Video Poker Forum

I was watching one of my favorite movies yesterday, titled  HARD EIGHT  which was made in 1996 and starring Gwynneth Paltrow, John C. Reily, Samuel L. Jackson and Philip Baker Hall.    The film is basically set in and around casino(s) in Vegas and Reno....and the plot heavily revolves around gambling and the action in and around a casino.It made me think about other MOVIES that are either centered in and around casinos or have Gambling as a major part of the film, and I began to make a list of my favorite movies with this as the category.  Here is the rest of my list:Casino  (with Deniro, Pesci et al)Rounders  (considered the BEST movie about Poker)Leaving Las Vegas   (even though about Self Destruction, Vegas figures prominently as a backdrop)Oceans 11 (and 12 and 13.....Plus the ORIGINAL Oceans 11 with the Rat Pack)Atlantic City   (Few people remember this gem from 1980 that was Nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture as well as just about every other category...starred an AGING Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon)National Lampoons VEGAS Vacation   (sorry, but I HAD to include this turkey, which was essentially a 90 minute advertisement for the Mirage, Wayne Newton and other Vegas hotspots back in 1996)High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story   (Not a great Movie in itself but it does cover the life story tragedy that was Stu Ungar's, arguably the greatest poker player in history)What about everyone else's favorite casino/gambling movies?    Note:  I left off Casino Royale, both versions of the James Bond Film, but I guess I could have included them....

The Cooler with William H. Macy and Alec Baldwin. Macy's character has such bad luck that his job at a Vegas casino is to stand near a gambler on a hot streak, then boom, that streak is gone. Alas he falls in love and his luck changes, much to the dismay of Baldwin's character (casino manager). No spoilers, so if you get the chance to watch the movie, it's a good one.

I believe Phillip Seymour Hoffman played in Hard Eight and not Phillip Baker Hall.

   I believe Phillip Seymour Hoffman played in Hard Eight and not Phillip Baker Hall.

Both actually played in it. Baker Hall was one of the stars though as DaBurglar mentioned. I caught this movie in the middle on TV this month, wasn't bad, but seemed to drag a bit for me.

Seymour Hoffman starred in "Owning Mahowny", which I thought was better.

As for myself...um, I do seem to like "Vegas Vacation" since I am generally biased toward comedies. Also I like "California Split" as a chunk of it focused on lowball poker.

"Rain Man".. with Tom Cruise (ehh) and Dustin Hoffman, who's character could beat the casino at will, but would rather memorize the phone book.

I apologize for the error Vman. I didn't have time to google Las Vegas movies.

   I believe Phillip Seymour Hoffman played in Hard Eight and not Phillip Baker Hall.

Phillip Baker Hall was the wise guy who showed John C. Reilly's character the ropes. Phillip Seymour Hoffman had a bit part as a drunken craps player. A premonition of things to come perhaps.

For me it's the original Oceans, although the Brat Pack "11" is not too bad, Atlantic City, Hard Eight, The Cooler and a couple others:

One From the Heart, Francis Ford Coppola's musical shot on sound stages and with special editing effects because the real Las Vegas wasn't glitzy enough for him: Frederic Forrest, Teri Garr, Raul Julia, Lainie Kazan and Harry Dean Stanton. It about ended Coppola's career after returning not much of a $26m budget, and this was in 1982 when $26m went farther than it does today.

Saint John of Las Vegas: Steve Buscemi and Sarah Silverman. Not really a casino movie but as off the hook as the Strip.

Boardwalk Empire, even though it's more about bootlegging than casinos. It does have Arnold Rothstein, the ultimate advantage player, in it.

Have to mention the bourbon-drenched love scene in Leaving Las Vegas. Someone was channeling my dreams there.

I would have to say Boardwalk Empire for me too even though the gambling parts were limited.

Good list.

I have 2 more decent casino movies....and 2 others which do not really qualify.

"Honeymoon in Vegas" starring Nicolas Cage, James Caan, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

"Shade" with Gabriel Byrne, Sylvester Stallone, and Thandie Newton.


Speaking of James Bond......the movie, "Diamonds are Forever" has some good old Vegas scenes. And the Bond spoof, "Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery" has some Vegas scenes from about 15 years ago.

21 is my favorite movie. It is about those MIT kids cheating the casino. I am sure Dabulglar knows them on a personal basis since he is an ivy leaguer. By the way Billy joe Kmart sucks!