6.5/10

The stakes are high for a man with a gambling addiction who doesn’t know when to quit in this remake of the 1974 original starring James Caan. Mark Wahlberg stars as Jim Bennett, a college english professor by day, and a high stakes gambler by night. Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and gets in over his head. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing  himself in a gritty, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance. I found a lot of things charming about “The Gambler”, even if it doesn’t hold the charms or powerful message of the film’s original. This movie has a lot of great pieces that keep it from falling completely apart from a dull lead character who is clearly phoning it in. I am usually a fan of Wahlberg, but there is something about this role that never feels his. Bennett is clearly a suicidal individual who doesn’t care about who he hurts or how much damage he does on the way out. We are shown glimpses of his past, but never shown his backstory. Essentially, this stranger is presented as a loser the whole film, and it’s always hard to have hope for such a character. His moral compass is dropped on more than one occasion even outside of the casino’s. The supporting cast is some of the best i have seen all year. Lange is great, but her storyline is literally dropped during the second half of the film. With no explanation or no additional scenes, the audience is left to fill in the blanks for itself as to what happened with her and her son. Goodman is always having the time of his life when he acts on the silver screen. This loan shark has the perfect Goodman charms that always speaks softly but carries a big stick kind of attitude. Williams is possibly the very best part of the film. He is a veteran of Hollywood supporting roles, but i can’t ever remember a movie where he receives so much talking screen time. He has a perfect voice to play the opposite antagonist of Wahlberg, and there is something chilling about the threats he makes with said voice. The film is wonderfully shot with a lot of dark camera shots similar to a Barry Sonnenfield movie. The soundtrack has Pink Floyd covers done in a reggae style. It doesn’t seem to fit with the overall attitude of the movie, and i think the original Floyd would’ve been soothing enough to get the vibe of trouble across to the viewer. I did enjoy the ending even if it seemed a little too convenient with obvious foreshadowing coming together. My problem with it however is where the movie decides to end. It continues a Hollywood cliche of ending right before the scene that ties it all together sending the audience home happy. It’s like Director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) shot where the movie is headed but then ran out of film right before it’s about to happen. The movie fades to black with a collective exhaust from everyone in the theater. It sent me home on a negative note, and that only hurt a film that i found pretty enjoyable (minus the lead) up to that point. “The Gambler” will make you just that if you see it in theaters. It’s not something i can promise that everyone will enjoy, but i think it’s harmless as a rental. The film’s 1 hour and 45 minute run time are enough to keep the pace rolling with how Bennett will ever come out of this alive. Overall, it’s a movie that just didn’t need to happen mainly because it adds nothing to such a classic original. A decent enough movie, but not worth the gamble of $10-12