The Gambler : Starring James Caan, Lauren Hutton and Paul Sorvino

The Gambler was released in 1974, and is based loosely on the short story by Fyodor Dostoyevski, regarded as one of the greatest Russian writers of all time. The plot revolves around Axel Freed (James Caan), a New York literature professor with an insatiable thirst for gambling. However, unable to control his addiction, Freed is dragged down deeper into the gambling underworld, and is in grave danger of losing everything.

Axel Freed is a man with everything – a successful career as a college Professor, a beautiful girlfriend (played by Lauren Hutton) and a birth rite to riches. Despite all this, Freed seems determined to pursue a path of self destruction, unable to control his gambling addiction. However high the odds are stacked against, Freed is willing to take the risk, inevitably leading to excessive debts. Even when on a winning streak, Freed isn’t content with calling it a day and consistently proceeds to gamble away everything he has won.

Having lost far more than he can afford to pay off, Freed goes in search of a loan, first borrowing money from his mother then from Hips (Paul Sorvino), his bookmaker. However, Freed’s compulsion to gamble is still not swayed, even having witnessed the severe beating of some deadbeat by a debt collector. Will this be all Freed has to look forward to? Hip has tried his best to encourage Freed to quit whilst he still can, though not even the sight of the inevitable repercussions can persuade him to stop.

The humiliation and desperation of Freed grows, and he is even relegated to attempting to persuade his students to throw a college basketball game in an attempt to clear some of the debt he has accrued. Having lost his girlfriend, the respect of his students and exhausted the help of his friend, Hip, there is very little left for Freed.

The film ends bitterly, with Freed devoid of anything of value, turning to violence and having little to do with the life he once had.

The Gambler gives a shocking insight into the mindset of a compulsive gambler, following Freed from the beginnings of a gambling addiction to a very bitter and disturbing end. Throughout the film you are praying for Freed to stop, for him to take a look in the mirror and see what he has slipping through his fingers. However, I’m afraid your prayers will largely go unanswered.

James Caan produces a stunning performance as Axel Freed, an intelligent man ruined by gambling, though seemingly fully aware as to the extent of his own addiction. His portrayal is gripping, taking you through the highs of a big win to the extreme depths of losing everything.

Make no mistake, The Gambler is a very dark and gritty film, dealing with the extremities of a severe gambling addiction. The makers of this film were very bold in their adaptation of the original story, which is evident throughout several violent scenes that will have you shifting uncomfortably in your seat.

Overall, this is an absolute gem of a movie and is definitely not to be missed. It may not be for the faint hearted, but seldom will you find a better opportunity to see what goes through the mind of a man out of control and intent on self destruction. Gripping and intense, The Gambler is arguably one of the finest related films ever released.   

find more » Poker Movies