"Casino Royale" Japanese Theatrical Poster
It seems that gambling is all around us these days, whether it be placing a bet on a horse, a football game, or even the many no deposit bingo sites that always seem to be doing good trade. For film lovers though, the more popular side of the pastime is the romanticised world of the gamblers, whether it be through heists, or the darker side that has been seen through history. Here are five of the most memorable films to feature gambling:
Casino
It is fair to say that Martin Scorsese is a master of the art of making movies. Coming off Goodfellas, many wondered how he could top it. The answer was to continue the success with Robert De Niro and to bring us Casino. Teaming the actor up with Joe Pesci once more, we saw both the charismatic side of the history of Las Vegas, as well as its darker side in a movie that has stuck with us for many years.
Ocean’s Eleven
With rumours of a female remake, this would be the third version of Ocean’s Eleven. Whether it be the “Rat Pack” original, the George Clooney and Brad Pitt remake, or this rumoured new version, there is a lot of love for the Ocean’s movies. This has been through not only the choosing of a strong cast, but also the idea of pulling off one of the biggest heists in Las Vegas history, and that is a narrative you can never go wrong with.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Guy Ritchie exploded onto the film scene with this film which brought the heist movie to British cinema. Featuring the Cockney charmer characters, and even a sneaky homage to the Italian Job, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels not only raised Ritchie to the heights of Hollywood glory but also raised the profile of a certain James Statham too.
Casino Royale
You can’t have a list about gambling movies without a bit of James Bond. When Daniel Craig was given the role of the iconic secret agent, many questioned if he could make the role his. In one of the most iconic scenes of his tenure we saw him take part in a card game more dangerous that any online poker game could be as he fought off the effects of poison. Thankfully he survived and by the end of the movie Bond fans knew that the actor was up to the part.
Rounders
Rounders is an interesting film because it takes gambling outside of the glitzy world of the casino and gives it a more street feel. Starring an up and coming Matt Damon and Ed Norton, Gretchen Mol managed to steal a few of the scenes she was in. The real star in this movie though was the card games which were used as a tool by Damon’s character to win back money to pay off old debts. Featuring some of the most dramatic poker games on screen, this is one movie hard to forget.
We all have our favourite gambling movies, and these are just a few chosen to include on this list. One thing we know for sure though is the love of the pastime not only by the people who partake in it, but also the film fans who enjoy those classic moments put to screen.
