A lot of film fans tend to think of gambling and poker as genres specific to Hollywood. Look up the best American gambling films in fact, and you’ll probably see most of the films in the genre that you’ve ever heard of!
This is not without reason. Plenty of excellent gambling films have come out of Hollywood over the years. Plus, in many cases, these films are meant to portray distinctly American settings and themes, like the buzz of Las Vegas or the seductive allure of smoky card rooms. As successful as some of these films have been however, they do not tell the whole story of gambling in cinema. That story has to include Assian films as well.
While they may not get as much play in the western world, there have been plenty of excellent films in this category to come out of Asian cinema. Below, we’ll highlight some of them through a look at the best characters from the genre.
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Ko Chun in “God of Gamblers”
It’s impossible to talk about this topic and not to mention God of Gamblers. This Hong Kong comedy-drama from 1989 follows Ko Chun (Chow Yun-fat) in his adventures. The protagonist is a highly talented gambler who is encountering obstacles along his life path. His unique abilities related to poker are well known in gambling circles.
In Tokyo to confront a highly ranked Singaporean gambler. But, unfortunately, he ends up in an accident with a robber. After getting struck on the head, Ko Chun suffers from amnesia and starts behaving like a child –– all the while retaining his savant-like gambling abilities. Some have made the comparison to the American film Rain Man, and there’s certainly something there. But this film is more of a comedy, adn Ko Chun plays more for laughs.
Jack Chang in “Poker King”
This comedy revolves around a small-screen a poker tournament, casino manager Uno Cheuk (Ching Wan Lau) and gambler Jack Chang (Louis Koo). Chang is presented as a person who has discovered a love of casino poker by playing Texas Hold’em online. He learns this most popular of poker games like so many before him, only to be challenged in it when he’s called to Macau by Cheuk.
Jack answers the call in order to save his family’s business (the casino itself), but finds himself in over his head playing actual table poker rather than the online variety. His character is presented as immature and childish, but not without a certain wit, and a sympathetic quality. So it is that despite this being a somewhat goofy comedy, viewers come to root for Chang.
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Go-ni in “Tazza: The High Rollers”
Go-ni (Jo Seung-woo) is just an ordinary guy with a big appetite for casino games. Naturally, he uses his talent to infiltrate the underground world of gambling. After some success, his ranking goes up, as do the stakes. But the underground world isn’t as easy as it seems, and before long Go-ni is playing or his life.
It may not be the most original of gambling film plots, but Jo Seung-woo’s performance elevates this project. He is the main reason Tazza: The High Rollers won more than 15 awards at festivals and had 17 nominations, and became one of the highest-grossing South Korean films in history. A sequel did reasonably well also, and there is a third film on the way.
“Magic Hands” Ken in “The Man From Macau”
“Magic Hands” Ken (Chow Yun-fat) is a legendary gambler caught up in the clash between a mob leader named Ko (Hu Gao) and a small conman called Cool (Nicholas Tse) who seeks an act of murder revenge.
“Magic Hands” Ken is an exquisite role. Ken is a poker player who wins against all odds –– including against an opponent who has implanted card sensors in his fingertips. If that sounds a little bit out there, fair enough. But this crime drama will hold your attention from the start to the end, thanks in no small part to the magnetic quality of Chow Yun-fat.
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King in “The Conman”
King (Andy Lau) is a poker master, unjustly accused of the murder of a mob boss. However, he accidentally kills an assassin and ends up in prison. After being released from jail, he’s being chased by the boss’s brother and uses his poker skills to survive.
This adventurous comedy will keep you thrilled and glued to the screen for two hours. And once again, it’s a film driven by the performance of its lead. Lau gives a characteristically vivid and charismatic turn,
Law and Chan in “Casino Raiders”
Law (Alan Tam) and Chan (Lau) are best friends and gamblers in this film. After a couple of reckless moves, they put themselves into an unfortunate situation battling with a Yakuza boss. They’re using their master poker skills to survive, and they’re doing it magnificently.
This film was a great success both in Hong Kong and internationally. It is one of many reasons Lau is considered to be one of the greats of Asian cinema (even if it might not crack Lau’s best films!).
Hopefully this list has helped to open your eyes to some of the excellent gambling films that exist in Asian cinema, and far beyond traditional Hollywood.
