Croupier (1998)

An aspiring writer is hired as a croupier at a casino, where he realizes that his life as a croupier would make a great novel.

Director:

Mike Hodges

Writer:

Paul Mayersberg

Stars:

Clive Owen, Nick Reding, Nicholas Ball

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clive Owen	...	Jack Manfred
Nick Reding	...	Giles Cremorne
Nicholas Ball	...	Jack Snr.
Alexander Morton	...	David Reynolds
Barnaby Kay	...	Car Dealer
Gina McKee	...	Marion Nell
John Radcliffe	...	Barber
Sheila Whitfield	...	Manicurist
David Hamilton	...	Casino Supervisor
Carol Davis	...	Table Supervisor
Eddie Osei	...	West Indian Punter
Doremy Vernon	...	Woman I
Claudine Carter	...	Woman II
Ursula Alberts	...	Madame Claude
Neville Phillips	...	White Haired Man

Storyline

Jack Manfred is an aspiring writer going nowhere fast. To make ends meet, and against his better judgement, he takes a job as a croupier. He finds himself drawn into the casino world and the job gradually takes over his life; his relationship with girlfriend Marion begins to deteriorate. One gambler in particular catches his attention: Jani, whom he starts to see outside of working hours - a serious violation of casino rules. Jani is down on her luck; under pressure from her creditors she approaches Jack, asking him to be the inside man for a planned heist at the casino. Jack carefully considers the odds; it all looks so simple, but even a professional like Jack can't predict the cards he will be dealt.

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Plot Keywords:

casino | croupier | gambler | novel | writer | 

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Taglines:

The British Thriller That Took America By Storm

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Ireland UK France Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Croupier

Filming Locations:

Infostudios, Monheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£41,843 (United Kingdom), 29 June 2001, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$80,247, 23 April 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,198,916, 29 October 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte, Channel Four Films, La Sept-Arte

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul Mayersberg was inspired by Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress (1958).

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Goofs

When Jack has a job interview at the London casino his father recommends him for, the manager (Mr. Reynolds) at one stage asks him the current count at the Blackjack table. Jack insists it is -9, the manager insists it is -8 to which Jack confides smugly to himself "It had taken him 45 minutes but Jack now had Mr. Reynolds number. The man couldn't count." Neither Jack or Mr. Reynolds can count. The count is actually at +2.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jack: [self reflection] Now he had become the still center of that spinning wheel of misfortune. The world turned 'round him leaving him miraculously untouched. The croupier had reached his goal. He no longer heard the sound of the ball.

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Connections

Referenced in Orange Is the New Black: Low Self Esteem City (2014)

User Reviews

Owen delivers the goods in this nifty neo-noir flick

CROUPIER (2000) *** Clive Owen, Gina McKee, Alex Kingston, Kate Hardie, Nicholas Ball. British director Mike Hodges returns with his trademark hands-on film noir twisting with Owen – part Connery/part Gibson – as a contemptuous struggling novelist who takes a job as a casino croupier with much disdain for its clientele and the razor's edge trundling of enjoying the afterhours lifestyle while struggling to maintain his identity from his story's semi-autobiographical character. Smartly written by Paul Mayersberg with its pulp fiction heart and soul on display works well until its unfortunately false ending. Owen gives a silky smooth enhancing performance of a man at odds with his life and makes it all look effortless.