The Gambler (2014)

Literature professor and gambler Jim Bennett's debt causes him to borrow money from his mother and a loan shark. Further complicating his situation, is his relationship with one of his students. Will Bennett risk his life for a second chance?

Director:

Rupert Wyatt

Writers:

William Monahan (screenplay), James Toback

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, John Goodman

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Wahlberg	...	Jim Bennett
George Kennedy	...	Ed
Griffin Cleveland	...	Young Jim
Jessica Lange	...	Roberta
Omar Leyva	...	Valet
Steve Park	...	Number 2 (as Stephen Park)
Brie Larson	...	Amy Phillips
Chil Kong	...	Blackjack Dealer #1
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Neville Baraka
Da'Vone McDonald	...	Neville's Muscle
Amin Joseph	...	Neville's Bookkeeper
Cjon Saulsberry	...	Neville's Posse
Teebone Mitchell	...	Neville's Posse
Jasmond Carroll	...	Neville's Posse
Ria Wilkinson	...	Neville's Posse

Storyline

Jim Bennett is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank, a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett's future. As his relationship with a student deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance.

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Plot Keywords:

gambler | gambling | younger version of character | risk | professor | 

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Taglines:

The Only way out is All in.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, and for some sexuality/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los Altos

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,300,000, 26 December 2014, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$33,631,221, 8 February 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Winkler Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mark Wahlberg was determined to nail the role of a literature professor, so much so, that he sat in on many college courses around different colleges in California and analyzed many professors and their mannerisms so that he could achieve the most believable performance.

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Goofs

At around 30 mins) When Jim Bennett is waiting for Big Ernie to pick him up, the crew is reflected in the side of a large black SUV which drives through the frame from left to right.

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Quotes

[to his college students]
Jim Bennett: If you take away nothing else from my class, desiring a thing cannot make you have it.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening titles, as the classic Paramount logo appears onscreen, we hear the sound of a roulette as the stars are aligning over the Paramount mountain.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Bryan Cranston/Brie Larson/Kevin Delaney (2014)

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Soundtracks

Rust
Written by Hari Krishna Balachandran
Performed by Young Hunting
Courtesy of Angry Mob Music LLC

User Reviews

Complicated

The Gambler was a difficult film to rate. It was a movie that not everyone is going to like because not everyone is going to relate to Mark Wahlberg's character. It was a hard movie to understand. After seeing this movie you will either love it or hate it. There is really no in between. You really had to connect with the main character and his personality, and that's not possible for everyone. I really enjoyed the film because i really connected with it, but that is not going to be the case for everyone. I would highly recommend seeing it just to take the chance of loving it. Just like the gambling theme of the movie, seeing the movie will be a gamble for you.