5 Gambling Movies For The Books
5 Gambling Movies for the Books
The gambling movie sub-genre has reached its peak back when Godfather ruled the film scene. Although very closely related to mafia movies, the ones that depict gambling aim to explore the limits of this type of addictive behavior, its consequences, but its thrilling benefits as well. In this article, we would like to tell you about 5 excellent movies about some of the biggest gambling games out there.
1. The Lottery Movie – “It Could Happen to You”
We’re going to start off our list with the lottery, which is a thrilling way to earn a fortune. All you have to do is guess the lucky numbers and your life will never be the same again. This is what Charlie and Yvonne find out in “It Could Happen to You”, which is one of the very few films that truly captures how it actually feels like to win the lottery. While many play it, few actually expect to win, and Charlie Lang was not one them. But he does win the lottery, and life does change for him and for those around him, especially Yvonne, a waitress whom Charlie promised half of his lottery winnings. We’re going to tell you that he delivered and we’re going to let you find out how this amazing story unravels.
2. The Casino Movie – “Casino”
If “It Could Happen to You” is a lottery fairytale, then this Martin Scorsese classic is the ultimate casino tale. Never has the glitzy gambling paradise of Las Vegas looked better than it does in
“Casino”, which truly makes this film one for the books. Watch Sam “Ace” Rothstein grow from his low-level mobster days to one of the most influent figures in the Las Vegas casino scene of the 1970’s. His thrilling journey will keep you rooting for Ace as he faces the inevitable troubles that come with this ruthless world that he is now part of for the rest of his life. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, and James Woods create an acting masterclass truly worthy of remembrance, which makes this a film you simply cannot miss.
3. The Sports Betting Movie – “Two for the Money”
Al Pacino is by far the most notable actor for the mafia film genre. After The 
Godfather series, Scarface, and many other mafia films, it is quite difficult to picture him as anything else than the ultimate mafia leader. But “Two for the Money” depicts Pacino as the head of the sports consulting operation, who takes a former athlete played by Mathew McConaughey under his wing. By combining extensive sporting experience with sheer gambling genius, the two make an iron team that will shape the future of sports betting. Watch this underrated sports thriller to find out just to what lengths people would go to thrive in the extensive underground world of sports betting.
4. The Card Game Movie – “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels”
“Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” is more than 
just a film, it is an experience, because its tremendous pace will make you forget to breathe from time to time. There is no dull scene in this
Guy Ritchie classic and it is, in fact, the film that made Mr. Ritchie the superstar that he is today. It all starts with a London card game gone horribly wrong that triggers an entire series of unfortunate events involving British thugs, gangsters, debt collectors, pot dealers, and many other enchanting characters. So, watch this one if you dare, but be warned that you will never forget it!
5. The Russian Roulette Movie – “13 Tzameti”
The last film on our list is one about extreme gambling. The central element to the plot of “13 Tzameti” is a secret game of Russian roulette. This French noir film is a chilling combination between Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut” and Aronofsky’s “Pi” because it features a troubled and lonesome main character who is struggling with complex emotional issues, such as Pi’s Maximillian Cohen, who gets pulled into a secret society with a disturbing Kubrickian charm. 2010 saw a Hollywood remake of the French version, also written and directed by Gela Babulani, but the charm of the original was lost as the film was presented in full-color and with a star-studded cast.
These 5 excellent gambling movies will make you see the games as you never have before. From dreamy lotteries to hardcore casinos, extreme sports betting, rigged card games in the British underworld, and all the way to a chilling game of Russian roulette, these movies will make you skip a beat.
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