Rent The Card Counter (2021)

An oddly interesting, very American film about the world of gambling and casinos - The Card Counter review by Philip in Paradiso

William Tell (actually the character's name, played by Oscar Isaac, charismatic and captivating) is a professional gambler. He taught himself how to count cards during an 8-year sentence spent in a military prison. He is a loner, who tends to win but avoids big gains, to avoid drawing attention to himself. He is self-contained, detached from the world, seemingly without a personal and sentimental life, and without friends. There is something enigmatic about him, and we gradually learn why he is the way he is. The movie is, really, about what happens to him, and how he changes over the course of the film, and why.

The story gives you an insight into the world of gambling and casinos. It is very American - the America of suburbia, motels, motorways, and so on. I have been to Las Vegas and it reminded me of the city and its gambling dens. Personally, I found the plot broadly implausible, but I cannot elaborate as I don't want to spoil the film for those reading this review. The young man playing Cirk (Tye Sheridan) is, also, in my opinion, rather annoying and unconvincing: you feel you are watching a sulky teenager moping about - but, perhaps, that is precisely what he is supposed to be.

On the other hand, where the film is very good is at creating a captivating atmosphere: this is done very well. There is something cerebral, contemplative - meditative, even - and claustrophobic about the movie, also because of the central character's lifestyle and personality. The key theme of the film, ultimately, is: what does it mean to belong, and how do you integrate into society? What if you are going to be on the margins forever, and what does it mean if you are? This may sound pretentious and too intellectual, but the film touches upon these questions in a subtle way, through the story and the character of William Tell - a vey odd choice of name all the same... As a result, it is a rather unusual film, but an interesting one. I would not say it is excellent, but it is a good movie, despite its obvious flaws. I enjoyed watching it, overall.

Engrosing - The Card Counter review by sb

Another of Schrader's chilly detatched character studies.

Isaac plays William Tell a small time professional gambler on the circuit. We learn he spent time in prison and is a very austere figure who checks into a single motel room every time and covers all the furniture in white linen bound with twine.

At one casino he briefly attends a lecture by security consultant John Gordo (Dafoe) and is approached by young man called Cirk (Sheridan). Its revealed that both Tell and Cirk's father served in Iraq - more specificly as interegators at the notorious Abu Graib prison where torture of suspects was routine.

Tell got almost 10 years in Leavenworth military prison as did Cirk's father but on release got hooked on drugs, beat his family and then shot himself.

Cirk holds Gordo responsible (he was never convicted) and intends to torture and kill him and tries to recruit Tell.

He refuses but offers to take Cirk on the road on the gambling circuit - there they meet La Linda (Haddish) who offers to put up prize money to finance Tell in bigger tournaments so the 3 criss cross the US while more and more back story is uncovered......

Its a real slow burner but is really engrossing with Issac giving a haunted electric performance of a deeply damaged man who is desperate for some kind of redemption and sees that possibility in Cirk.

The other performances are equelly good and although Schrader takes his time with the narrative its well worth sticking with.

Its got an excellent score by Robert Levon Been (bass player in BRMC) that really enhances the ambient feel - as mentioned it can be really strange but Isaac's is just superb - 4/5

Surprisingly slow and empty film with a weak story - The Card Counter review by RD

The story never really seems to get going, and many of the scenes come over as casual and vague. The film is set around poker tournaments, of which there are several scenes, but we are never shown any tension or content to the games, which leaves another empty gap in the story.

There's some friction between characters in various scenes, but it never seems to go anywhere. The result is a viewing with a lot of hope that the story will develop, but unfortunately it just bumbles along until the end.

This is most unusual for a film involving Martin Scorsese.