Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. hhnam 11.19.14 / 9am

   This is a great review and you gave a helpful synopses on the movie. I have never heard of this movie until now, so I watched the trailer, and it seems very interesting. I like intense action movies that are not predictable and have an interesting plot. This film seems to have a very engaging plot, but it is always frustrating when the characters don’t do what you want them to do. I know people who have gambling addictions and it is just a long dark path that ends at rock bottom. I like Mark Wahlberg and think that he is a good actor, but I can’t help but always picture him with his giant teddy bear from TED.
2. Gorkem Erdogan 11.19.14 / 6pm

   I’ve seen this movie at the festival and I was expecting much much better movie than this. I’m totally disappointed. Mark Wahlberg’s and Jessica Lange’s performances were great for sure but the story was just not that interesting.
3. Phill Hunziker 12.01.14 / 11pm

   I enjoyed the review and was very helpful in my decision whether to actually see the film or not. I’m always cautious about wasting money on remakes as they tend to either ruin the original or provide nothing new or better, most recently Robocop and Carrie.
   I am probably going to see this due to your description of the plot as I very much enjoy and take alot away from films about addicts of any kind. So thank you!
4. Lily Pollorena 01.30.15 / 8pm

   I have yet to see this movie and was kind of skeptical on whether to do so since I am not the biggest Mark Wahlberg fan out there. But the movie looks quite interesting and I love Jessica Lange from “American Horror Story” so if I am ever to see this movie it is because of her so I hope she is in it for a substantial amount of time at least. I had no idea this movie was a remake so who knows how this one will do but I feel like I have to at least see the original before Mark Wahlberg takes a swing at things on this round.

   So far this movie does not look or seem very action packed at all (I watched the trailer) so I hope there is a good plot line to follow and keep me interested the whole time. Great synopsis by the way, it helped me decide whether to take a shot on the movie or not.
5. Derek Martinez 02.02.15 / 1pm

   Hello and thank you for your thoughts! You have certainly given me a good idea of what to expect when I get around to watching this movie, as I do almost all Mark Wahlberg movies eventually. From what I read here, “The Gambler” seems to share a good deal in common with a couple of other gambling movies I’ve seen; “Rounders”, an earlier film of Matt Damon’s, and “21” with Michael Keaton. I enjoyed each of those two films very much and I might recommend seeing either of them as I look forward to seeing The Gambler. Thanks again!
6. Logan Kovarick 02.13.15 / 3pm

   Great review with a lot of good information! I agree with you that there was something missing! Had the pieces in place to execute a good film but missed a few things.
7. gonzalo_jimenez 03.11.15 / 9am

   Great review, commentary and analysis of this movie. You gave a great introduction and summary of the movie for those who have and haven´t watched this movie. I watched this movie two weeks ago and I had kind of the same reaction you had with the main character. At first, I was on his side and I would encourage whatever he did, but after repeating his mistakes over and over again, my sympathy for him disappeared.Therefore, I just wanted Jim to realize his problem, admit it and learn from his experience with gambling. In addition, I believe the movie is very helpful for many people out there not living or enjoying their lives right.
8. Kelsey Ann McCahon 03.13.15 / 4pm

   Excellent review. I have not seen The Gambler yet, but I have been wanting to see it for some time now. I really enjoyed hearing your opinion of the film and getting a brief but informative synopsis of the film. I am a big fan of Mark Wahlberg’s work, as well as Jessica Lange for American Horror story is one of my favorite show on TV, because of her superb acting. I agree it is hard to feel sympathy for the character when they keep making the same mistakes, and it is amazing how a film can get you so engaged with the characters to be rooting for or against them. I appreciated your comment on the metaphoric scene of Mark running as if he was “running away from his problems,” it sure sounds like a beautiful sequence and excellent film work.
9. Spenser Sayre 03.13.15 / 6pm

   Jim Bennett being the gambler that he is, makes it hard to feel sympathy. The answer to his debt is always to gamble even more, nearly costing him his life at multiple points. I did however enjoy how his relationship with Amy even though his harsh criticism toward her career path is atypical to any college or higher education classroom. Bennett gambles by intuition, not seeming to have a hard formula for his tactics on any table game. When he lost on the spin of roulette when he was on his way out was excessive yet crushing. Wahlberg captivated his role but I hoped there was more for his character to develop.
10. tarahays 03.25.15 / 10pm

    I think this review is very spot on with this movie. I saw this movie and wasn’t very impressed. I think that if anyone is considering watching this movie, the should check out this review to make sure they want to watch it and not waste disappointment!
11. Rachel Donovan 06.06.15 / 8pm

    I have yet to see this film but I am still very interested despite the idea that the plot line is very dry. Jessica Lange as an actress seems to always be a crowd favorite along with Mark Wahlberg so I am very curious to see the interactions between the two of them and to see if they are able to at all entertain the audience to distract them from the apparent lack of interesting plot line. I enjoyed your review on “The Gambler” and how you were able to inform your readers about your thoughts on how the film went without giving too many details away.
12. Amanda Carlson 06.08.15 / 12pm

    I love Mark Wahlberg films but I left this film with the same feeling that you had. I couldn’t find it in me to care about the character after he kept digging himself deeper and deeper into the hole. It did not seem like he wanted to change and that was disappointing for me because I wanted to care about him. The problem with that, it that the character was played perfectly. That is exactly how addicts are. My father was the same way and he did not want to change or be helped. That said, I thought that cinematography was brilliant and I also agree, the running scene was very emotional and beautiful.
13. Brian Livesay 07.18.15 / 1pm

    This film is on my watch list. I enjoy card games like blackjack and poker, and I really enjoyed the movie Rounders. I was hoping this would be an entertaining card gambling film in the spirit of Rounders but your review indicates that the filmmakers went in a completely different direction. The idea of one of his intelligent female students, Amy (Brie Larson) helping him overcome his behavioral problems sounds like an interesting addition to the film. I will have to keep an eye out for the running scene when I am able to finally watch it.

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