AboveDeepBuggy Some things I liked some I did not.

Sammy-Jo Cervantes There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Aspen Orson There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

phd_travel This is a well done true story movie about gambling addiction the fraud on the Canadian bank is secondary. It's not theatrical in the depiction of the gambling and it's quite real life. Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives an understated performance. Sometimes the mumbling can't be understood but the addiction is convincing. It's so understated that it's more believable and painful to watch him give everything back to the house. Minnie Driver with her strange wig is quite a sympathetic girlfriend. The Faustian casino manager played well by John Hurt. Overall worth a watch.

albrechtcm This tells the sad story of a perfectly nice man's slide into addiction. This isn't about alcohol or drugs, but an addiction to gambling. An addiction so overwhelming that it nearly destroys his life, and the lives of others. Smoothly directed and carefully filmed, each frame that rests on Mr. Hoffman's face clearly reveals this consummate actor's inner struggle. As he sinks ever deeper into his addiction and the criminal activity necessary to keep going, we suffer along with him, knowing that in the end there's only hopelessness — but he still can't stop, and neither can we. Ms Driver as his faithful and long-suffering partner is just as real in her devotion combined with her helplessness in the face of this rival, a rival she cannot hope to best. The ing cast is excellent, all real and all real people. This is not a feel-good story. It's depressing but at the same time fascinating as we watch Mr. Hoffman's descent into his own personal hell, a hell he cannot allow anyone else to enter with him.

kenjha Based on a true story, a bank manager embezzles millions to satisfy his gambling habit. The film jumps right into the gambling scene without any exposition. Hoffman is certainly a fine actor but he's given little to work with here. He gives a rather monotonous performance defined by blank stares, revealing little about his character. Although the focus of the film is Mahoney's gambling addiction, we are given no insight whatsoever as to why he's so addicted. The attraction is not the money, as he would always keep gambling until he lost everything. Despite the goofy blonde wig, Driver turns in a sweet performance as a very understanding girlfriend.

Frank Hankey I got the gist of this movie within the first 15 minutes and kept with it hoping it would go somewhere. I'm sure this is a very accurate portrayal of this gambler, but it revealed absolutely nothing about the man. Remorse he expresses later in the film is puzzling and I'm not sure he believes it. I sure don't know what his girlfriend sees in him. God knows it's at best a dreary experience hanging out with him. I don't know if it's the screenplay itself or the director or what. Intriguing performances from Murray Chaykin (always great) and John Hurt. There is an interesting thematic thread of the greed that orbits the central character. In the end however, the redeeming elements were only barely enough to keep me awake to end (if you could even call it that). I love some of Hoffman's work but he's made several of these studies of utter obsession that are punishingly boring. I found it striking that one reviewer called this a dry comedy. I'll have to look up "comedy" in the dictionary and see if perhaps it has an alternate meaning.