While gambling and casinos have been around for centuries, they’ve only recently become a popular source of entertainment in movies. Notably, there has also been a rise of bookmakers with platforms like SOFT2BET accessible via https://www.soft2bet.com/solutions-for-online-gambling offering software for betting and a plethora of games for online casinos. Sticking on to movies, here are the top 4 gambling-themed movies that are sure to get your heart racing.
“The Gambler” starring James Caan
The Gambler is a 1974 American crime drama directed by Karel Reisz and starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Burt Young, Morris Carnovsky, and John Houseman. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Caan stars as Alex Freed, a literature professor with a gambling addiction that leads him into debt and causes him to borrow money from his mother (Carnovsky) and a loan shark (Sorvino). When his mother dies, and he is unable to repay his debts, he is forced to turn to crime to make ends meet.
The Gambler was generally well-received by critics. Caan’s performance, in particular, was praised, with many calling it one of his best.
“Casino” starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci
Casino is a 1995 American crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. The film is based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Scorsese.
The film chronicles the rise and fall of casino boss Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro) and his friend and partner Nicky Santoro (Pesci). The story is set in 1970s Las Vegas and details Ace’s operation of the fictional Tangiers Casino while skimming money off the top to fund his own pocket to fund his software for betting. Things begin to unravel for Ace when his volatile temper causes him to make some questionable decisions that put him at odds with the casino’s owners, the mafia, and Nicky.
“The Cincinnati Kid” starring Steve McQueen
The Cincinnati Kid is a 1965 American drama film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Steve McQueen as “The Cincinnati Kid”, a young grifter who finds himself pitted against the legendary card shark “The Man” in a high-stakes poker game similar to contemporary poker games software for betting.
The film also features an all-star cast, including Edward G. Robinson, Ann-Margret, Rip Torn, Karl Malden, and Tuesday Weld. The Cincinnati Kid was released to critical acclaim and was a box-office success.
“The Cooler” starring William H. Macy detailed review
William H. Macy stars as Bernie Lootz, the unluckiest man in Vegas – a guy whose bad luck is contagious, causing those around him to have terrible luck despite having a betting software. He works at the Shangri-La Casino, cooling off hot streaks, and his boss Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), makes sure that Bernie doesn’t cool off any winning streaks too much.
One day, Bernie meets Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello), a cocktail waitress who seems to be immune to his unlucky charms. And despite his better judgment, he allows himself to get drawn in by her. But the closer he gets to her, the more his own bad luck starts to affect her.
The Cooler is an exciting movie with a great cast. William H. Macy gives an excellent performance as Bernie Lootz, and Maria Bello is also very good as Natalie Belisario. The supporting cast is also amazing, including Alec Baldwin as Shelly Kaplow and Ron Livingston as Larry Sokolov.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a gambling movie to watch, any of these four should suffice.
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