Four Movies with a Realistic Depiction of Gambling
Gambling is often glorified in pop culture and you can find a lot of movies and books that make it look much better than it is. However, there are others that explore a more accurate view of this phenomenon that has broken so many lives.
Here are four movies with the most realistic depiction of gambling.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story
There’s hardly a person who could serve as a better example of what gambling is all about than the legendary Stu Ungar. He is the only person to win the World Series of Poker Main Event three times. Many believe that Ungar is the most talented poker player in the history of the game.
He earned millions during his career and beat the best in the world. However, Kid Poker’s story has a dark side too. The icon dived into the world of drugs and booze, completely losing control over his life. He hit rock bottom in the 1990s and died at the age of 47.
Ungar’s success and demise are both well-represented in this movie that is based on his colorful life. The ugly details are part of the “High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story” and they clearly show that gambling can ruin you.
Casino
The emblematic Martin Scorsese movie “Casino” is another one that deserves a mention. It is loosely based on a true story and you will be surprised how many of the details in the production actually happened in real life.
If you want to learn who and how built Las Vegas, you should definitely watch “Casino”. The beautiful façade of Sin City hides a lot of bodies and dirty secrets.
The cast of the movie and Scorsese’s direction are something else. You will certainly enjoy this fascinating story about Las Vegas’ origin.
Molly’s Game
The majority of poker games are played online these days, but there are still many live games happening in the USA. Some of them are between friends, while others are illegal high-stakes events.
If you are interested to know more about the latter, “Molly’s Game” will teach you. The movie follows the story of Molly Bloom.
The former Olympic hope dives into the world of high-stakes poker after an unfortunate injury. She gets involved with the mob and the FBI is on her tail. Add some cruel men with gambling addictions and the picture becomes really messy.
While the movie is fun and lighthearted in general, there are plenty of realistic depictions of people who ruin their lives through illegal poker games. It gives food for thought to anyone who is considering such a lifestyle.
Rounders
“Rounders” is certainly one of the most popular gambling-related movies of all time. It features Matt Damon and Edward Norton as two close friends who are involved in the world of poker.
While the movie does romanticize the whole experience to an extent, Norton’s character serves as a reality check throughout the whole story. He’s a hopeless addict who would sell his mother for a couple of bucks and a cheater.
Some might think his on-screen character goes too far but the world of gambling is actually full of people like that and this is the reason “Rounders” is on this list.
