The Gambler has all the ingredients needed - in my mind anyway, to make for a good film. An amazing cast and generally sound acting. The plot premise makes sense and is a familiar one. But the problem stems with the main protagonist.
I'm a fan of Wahlberg's earlier work and thought he really shined in Boogie Nights. I think he's miscast here and in a number of ways. His character, Jim Bennet is from an Old money well-to-do family: that's not Wahlberg and he's not a good enough actor to pull it off. Neither does he make a convincing "associate professor" of English Lit,.so that's two strikes. But the one aspect of his character, the self-destructive, rudderless, lost soul is right in his wheel house and in my opinion, it's the only thing that salvages the film - along with the fantastic supporting cast.
So my rating would have been 5 or 6, but for the ending, which is so formulaic and nonsensical in that charming Hollywood sort of way that it left me feeling as empty and Wahlberg's character. And I was left wondering if he had a hand in that ending...I won't go into it and potentially ruin it for anyone who is about to take the plunge, but if you're a fan of realism, you'll see what I mean.
I'm a fan of Wahlberg's earlier work and thought he really shined in Boogie Nights. I think he's miscast here and in a number of ways. His character, Jim Bennet is from an Old money well-to-do family: that's not Wahlberg and he's not a good enough actor to pull it off. Neither does he make a convincing "associate professor" of English Lit,.so that's two strikes. But the one aspect of his character, the self-destructive, rudderless, lost soul is right in his wheel house and in my opinion, it's the only thing that salvages the film - along with the fantastic supporting cast.
So my rating would have been 5 or 6, but for the ending, which is so formulaic and nonsensical in that charming Hollywood sort of way that it left me feeling as empty and Wahlberg's character. And I was left wondering if he had a hand in that ending...I won't go into it and potentially ruin it for anyone who is about to take the plunge, but if you're a fan of realism, you'll see what I mean.