Inside the Movie

Mississippi Grind (2015) is a gambling road movie that follows two very different men on a trip through the American South. It is about poker, casinos and the dream of a large win, but its deeper themes are gambling addiction, loneliness and the difficulty of changing one’s…

Gambling addiction is a frequent subject in movies, but it is rarely presented as a simple matter of someone enjoying a card game too much. The most revealing films show people who cannot stop chasing losses, who hide debts from their families and who believe a single win…

Howard Ratner deals in expensive jewelry in New York and moves among celebrities and wealthy clients. From the outside, his life looks successful. Yet nearly every dollar he earns is already owed to somebody, creditors demand payment, and he keeps trying to escape trouble…

Poker movies offer everything from quiet psychological battles to million-dollar pots and dramatic bluffs. Some recreate the realities of underground card rooms; others make the game a backdrop for crime, friendship or personal ambition. This guide covers nine feature films…

Behind the closed doors of expensive hotels, Hollywood stars, powerful businesspeople and professional players gather around poker tables. Hundreds of thousands of dollars may change hands in a single night. The person organizing these exclusive meetings is Molly Bloom, a…

Films about casinos are rarely limited to what happens at the gaming table. Large wins, risky bets, bluffing and debt lead to stories about professionals who have spent years perfecting their skills, as well as ordinary people trying to solve problems with a lucky wager.…