For professional poker players, Runner Runner (released on September 2013) seemed, at first glance, a film with a lot of potential. The Justin Timberlake starrer deals with another aspect of poker that isn’t widely covered by mainstream media- that of the online kind.
When MBA student Richie Furst (played by Timberlake) is refused financial assistance by Princeton, he tries to fund his studies by competing in an online poker site. But his luck soon runs out- he loses all his tuition money, and soon enough, he finds himself caught in the shady underbelly of the online underground gambling scene.
The plot offers opportunities for lots of action and poker thrills, but unfortunately, everything feels flat and one-dimensional. Poker jargon is thrown about randomly without much explanation, and the actors give unconvincing performances.
As a poker player, you do not only play the game, you live and breathe it. And this is what makes a good poker film- realism. A great movie about poker can show action, suspense, and comedy even when it’s just a bunch of guys on a table playing cards together.
To deal with the disappointment that is Runner, Runner, here are some of the film industry’s greatest movies about poker that are worth your time:
1. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Practically the granddaddy of all poker films, the Cincinnati Kid tells the story of an up-and-coming poker player Eric Stone “the Kid” (played by Steve Mcqueen) as he makes his way up the big leagues. Though the final hand in the movie might be an improbable one in real games, the drama is still one to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
2. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003)
Stu Ungar is considered to be one of the best players of poker and gin rummy in the world. The only player who managed to win the WSOP (World Series of Poker) tournament three times, Ungar was basically a legend. This biopic gives viewers a brief look into one of the most prominent poker geniuses of our time, from the start of his gambling career, and to his eventual death in 1998.
3. Rounders (1998)
If you want real poker, watch Rounders. This cult film is basically what set off the Texas Hold’em craze in the first place. Buddies Mike Dermott and Worm Murphy (playd by Matt Damon and Edward Norton respectively) will try to pay off their debts by wagering their money at high stakes poker games around New York City. The film really did a great job at portraying poker culture, and variations of the names “Mike McD” and “Teddy KGB” have already become commonplace on online poker sites.
4. Maverick (1994)
The exaggerated hands and situational comedy in this film might be too much for some, but it cannot be denied that this Mel Gibson starrer is a crowd-pleaser. The plot, which revolves around the adventures of con-artist Bret Maverick (Gibson) who is trying to raise entrance fee money for a poker tournament, is not that deep and complicated, but it has its own quaint charm that is sure to please film buffs and poker players alike.