High Stakes (TV 1997)

A former news reporter marries and tries to adjust to the life of a house wife and mother. However, her need for an adrenaline high is overpowering and she becomes and addicted gambler.

Director:

Donald Wrye

Writer:

Marshall Goldberg

Stars:

Cynthia Gibb, Robin Thomas, Brendan Fletcher

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cynthia Gibb	...	Annie
Robin Thomas	...	Mike
Brendan Fletcher	...	Sean
Jan D'Arcy
Nadia Capone
Tom Butler
Jerry Wasserman
Howard Hesseman	...	Wayne Dreyer
Campbell Lane	...	Tom Wilson
Larry Musser	...	Bob Tompkins
Hrothgar Mathews	...	Corcoran
Andrew Johnston	...	Doctor
Greg Rogers	...	Ted
Susan Bain	...	Dr. Thornton
Stephen E. Miller	...	Larry Henderson

Storyline

A former news reporter marries and tries to adjust to the life of a house wife and mother. However, her need for an adrenaline high is overpowering and she becomes and addicted gambler.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | marriage | compulsive gambler

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Taglines:

The fever of winning. The heat of the game. It's burning her world to the ground.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apuestas altas

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hearst Entertainment Productions, Spygaze Pictures Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A Powerful Case, Star, and Movie !

This is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever watched about addiction, and it's about gambling addiction so it's one of the rarest too.

Although it looks like another TV night movie where it is all about very average production, always close-ups, superficial analysis, and not well acting to say the least. But HEY. Wait a whole big minute ! Not all the TV productions are the same, and your worst nightmares of whatever hasty, poor or idiot TV movies you've watched before are not here.

(Cynthia Gibb) is at her best, being over the top. Actually (Gibb) is one star who would force you to wonder; where is this good actress anyway ?! At the same time that Hollywood is filled with a lot of overrated fallen stars already ! Despite her golden smile and charming beauty (Gibb) in (High Stakes) was looking a bit older than her real age, with some sense of weakness or pain which with her meager body made her great for the role and as fragile as that psychologically sick, wounded and sad woman. Her performance was real, catchy and so impressively versed whereas there is no second you'd think that this is acting. She delivered a very good performance like in the scene of her torturous first night at the sanatorium which was unforgettable and one of her most excellent moments.

The elements of this movie were cleverly creative, cooperating to make an effective message about addiction. We have : some fine analysis through one good story; thanks to the script of (Marshall Goldberg) which presented the psychoanalysis expressly in emotional way. A romantic yet doleful pace; for example the softy photo-montages so many times to portray the tragedy of that helpless woman as she isn't the criminal inasmuch as a victim. The bluesy music with a crying sax all the time. And the director (Donald Wrye) who was nominated for the Oscar of The Best Documentary 2 times before. Here (Wrye) successfully made that passionate spirit, that deplorable warm feeling, in a truthful atmosphere despite that it's in the humble frame of a usual TV movie.

Let me tell you, whoever watches this movie won't forget it, not because the influential melodrama of its complicated situation but for its way of scrutiny and showing. Sometimes being simple is complicated enough.