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Rounders
1998 121 min United States of America R 18+
★7.0
Drama, Crime
Director: John Dahl
Trailers
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Description
Poker addict Mike McDermott knows the game inside out, but loses his money one night in a game to Russian-American gangster Teddy KGB. Promising his partner Jo he'll give up, he meets up with best friend Lester 'Worm' Murphy, just out of prison and owing lots of money to the wrong kind of people. McDermott becomes his co-guarantor and now there's only one way to raise the money, the pair have to get back into the game.
Budget:
$12M
US Gross:
$22.91M
Worldwide:
$22.91M
Starring
Matt Damon
Actor
Edward Norton
Actor
Gretchen Mol
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 1998
— Golden Lion
Key opinion
Rounders is widely regarded as a character-driven drama that prioritizes strong performances and an authentic gambling atmosphere over flashy action. While many viewers praise the chemistry between the leads, opinions remain split on the film's pacing and the believability of the central characters' motivations.
| Acting | John Malkovich’s portrayal of the Russian mobster Teddy KGB is a standout performance that adds memorable intensity and flair. | |
| Acting | Matt Damon delivers a nuanced, grounded performance as a poker player balancing professional skill with personal redemption. | |
| Originality | The film succeeds as a low-key, realistic drama that captures the underground gambling subculture without relying on generic blockbuster spectacle. | |
| Acting | Edward Norton's performance as the reckless gambler 'Worm' divides opinion, with some finding him a vital, charismatic catalyst for the plot and others seeing him as an unengaging or irritating character. | |
| Pacing | The dialogue-heavy, contemplative pacing is praised by those who enjoy the character studies but criticized by those who find the film's narrative momentum tedious or lacking in action. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is a point of contention, with some viewing it as a sharp, thematic exploration of risk and choice, while others label it a formulaic, cliché-ridden story of questionable character decisions. |