A surprisingly passionate work on the lives of poker players who play cards with their heart and soul. Card games like these mean something to a person, they can make or break them.
Matt Damon and Edward norton turn in beautiful and charming performances inviting us to dive into their dark world, getting bruised along the way. These are not honest guys and they are not people to admire, making it all the more impressive that we both LIKE them and want to see them succeed...when we know they are morally wrong and making bad choices.
Rounders' atmosphere is created heavily in its excellent cinematography. This look is mostly achieved through high-key (heavy shadows and contrast) lighting with the movie feeling noir in every sense. The streets are dirty, the card games just as much so...these visual elements matter and they solidify both tone and genre from the titles on for us the audience.
All the characters here feel real - and the reason why is that they all have their own views on the world, experiences that shape their opinions and judgements on the choices the others characters make.
While it appears that KGB (John Malkovich) is the primary antagonist in the world of ROUNDERS, there is other outside forces or people who do not share the same VALUES as Mike (our lead, Matt Damon) and this creates further CONFLICT for our protagonist.
It is explained in the film (using a classic noir detective like voice over) what Mike's values are when playing cards, mostly that there is nothing wrong with separating a sucker from their money. In the street life that Mike has lived, this seems like a proper justification to play the game in anyway you can (even cheating) to win but he is attempting to reform, out of the game for a long time. Mike is also not unreasonable in his gambling. Mike is as studied and careful as he can be once he is "back in." Strategic planning is important, tells are to be studied, never acting on impulse or talent alone is his rule. His biggest failure is his greatest lesson and he plays with it in mind now. Mike plays cards a certain way...he lives and dies by codes and rules he puts on the game himself. In everyday life, Mike is a GOOD MAN who plays cards dirty.
To visit KGB again, everyone knows his business practice and you are killed if you break it. Money is to be paid in full and on time. KGB lives by a code too and he will always pay a man if he is beaten fair and square at cards, straight up. KGB is a killer and a criminal but card games have rules.
Mike's girlfriend Jo, a law-abiding law student, is absolutely opposed to Mike even playing cards AT ALL, seeing it as a gateway to criminal behavior and choices. Jo demands that everyone be on the same moral high ground as her, no mistakes allowed...or you are tainted or criminal even. Jo is a saint.
Worm (Edward Norton) is actually a criminal and in prison at the start of the picture for a scheme that Mike and him ran years earlier that he took the fall for. Worm is possibly the the lowest moral character in the film always lying, cheating and acting on impulse. No rules or codes stop him from doing what is best for him and him alone, leaving Mike to pick up the (actual) pieces. Worm is a scumbag.
This type of character conflict set-up reminds me of a recent concept I discovered called FOUR CORNER OPPOSITION (See John Truby's "The Anatomy of Story" and video in my NEXT POST using Batman Begins) where 3 major characters have values and beliefs that are in opposition with the main protagonist and create conflict that they must face and overcome in the story. First Jo, Worm and finally KGB with each one of them teaching Mike something along the way about himself and forcing him to make irreversible decisions in his life that drive the story forward.
ROUNDERS is a huge success in all elements of the film. The box office proves that thoughtful and engaging stories with well fleshed out characters can sometimes find wider audiences and bring them in to see subject matter they normally wouldn't be moved by.
BOX OFFICE FROM (Boxofficemojo.com)
BUDGET: 12 Million
