Johnny Zachariah [email protected]
Entertaining look at the in-fighting involved in the takeover
of the Nabisco Co. The CEO of Nabisco wants to buy out the
company, but is thwarted by the machinations of a big money rival. A
rousing financial war begins leading to a satisfying grand finale. I liked the
dialogue, especially the witty quips that James Garner was fond of throwing out. Jonathan
Pryce was great as the chilling corporate raider. Thumbs up.
Rounders
Derek Allen
Rounders is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. Damon
plays an outstanding character that
you can't help but root for. Norton plays "Worm" to perfection. The
movie demands great praise. A
greater respect to text as I learn more about the game. Director is
extraordianry and Damon surpasses
his "Good Will Hunting" performance. Gives intricate details allowing
the non-player to understand the
subtle gems of the movie. A must for anyone who enjoys movies for
content as well as acting.
Anonymous
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie, which at
first smelled like too much of a Hollywood "let's get two hot
actors-du-jour and put them in a movie targeted to cool people in their
20's" type-deal. However, Ed Norton gives what I consider to be his
best performance ever and Matt Damon delivers too. Also, I have to say
the girl who plays Matt Damon's girlfriend, Gretchen Mol, is
unbelievably sexy. The other great
thing about the movie is that it celebrates the freedom of the
individual - Damon's character ultimately chooses to risk it all, and
that's an exciting thing to leave the theater with. The movie has an
uncanny knack of making you feel free - and how can you beat that?
Anonymous
Rounders is an excellent movie starring Matt Damon and Edward
Norton. Damon portrays a gamble who wanted to step up to the big time,
but lost it all in a game of cards. He gives up his gambling habit to
go to law school, where he and his girlfriend live a normal life. Then
his friend (Norton) gets out of jail. He could be considered a
reckless gambler, playing on borrowed money, and "sharking" in
dangerous places.
Anonymous
Rounders providing a fascinating view into the world of
high-stakes poker. Matt Damon is a law student who excels at the game,
enough so to make more than tidy profit. However, after losing several
thousand in one shot, he promises his girlfriend he will never play
again. That promise is put to the test when he gets his old partner
out of prison...and to tell more would ruin the story. As I mentioned
earlier, the game provides a fascinating insight into the game of
poker, as well as painting a picture of loyalty. However, the patience
of Damon's character is bit ridiculous at times. Also, the ending may
not appeal to all. The realist may not approve, and not everything is
"perfect." However, it encourages you to follow your dreams.
Anonymous
Rounders was a terrific film, which I would watch again in a
heartbeat. Great acting performance by Matt Damon, who really appears
to be the next HUGE star in Hollywood. Rounders is a very fun film to
watch, as we get to see some of the world's finest poker playing, even
if it is a scripted film :) John Malkovich and Ed Norton also shine in
this one with Malkovich playing a very cool part. I would DEFINITELY
recommend 'Rounders' to anyone, not just to rent for a night or two,
but go out and buy this great movie! It's time to ANTE UP!
"Rounders" is a film byJohn Dahl and its cast contains a lot
of young talent including Matt Damon, Gretchen Moll, and Edward Norton.
As side-players the cast also features John Malkovich, John Turturro,
and Martin Landau. Matt Damon takes the lead as a law student named
Mike McDermmot who happens to be very talented at poker, so much so
that he could make a living off of it just as Joey Kish (Turturro)
does. However, McDermott has reformed and is trying to make a life
with his live-in girlfriend Jo (Mol). It's clear, however, that the
life does not completely agree with him and neither does his
prospective future as a lawyer. When his old-time friend Worm (Norton)
is released from prison he tells Jo he owes that he must pick Worm up
and get him set up on his feet. This starts McDermmot's downfall or
rise, if you will. With Worm, McDermmot falls again into the world of
poker winning at first until, inevitably, Worm gets greedy and the two
fall into trouble. Most of the film follows them around as they fall deeper into debt, fall into
trouble with loan sharks, specifically a man named KGB. McDermmot
attempts to balance both of his lives, the student trying to pass the
bar and the consumate poker player. Ultimately, he can't do both and
loses Jo and his aspirations for the bar. The entire movie becomes a
process of hiim shrugging off everything that holds him back. He has
lost Jo and at first seems devestated, he eventually realizes what a
user Worm is and not the friend he thought, and ultimately comes to
realize his true talent lies in poker. The entire movie builds to one
scene where McDermmot must clear his score with KGB. He does not run
like Worm, but stands his ground. One gets the sense that he has
finally found his identity. The set designs of the underground gambling
world are spectacular and subtly filmed by John Dahl. Malkvitch, too,
plays into the seediness with his character KGB, a high stakes Russian
poker player brillantly and with a lot of indirect humor. McDermmot ultimately wins, but it is
not simply the massive pot that he has won, nor is it a clear name with
KGB. One gets the sense, instead, that he has found what he is best at.
In a final scene between Jo and himself, he seems calm. He does not ask
for her back, he accepts the fact that they are too different and it
would not work out. He says simply he will call her should he ever need
a lawyer. The ending of the movie is well-timed, with McDermmot simply
riding off in a taxi, lost in the traffic. We do not know where he is
headed from there, nor does it really matter.
Anonymous
I enjoyed this movie and found it entertaining. The story
deals with the underground world of card games set in New York city. But the underlying plotline
of where to draw the line between loyalty, compulsion, danger and friendship is what
draws you in. I thought the overall performances were very strong, especially Matt Damon.
However, I was somewhat disappointed with John Malkovich's portrayal of the Russian card shark.
His accent didn't seem to hit the mark, and at times got a bit annoying (this was suprising
since he's had incredible performances in other films). I enjoyed the narrative style of the
movie as Matt Damon's character explains some of the intricacies of the game as the film progresses.
Rounders might not be the best movie about card players, but the strong perfomances and interesting
plot line carries the movie through to the end.
Wall Street
Anonymous
This movie was a classic example of the attitude in the late
1980s about the Financial Professional.
Michael Douglas, who plays a not so thinly veiled caricature of Michael
Milken, espouses the
"greed is good" philosophy, while embodying everything bad in the
process. Charlie Sheen plays
Bud Fox, a young stock trader who quickly learns the economic benefits
of insider trading. Sheen
helps Douglas out by guiding him to an ailing airline. The two of them
then manipulate
the stock quite heavily, winding up with multiple arrests for
securities fraud and a somewhat
surprise, though not too unusual, ending. Nowadays, the film and its
morals seem dated. Nevertheless,
it succeeds as a parable on the downside of too much greed, and it
makes interesting watching
for purely entertainment value.
Anonymous
This is the best stock movie ever, boileroom even has to show
the movie inside there movie it is that good. Bud Fox is a Wall Street
stockbroker with a strong desire to get to the top. Working for his
firm during the day, he spends his spare time working an on angle with
with to approach the high-powered, extremely successful (but ruthless)
broker Gordon Gekko. He finally meets with Gekko, who explains to him
his philosophy that "Greed is Good". Taking this advice and working
closely with Gekko, Fox soon finds himself swept into a world of
"yuppies", shady business deals, the "good life", fast money, and fast
women; something which is at odds with his family and the way he was
brought up.
Anonymous
This is a great movie, gritty and no-holds barred performance
from the brilliant Michael Douglas, proving that sex is by no means the
overwhelming theme of his movies as some believe.
There is the anxious, terrifyingly rapid advance given to the young Bud
Fox from a chance comment in Gekkos daunting office, the instant changes of mood
by Micheal swinging from interviewing to lambasting an industry peer on
the phone and back to interviewing without a flicker.
Inspirational in the "no fear" modus operandi of Gordon and then Bud,
almost "you can do anything if you dare" which has always given me a lift
when I watch it. Lush settings, and brilliant counterpointing performance of
Terence Stamp, illustrating the "Gekko" figure scenario in turn to Gordon nas Gordon
had to Bud...
In the end a 4 out of 5 stars.
Anonymous
Gordon Gecko (Michael Douglas) commands the attention and
respect of not only the characters in the movie, but the audience as
well. The viewer gets captivated into the seduction of a high rolling
lifestyle and can understand Buddy's (Charlie Sheen) desire to become
one of the sharks. A true tale of a hungry starter in the biggest
business in the world becoming what he's always dreamed of becoming,
although under false foundation. Buddy soon realizes that his
foundation and backing does not equal that of Gecko's which lands him
and his dreams alongside each other duing his quick downfall. A Power
Broker's Pawn or the Hungry Young Broker not reassuring his meteroic
rise? You decide! A MUST SEE for ANY business person!
Anonymous
This gripping movie tells of all the dark underside of the
world of wall street. This movie shows just what people in the world
of the stock market are willing to go through to make lots of money for
themselves and other people who they represent. This movie holds no
punches and shows the grim and gritty tactics that people are willing
to go through when big money and fortunes are on the line. Featuring
excellent performances by all and a story that will keep you on the
edge of the seat and make you take another look at wall street. I
would highly recomend this movie to anybody with an interest in the
under working of wall street and the world that most will never see.
Anonymous
Wall Street is an enjoyable, sometimes flashy, but rather
simple-minded look at the high-flying stock market of the '80s. It
follows the classic arc of the rise and fall of an over-eager everyman.
In this case, the everyman is Charlie Sheen, who is competent in the
role of young trader Bud Fox who comes under the wing of Gordon Gecko,
played by Michael Douglas. Douglas threatens to steal the show with
his power clothes, sly smile, and "Greed is good" speech. The main
strength of the film is how it captures the look and feel of new money
in New York City in the '80s. Sometimes it's fun just to marvel at the
view in Bud Fox's new apartment. The weakness is that Oliver Stone's
script just doesn't have enough surprises. It follows a fairly
predictable path up and down the financial ladder.
Anonymous
When this movie hit the theatres i was looking forward to it
as it was directed by John Dahl. Some of his past work includes the
highly recommended Red Rock West & The Last Seduction. Rounders staring
Matt Damon and Ed Norton in the titles roles and a cast of great actors
in smaller roles. Look for John Malkovich as a russian mobster, Martin
Landeau, and John Turturro. With these great actors and great script
and director it is a winner.
Based about 2 poker playing friends. Matt Damon's character has quit
playing poker for money. He helps out his friend played wonderfully by
Ed Norton who has racked up gamling debts, the mobsters are out to kill
Ed NOrton, so Matt and Ed go on a poker playing trip to win this money.
The acting is suburb and shows that Ed Norton is one of the best actors
of his current time. Matt Damon also does a very convincing job. Things
move quickly in the high stakes game of poker, and many tense moments,
dealing with the players and if they are going to fold their cards.
Between the great script, acting and director you cant go wrong with
renting Rounders.
