Spoilers
This movie is based on a true story that happened in Toronto in the early eighties, about a branch bank manager called Dan Mahowny who embezzled ten million dollars to pay for his gambling debts. For those of us who happened to be living in Toronto at that time, this movie offers something extra. What's more, watching this movie in a relatively small community cinema in Toronto feels almost like going to a party. You hear roars of laughter breaking out at unlikely place such as: `This guy makes twenty-two thousand dollars Canadian', or `We meant to treat you at Swiss Chalet'.
Philip Seymour Hoffman shines again, after The Talented Mr. Ripley and Red Dragon, in both of which played relatively minor supporting roles but left a great impression. Here, his delivers a mesmerizing portrayal of a compulsive gambler who would otherwise be a perfectly normal, caring man. His performance in the last gamble scene when he starts by beating Atlantic City but ends up losing his shirt (so what else is new?) is worth the price of the admission.
Minnie Driver (Goodwill Hunting, An Ideal Husband) plays a normal woman who makes a `normal assumption' that when her boyfriend takes her to Vegas to stay in a plush suite, it must be for the purpose of marrying her there. On her performance, maybe I can draw a culinary analogy: the most challenging thing sometimes is not making fancy dishes with unpronounceable names, but fixing up simple daily dishes like an omelet or a pancake and make it stand out. This is Driver playing Belinda, a very ordinary woman who happens to love her man, even when turns out that he is sentenced to six years in prison. Despite the ridiculous wig (which everybody mentioned), she manages to make something out of this role that offers little opportunities. This is why Driver is one of my most favorite actresses.
John Hurt's performance as the charismatic casino boss Victor Voss can only be described as classic. Before seeing this movie, I could not imagine him in such as role but after seeing it, I could not think of anyone else (including the great De Niro) who can do it better.
The film also pokes fun at manipulative bankers, famish casino operators, gullible bank auditors and over-cautious policemen. These, with other humorous touches, generate chuckles of mirth throughout.
One last thing: there's a comment in the dialogue to the effect that not long ago (counting back from the time of the story), you would need the bank's (your employer) permission to get married. That is no joke, but absolutely true. I once worked there.
This movie is based on a true story that happened in Toronto in the early eighties, about a branch bank manager called Dan Mahowny who embezzled ten million dollars to pay for his gambling debts. For those of us who happened to be living in Toronto at that time, this movie offers something extra. What's more, watching this movie in a relatively small community cinema in Toronto feels almost like going to a party. You hear roars of laughter breaking out at unlikely place such as: `This guy makes twenty-two thousand dollars Canadian', or `We meant to treat you at Swiss Chalet'.
Philip Seymour Hoffman shines again, after The Talented Mr. Ripley and Red Dragon, in both of which played relatively minor supporting roles but left a great impression. Here, his delivers a mesmerizing portrayal of a compulsive gambler who would otherwise be a perfectly normal, caring man. His performance in the last gamble scene when he starts by beating Atlantic City but ends up losing his shirt (so what else is new?) is worth the price of the admission.
Minnie Driver (Goodwill Hunting, An Ideal Husband) plays a normal woman who makes a `normal assumption' that when her boyfriend takes her to Vegas to stay in a plush suite, it must be for the purpose of marrying her there. On her performance, maybe I can draw a culinary analogy: the most challenging thing sometimes is not making fancy dishes with unpronounceable names, but fixing up simple daily dishes like an omelet or a pancake and make it stand out. This is Driver playing Belinda, a very ordinary woman who happens to love her man, even when turns out that he is sentenced to six years in prison. Despite the ridiculous wig (which everybody mentioned), she manages to make something out of this role that offers little opportunities. This is why Driver is one of my most favorite actresses.
John Hurt's performance as the charismatic casino boss Victor Voss can only be described as classic. Before seeing this movie, I could not imagine him in such as role but after seeing it, I could not think of anyone else (including the great De Niro) who can do it better.
The film also pokes fun at manipulative bankers, famish casino operators, gullible bank auditors and over-cautious policemen. These, with other humorous touches, generate chuckles of mirth throughout.
One last thing: there's a comment in the dialogue to the effect that not long ago (counting back from the time of the story), you would need the bank's (your employer) permission to get married. That is no joke, but absolutely true. I once worked there.