The Gambler
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2014
5.5
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 112 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
37
Mixed:
48
Negative:
27
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User scoreBy dateMost helpful
4
duncan1964Jun 29, 2015
An English teacher leads a double life as a gambler. When he owes big, he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral, immersing himself in an illicit underground world that could cost him his life. Wahlberg never convincesAn English teacher leads a double life as a gambler. When he owes big, he borrows from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral, immersing himself in an illicit underground world that could cost him his life. Wahlberg never convinces as an English teacher and the film never seems to gain enough momentum to warrant the viewers interest. Dialogue heavy, and with an inflated sense of its own self importance, its a hard slog to get to an unsatisfying conclusion… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
beingryanjudeJan 22, 2015
Even a worthy performance from Mark Wahlberg doesn't help us care about Jim Bennett and his poor decisions. Sure, gambling is an addiction. We as humans often sympathize with addiction - but that is lost somewhere along the way here. Still,Even a worthy performance from Mark Wahlberg doesn't help us care about Jim Bennett and his poor decisions. Sure, gambling is an addiction. We as humans often sympathize with addiction - but that is lost somewhere along the way here. Still, there is no doubt that Jessica Lange and Brie Larson are at the top of their game.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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4
BshopJan 16, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This one should have stayed as an original, no need for a remake. In reality though this is the formula for Hollywood these days, recycle and reuse with new actors, same story.
Not much depth here, Mark Wahlberg plays a professor who has a gambling problem and gets in deep. He begs a few different characters to bail him out and end the end, sets himself free (as well as his student girlfriend - played by Brie Larson).
In summary, wait for rental or VOD. Not worth it at all. The only saving grace here was Wahlberg pretending to be a professor (mildly funny) and a bad gambler (believable).… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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4
MovieGuysDec 28, 2014
The Gambler is one depressing, worthless movie. It takes the original 70's James Caan version and spits it out like wood from a wood chipper. mark Wahlberg talked about how this was the "role of his life" and he actually lost 61 pounds forThe Gambler is one depressing, worthless movie. It takes the original 70's James Caan version and spits it out like wood from a wood chipper. mark Wahlberg talked about how this was the "role of his life" and he actually lost 61 pounds for it. Now I don't' know what Marky Mark saw in this movie, but I can tell you that there are no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Any message trying to poke through in this movie is squandered by bad screenplay, a clumsy script, and a depressing atmosphere. Some people hate these types of movies, but here's the thing: I usually don't. When they're this bad though, I don't see how anyone could find anything wholesome about them.

Here's how the movie goes (no spoilers, but no one should see it anyway): lit professor Jim Bennett (played by Wahlberg) takes out gambling loans from people you don't want to screw with, blows it all in one night, can't pay it back, and gets beat up for it. The thing is, he is suicidal and doesn't even care if he lives or dies. This happens over and over again, without variation. The only reason at all that I'm giving this movie a 4/10 instead of a 0 is because of the performances, with were the reason I sat through it until the end in the first place. Marky Mark plays his usual "guy angry at something all the time" role, and John Goodman stoically sits on a pool bench with fat hanging off of him like President Taft in a bathtub, threatening to kill Mark if he doesn't pay back his money. What an original character he is, ain't he?… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
tvnewsguidoDec 26, 2014
Understated and kinda nice.

The Gambler isn't so much about a guy addicted to gambling as it is about a guy who's allergic to his life. See this one for the performances (they're great especially John Goodman) not the story - it just leftUnderstated and kinda nice.

The Gambler isn't so much about a guy addicted to gambling as it is about a guy who's allergic to his life. See this one for the performances (they're great especially John Goodman) not the story - it just left me feeling hollow.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
Trev29Jul 17, 2015
Mark Wahlberg was good, even though his character was rambling most of the time. In fact, the entire movie seemed to be rambling about nonsense most of the time. However, there was tension and it did have some entertaining scenes.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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4
OzyJan 19, 2016
Put together well and solid. Contrary to the view of many others, I actually thought Wahlberg acted well. Not the biggest worst crap I've ever seen. However, one does not simply copy 'Rounders'.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
smiyamotAug 13, 2016
I think I liked the James Caan version from way back. While this one had some different plot lines, the answer to why he is the way he is, is not addressed. While I like Mark Wahlberg in action movies (Planet of the Apes, Italian Job, etc)I think I liked the James Caan version from way back. While this one had some different plot lines, the answer to why he is the way he is, is not addressed. While I like Mark Wahlberg in action movies (Planet of the Apes, Italian Job, etc) in a dramatic role (more talking) he seems out of his element. The worst part is the Hollywood ending.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
googolendtimesJan 26, 2015
"The Gambler" is passable, but it's forgettable and there's a huge waste of potential that detracts from the film. Director Rupert Wyatt ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes") and writer William Monahan ("The Departed") ought to have delivered"The Gambler" is passable, but it's forgettable and there's a huge waste of potential that detracts from the film. Director Rupert Wyatt ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes") and writer William Monahan ("The Departed") ought to have delivered something with a lot more substance than this. It's relatively entertaining don't get me wrong (John Goodman's comic timing is impeccable) but unless you're a Mark Wahlberg fan I'd give this one a miss.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
Epik_NinnjaMay 23, 2015
The Gambler is about a college professor who is addicted to gambling and just doesn't give a [expletive]. It's amazing how many times he is provided a way out of his debt but he decides to make things worse for himself instead. It's wellThe Gambler is about a college professor who is addicted to gambling and just doesn't give a [expletive]. It's amazing how many times he is provided a way out of his debt but he decides to make things worse for himself instead. It's well acted but the story just wasn't the most interesting. It's far from a must-see but I enjoyed it overall (a 5.7 user score sounds precisely accurate to the movie's quality).… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
delo4realSep 12, 2015
A better movie would have been about Stuey Ungar. This movie was boring, and left me feeling like ok. Stuey Ungar had a much more interesting story that was similar to this, but much more exciting.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
laboured_atlasFeb 7, 2016
I enjoyed the Gambler for what it was, a competent film with a few flaws. The lead played by Mark Wahlberg is hard to sympathise with as he goes far beyond the pale with regards to his gambling problem, but worse than that spends a goodI enjoyed the Gambler for what it was, a competent film with a few flaws. The lead played by Mark Wahlberg is hard to sympathise with as he goes far beyond the pale with regards to his gambling problem, but worse than that spends a good portion of the film spouting pseudo-philosophical drivel.

I'm giving the film a six because there were genuine moments of tension and the final ten minutes were fantastic… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021
This is a crime drama film with themes including hope, desperation, greed and risk. Its one of those films whereby the main character isn't very likeable from the start but there is more than meets the eye. I found this film to be a slowThis is a crime drama film with themes including hope, desperation, greed and risk. Its one of those films whereby the main character isn't very likeable from the start but there is more than meets the eye. I found this film to be a slow watch - the plot is quite slow in terms of pace and build up generally. I felt that, while the film is called what it is and features gambling quite heavily, its not, ultimately, about gambling but moreso about hope - more specifically losing hope. The main character, Jim, comes across as clearly quite apathetic, feeling like he'll be permanently stuck in a rut. He does seem someone who at first isn't greatly bothered about what might come to him but I don't think thats necessarily entirely true. There is a definite numbness about his character, so I felt anyway. He seems a bit of a mysterious enigma type character, with very little in terms of character development or, more specifically, his background, shared with the viewer in the first hour or so. I didn't feel that this was a greatly immersive, stylish film which really intrigued or fascinated me but it was ok. I gather its received a lot of negative reviews and I can certainly understand that but I think that its a film which isn't entirely about what it seems to be about, as I say its more a tale of apathy and also of consequences, it just so happens that its in relation to gambling debts. I imagine that many people nowadays can relate to the situation that Jim finds himself in, having had to turn to any and everyone for financial help to pay loans and feeling like he has no control over what will happen. I think if you can relate to his circumstances, rather than all the details involved, then you may find this a poignant watch. There is a certain element of morality in it, its perhaps an adult urban warning story of sorts, not for young kids due to the strong language (more on that later).

It is regarded as a thriller film but I'm not sure I'd classify it as a thriller as such, in as much as there is little in the way of fast paced action type scenes - no big explosions or the like. Its much more dialogue based, although I didn't think the dialogue was particularly sharp witted. There is a lot of swearing present, I guess to add to the gritty urban feel, although it did make it seem a bit lazy to me.

Cast wise, Mark Wahlberg plays the main character, Jim Bennett. As I've said, he isn't particularly likeable, certainly at first, although I don't think the film was unwatchable because of it. Its a bit difficult to explain how, or why, the film works but in one sense I think it does. Anyway, Wahlberg does alright at playing a jaded, often low key adult, who comes in to his own in certain circumstances but who is shown to be clearly out of his depth, regardless of numerous things. Aspects of his character probably appeals to some people but I wouldn't say thats a good thing(!) - think smugness and the like. I wouldn't say this Wahlbergs best performance by any means but there are probably worse people out there for such roles, I suppose - he portrays the down and out desperate guy not too bad, although you could argue if its a good thing or not. Meanwhile, Brie Larson plays Jims love interest, a student called Amy Phillips. Again, she does ok but isn't especially great as such. Other cast members include Jessica Lange as Roberta and Michael Kenneth Williams as Neville, plus John Goodman as a gangster called Frank. The music wasn't particularly distracting, although it was perhaps mildly cheesy on ocassion. It didn't strike me as overbearing though - mind you, if you don't like music with a strong bassline then some scenes may be off putting. It features some good use of incidental music in key tense moments, to obviously add to the atmosphere at that time.

Content wise, there is a lot of quite strong language present throughout, as previously mentioned. It also contains some moderate violence, including bloody violence, with injuries shown on the relevant character. There are a few scenes whereby there's a sense of tension, with arguments and the like taking place. The film carries a 15 rating to reflect this.

I wouldn't say this is a stylish film in the way that the Oceans films are but the camerawork used, with shots shown from inventive angles (far corners or from the floor up and the like) plus the low lighting and so on did help add to the tension and made it, I felt, a bit more interesting and watchable somehow.

This isn't really a greatly memorable film as such but it is alright. The story is hardly original I suppose but I did feel like it had a wider message than the obvious one hinted by the title and I thought that for those who can relate to the main themes, they may quite appreciate it. Enjoy it wouldn't seem like the right kind of wording but appreciate does.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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