Croupier (1998)
 
Summary: Against his better judgement, Jack (Clive Owen), an unemployed writer, takes the job his estranged father recommends: he becomes a croupier.  He becomes more and more involved in casino life, stressing his relationship with his girlfriend Marion (Gina McKee).  A beautiful South African punter, Jani (Alex Kingston), becomes involved with Jack outside of the casino and convinces him to help her rip the place off. 
 
Quote from yours truly directly after the movie finished: “This movie’s PSYCHOTIC!”
 
That’s why I like to let movies settle before I write about them. 
 
In all honest, one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while.  It stars who I feel is one of Britain’s best leading men (and one of the sexiest), playing one of my favourite kinds of characters.  I’m not entirely certain why, but I love amoral fictional characters.  They’re never doing the right thing or the wrong thing – they just do whatever is best for them. 
 
And I know I’m not alone in my passion for the amoral character.  Given the incredible success of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl and the Oscar nod for Depp, I know that plenty of people enjoy the amoral.  Do you doubt that that is what Captain Jack Sparrow was? 
 
When I went to see the movie in the theatre, a friend who accompanied me kept asking me which side he was on.  I told the friend that he was on Jack Sparrow’s side.  Tell me I’m wrong. 
 
Owen does it with much more indifference here.  His every action and reaction is so cold and removed – it’s magnetic.  This is the role that gained Owen notoriety as an actor/leading man, and it’s no wonder.  He’s a very subtle actor, and he makes his roles compelling in a way that a lesser actor would simply drown in them. 
 
To be honest with you, I don’t get why people like McKee so much.  I don’t think she’s that good of an actress, and I don’t find her pale, long face attractive.  Maybe that’s just me, though. 
 
Kingston, on the other hand, is a sexual dynamo.  I never used to find her attractive until her character on er went to Hawaii, and she was suddenly in natural light and warm colours.  She’s stunning, I think.  Plus, she a pretty darn good actress. 
 
I’ve got to say, I think this is Mike Hodges’ (director) and Paul Mayersberg’s (writer) finest film.  To call it clever would be an understatement.  The movie is so ingeniously bleak. I don’t entirely understand the world of gaming/gambling, but it’s very interesting to watch.