged Life as the Son of a Doctor and Grandson of a Multi-Millionaire Businessman.
This New York City English Professor also has a Loving Girl Friend, He is in Contact with these Family and Friends, it seems, only as Polite Obligation or when He Needs Help Scraping Money for His Losses.
The Way He Gambles makes No Sense (not surprising) and is Typical of the Psychological Breakdown that Occurs when the Game Has Won Out Over the Player and Controls His Behavior by way of His Addiction. The Gambling Decisions He makes and the Bets He Places are Destined for Inevitable Losses.
James Caan as "The Gambler" uses Literary Quotes and some Rationalizations of His Own to Justify Why He "Does what He does", but none of it makes any Sense beyond the Selfish and Hedonistic.
The Film has that 1970's Grit and the Focus of the Camera and Dialog is on Caan 90% of the time and the Actor has the Chops to Dominate the Frame and the Story.
The Story itself has Few New Insights about Gambling, Addiction, or the Self-Destruction that Ensues. The Ending is Controversial and Symbolic.
Overall, it's a Well Made Movie that is Overrated, but James Caan's Performance makes it Worth a Watch. As for the rest of the Film, it's only Slightly Above Average.
This New York City English Professor also has a Loving Girl Friend, He is in Contact with these Family and Friends, it seems, only as Polite Obligation or when He Needs Help Scraping Money for His Losses.
The Way He Gambles makes No Sense (not surprising) and is Typical of the Psychological Breakdown that Occurs when the Game Has Won Out Over the Player and Controls His Behavior by way of His Addiction. The Gambling Decisions He makes and the Bets He Places are Destined for Inevitable Losses.
James Caan as "The Gambler" uses Literary Quotes and some Rationalizations of His Own to Justify Why He "Does what He does", but none of it makes any Sense beyond the Selfish and Hedonistic.
The Film has that 1970's Grit and the Focus of the Camera and Dialog is on Caan 90% of the time and the Actor has the Chops to Dominate the Frame and the Story.
The Story itself has Few New Insights about Gambling, Addiction, or the Self-Destruction that Ensues. The Ending is Controversial and Symbolic.
Overall, it's a Well Made Movie that is Overrated, but James Caan's Performance makes it Worth a Watch. As for the rest of the Film, it's only Slightly Above Average.