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The Card Counter
2021 112 min Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, China R 18+
★6.3
Drama, Thriller, Crime
Director: Paul Schrader
Trailers
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Description
William Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk. But keeping Cirk on the straight-and-narrow proves impossible, dragging Tell back into the darkness of his past.
US Gross:
$2.66M
Worldwide:
$5.04M
Starring
Oscar Isaac
Actor
Tiffany Haddish
Actor
Tye Sheridan
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 2021
— Golden Lion
Key opinion
The Card Counter is a polarizing character study that functions as a grim, methodical meditation on trauma, guilt, and American malaise. While many critics admire its stylistic precision and Oscar Isaac's stoic lead performance, others find the narrative structure disjointed and emotionally detached.
| Acting | Oscar Isaac delivers a compelling, disciplined performance as a stoic protagonist struggling with the weight of his past. | |
| Theme | The film effectively channels the desolate, introspective atmosphere and anti-hero archetypes reminiscent of Paul Schrader’s earlier work like Taxi Driver. | |
| Theme | The integration of the Abu Ghraib subplot is contested, with some finding it a powerful critique of American policy and others viewing it as exploitative or poorly connected to the main narrative. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure divides opinion, with some praising its meticulous, slow-burn pacing and others finding the plot meandering, convoluted, or lacking in drive. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for having dialogue that feels strained and character motivations that often lack logical clarity. | |
| Ending | The resolution is widely regarded as abrupt and disappointing, failing to provide a satisfying emotional or thematic payoff. |