| Finally, a gambling movie that works. Not having an understanding of the Korean card game Hwatoo holds back a bit on the total enjoyment. I didn't understand what an 8 or a 9 score meant; but it seems that if I understood the rules some more, the movie could have gotten a 1/2-star upgrade--or maybe be docked 1/2 a star for not being accurate. Either way the movie deals with people whose personalities lend themselves to professional gambling. All their relationships are toxic to each other, yet that's what makes them so ideal for the job. There were more than a few scenes that were reminiscent of "The Grifters" that actually didn't detract from the movie. In fact they're upgrades to them. In one scene, instead of storing money under some carpet in the trunk of a car, dude has a complete safe there.
Overall the movie was pretty long at a bit more than two hours, there was some unexpected violence and nudity, and it doesn't glorify gamblers as much as make them out to be conmen; but it is in good fun. |
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