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The Music of Chance

  • 19931993
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Music of Chance (1993)
  • Drama
A thrill seeker agrees to help a shady professional gambler win a high stakes poker game. However, they lose and become captives of two eccentric rich men who decide to forcibly keep them on... Read allA thrill seeker agrees to help a shady professional gambler win a high stakes poker game. However, they lose and become captives of two eccentric rich men who decide to forcibly keep them on their remote gated ranch as indentured servants.A thrill seeker agrees to help a shady professional gambler win a high stakes poker game. However, they lose and become captives of two eccentric rich men who decide to forcibly keep them on their remote gated ranch as indentured servants.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Philip Haas
  • Writers
    • Philip Haas(screenplay)
    • Belinda Haas(screenplay)
    • Paul Auster(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • James Spader
    • Mandy Patinkin
    • M. Emmet Walsh
Top credits
  • Director
    • Philip Haas
  • Writers
    • Philip Haas(screenplay)
    • Belinda Haas(screenplay)
    • Paul Auster(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • James Spader
    • Mandy Patinkin
    • M. Emmet Walsh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 38User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Music of Chance
    Trailer 1:50
    The Music of Chance

    Photos24

    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    Charles Durning in The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    The Music of Chance (1993)
    Mandy Patinkin in The Music of Chance (1993)
    Samantha Mathis in The Music of Chance (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Spader
    James Spader
    • Jack Pozzias Jack Pozzi
    Mandy Patinkin
    Mandy Patinkin
    • Jim Nasheas Jim Nashe
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • Calvin Murksas Calvin Murks
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Bill Floweras Bill Flower
    Joel Grey
    Joel Grey
    • Willy Stoneas Willy Stone
    Samantha Mathis
    Samantha Mathis
    • Tiffanyas Tiffany
    Chris Penn
    Chris Penn
    • Floydas Floyd
    • (as Christopher Penn)
    Pearl Jones
    • Louiseas Louise
    Jordan Spainhour
    • Floyd Jr.as Floyd Jr.
    • (as Jordan D. Spainhour)
    Paul Auster
    Paul Auster
    • Driveras Driver
    • Director
      • Philip Haas
    • Writers
      • Philip Haas(screenplay)
      • Belinda Haas(screenplay)
      • Paul Auster(based on the novel by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Whilst traveling across America living off the money from a large inheritance, ex-fireman Nashe has a chance meeting with Pozzi, a professional gambler and card shark. Nashe agrees to fund the penniless Pozzi in a game of poker against two eccentric millionaires, Flower and Stone, in an attempt to regain some of his spent fortune. His gamble has unforeseen and bizarre consequences for both himself and Pozzi. This film is an almost exact translation of the novel by Paul Auster. —Stewart Kristiansen <cskjs@swan.ac.uk>
    • partners
    • team up
    • beating
    • captivity
    • shady character
    • 37 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Jack Pozzi is about to take the biggest gamble of his life...
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the scene where Jim Nashe is in bed after the party, he reads a book. You can see that the cover indicates the book is one by Paul Auster, who wrote the novel upon which the movie is based.
    • Goofs
      Having lost all their money Jack and James heave to work their debt off by building a wall.James puts 2 large stones in a trolley and goes to help Jack carry another but when they put it in the trolley it now only has one in it.
    • Quotes

      Calvin Murks: Mornin' boys.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Last Action Hero/Once Upon a Forest/Jurassic Park/The Music of Chance (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Jerusalem
      Music by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry

      Lyrics by William Blake

      Performed by Mandy Patinkin

    User reviews38

    Review
    Top review
    This film took me completely by surprise
    I rented this movie about five years ago not knowing what to expect. I saw a few raves on the back of the box, and even though the cast looked a bit uneven, I took a chance. I was totally mesmerized. I enjoyed it so much I watched the whole thing all over again the next evening. It's a totally captivating story with wonderful cinematography, a beautiful soundtrack, and it's all held together by the fact that you have no idea what is going to happen next.

    The story -- based on the novel by Paul Auster -- is certainly an original one. Mandy Patinkin plays a fireman named Nash who is taking an extended roadtrip/vacation and picks up the James Spader character (Pozzi) on the side of the road, bruised and bloody. Apparently Pozzi, who is normally a card player with a golden touch, lost his shirt to a pair of eccentric millionaires. Nash agrees to front Pozzi the money to get back in a game with the old guys in an attempt to win back his money. Well, one thing leads to another and Nash and Pozzi lose their shirts in the rematch. The payoff scheme conceived by the millionaires eventually drives Nash and Pozzi to the brink of insanity. Without giving away too much more of the plot, let's just say it involves the building of a wall and we'll leave it at that.

    All the performances are memorable. It's a small cast, but each actor (Patinkin, Spader, Charles Durning, Joel Grey, M. Emmet Walsh, Christopher Penn and Samantha Mathis) does wonderfully. Patinkin is marvelous as a quiet, sensible man who slowly goes mad. Spader is totally over the top and manages to deliver what's probably his finest performance to date. Durning is terrific, as is the always-dependable character actor Walsh.

    A few months after seeing the movie for the first time, I read the book and was pleasantly surprised at how faithful the book was in recreating the story. If you are a fan of this book or any other of Auster's works, this is definitely worth checking out.
    helpful•14
    4
    • Wazoo
    • Feb 28, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 4, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Slumpens musik
    • Filming locations
      • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • IRS Media
      • Transatlantic Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $313,967
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,359
      • Jun 6, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $313,967
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Paul Auster Novel ‘In The Country Of Last Things’ Gets Movie Adapt With Director Alejandro Chomski, Shoot Underway
    Paul Auster Novel ‘In The Country Of Last Things’ Gets Movie Adapt With Director Alejandro Chomski, Shoot Underway
    Jul 15Deadline Film + TV
    The Dig review – a hole lot of buried rage
    Apr 24The Guardian - Film News

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