Owning Mahowny

Name: Owning Mahowny
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 2, 2003
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 70
Cast: John Hurt, Minnie Driver, Philip Seymour Hoffman

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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7.1

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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Owning Mahowny

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: May 2, 2003 | R

Starring: John Hurt, Minnie Driver, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Summary: Polite, mild-mannered Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) is an assistant bank manager with a head for numbers, a knack for making decisions, and a devastating appetite for gambling. Dan Mahowny is the unlikely hero who takes on two of the financial institutions everyone loves to hate, the bank and the casino, and, for a brief while, he wins. (SonyPolite, mild-mannered Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) is an assistant bank manager with a head for numbers, a knack for making decisions, and a devastating appetite for gambling. Dan Mahowny is the unlikely hero who takes on two of the financial institutions everyone loves to hate, the bank and the casino, and, for a brief while, he wins. (Sony Pictures Classics)… Expand

Director: Richard Kwietniowski

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

There have been many good movies about gambling, but never one that so single-mindedly shows the gambler at his task. Read full review

John Bentley Mays

Unusual, as such movies go, in its disregard for busy theatricality. Read full review

J.R. Jones

Kwietniowski follows up his impressive debut feature, "Love and Death on Long Island," with this equally absorbing study of a compulsive personality. Read full review

Robert K. Elder

Kwietniowski turns up the tension so incrementally, we don't realize the scope of Mahowny's moral wreck until it is too late. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Hoffman has his specialty, though, and it’s not inappropriate here: He always looks supersmart and yet his reactions to what goes on around him are superslow. Read full review

Jack Mathews

Hoffman is a fine actor in a rut, working on a string of socially alienated characters who are variations on the same theme. That's too bad, because the story being told around his static presence is amazing. Read full review

David Rooney

Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Hurt give compelling performances... But the coldly unrewarding drama is as distant and joyless as its protagonist, representing a disappointment for director Richard Kwietniowski. Read full review

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User Reviews

txrangersfan72

May 4, 2012

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Minnie Driver give painfully depressing, but outstanding, performances in this gritty film based on a true story of a banking executive, responsible and reliable in every way...except for a debilitating gambling problem. Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) uses his clout andPhilip Seymour Hoffman and Minnie Driver give painfully depressing, but outstanding, performances in this gritty film based on a true story of a banking executive, responsible and reliable in every way...except for a debilitating gambling problem. Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) uses his clout and trust to manipulate the system to keep his addiction going. The movie is hard to watch as the situations are very tense. The performances and direction are superb, though, engaging the viewer in the first few minutes of the opening scene.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JoanC.

Feb 25, 2007

I thought this was a thought provoking insight into the world of a gambling addict. Excellent acting by Hoffmann. Is Mahowny good or bad? Does he have an illness(addiction) or is he just greedy? Does he have a conscience? You tell me. A truly great movie. I was 'hooked' from I thought this was a thought provoking insight into the world of a gambling addict. Excellent acting by Hoffmann. Is Mahowny good or bad? Does he have an illness(addiction) or is he just greedy? Does he have a conscience? You tell me. A truly great movie. I was 'hooked' from beginning to end, but then again, I DO have an addictive personality.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Nesbitt10

Dec 12, 2012

What transcends and carries this true story of the largest bank fraud case in Canadian history is the phenomenal central performance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) is a bank manager with a serious gambling problem. With his position, he has access to a multi-million dollarWhat transcends and carries this true story of the largest bank fraud case in Canadian history is the phenomenal central performance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) is a bank manager with a serious gambling problem. With his position, he has access to a multi-million dollar account witch ultimately leads to him gambling $10 million dollars in a span of 18 months. The main focus of the screenplay is Mahowny's obsession and compulsion and it's devastating effects professionally and personally. It's Hoffman's ability to reveal to us that beneath his all consuming addiction lies a descent, desperate soul.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Jan 27, 2021

An underrated movie on the downward spiral of addictions that go unchecked.
While not a flashy movie, Seymour Hoffman's performance makes this quite compelling.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Dec 27, 2014

This film is a success for one major reason and that is Philip Seymour Hoffman. It is no shocker he turned in a great performance here, considering he always did so in his career, but he truly carried this film. The plot is interesting, yes, and the other actors here, such as Minnie DriverThis film is a success for one major reason and that is Philip Seymour Hoffman. It is no shocker he turned in a great performance here, considering he always did so in his career, but he truly carried this film. The plot is interesting, yes, and the other actors here, such as Minnie Driver and John Hurt, are also strong, but boy oh boy does Hoffman ever stand tall. Luckily, the storyline is also very captivating and hooks you right in as you realize what Mahowny has been doing and how deep he is in the hole that makes him do what he does. The struggles facing this man are perfectly portrayed by Hoffman and the struggles facing his girlfriend are brilliantly and beautifully portrayed by Driver, who is a close second to Hoffman here in terms of performance. Overall, Owning Mahowny paints a sympathetic and understanding picture of a man of a man who embezzled more than $10 million and is a success thanks to the acting and solid story.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Scraper

Jul 10, 2018

Hoffman is no doubt one of the finest actors of our generation and Owning Mahowny is no different. This is about as close to the manic/depressive sweat to problem gambling as a movie can get. I just don't often return to stories that bleed out slow and sure until the inevitable corpse isHoffman is no doubt one of the finest actors of our generation and Owning Mahowny is no different. This is about as close to the manic/depressive sweat to problem gambling as a movie can get. I just don't often return to stories that bleed out slow and sure until the inevitable corpse is shown just before the credits roll.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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