'The Gambler'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan record this podcast from a position of 'fuck you' after rewatching the 2014 high-stakes thriller 'The Gambler,' starring Mark Wahlberg, Brie Larson, John Goodman, and Michael K. Williams.
Cast
Mark Wahlberg as Jim Bennett
John Goodman as Frank
Brie Larson as Amy Phillips
Michael K. Williams as Neville Baraka
Jessica Lange as Roberta
Written by: William Monahan
Notes
- Budget of $25 million, grossed $33 million. Remake of the 1974 James Caan film written by James Toback.
- Originally supposed to be Scorsese directing, Leonardo DiCaprio starring, William Monahan writing – the Departed trio. Scorsese dropped out, Todd Phillips was attached briefly, then Wahlberg and Rupert Wyatt came in.
- Wahlberg lost 61 pounds (198 to 137 lbs), wanting to be 1 lb lighter than his thinnest ever ('Boogie Nights' at 138). Said he would never do this again.
- Each day in the movie, Jim's shirt color gets lighter (starts all black, ends white when he's finally free).
- The ending: 22 black on roulette – same as 'The Sting' (Redford bets on 22 black).
- Michael K. Williams's part is bigger than remembered; he has since passed away.
- George Kennedy's last movie.
- Wesley Morris's Grantland review was scathing. Bill and CR originally disagreed about the movie; Bill has come around over 10 years.
- This was 'the road not taken for Wahlberg' – his last stand of being taken seriously as an actor before pivoting to family movies and action films.
- The movie is compared to a 'JV version of Thief and Collateral' – cool LA movie with deep synth score.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“The problem is that Jim doesn't have a gambling problem so much as a terminal case of nihilism.”
Ebert was not alive when this came out. Rogerebert.com gave it 2 stars. Bill used ChatGPT to estimate Ebert would have given it 'probably 2.5 to 3 stars.' CR found this unethical/hilarious.
- Both agree: John Goodman's second scene – the 'Fuck You' speech about the 'position of fuck you.'
- Runners-up: The opening gambling sequence, Wahlberg's big classroom speech about genius, Goodman's first scene in the bathhouse, the Lamar scene, the final bet on black.
- Michael K. Williams's performance – his part is bigger than remembered.
- William Monahan 'dipping into old Departed dialogue' – 'the world needs plenty of electricians.'
- Any scene set in Koreatown – 'if you put a scene in Koreatown your movie is at least AB.'
- The soundtrack (Jon Brion/Theo Green score, M83 songs).
- Michael K. Williams and crew watching the point-shaving basketball game like the first 'alt gambling cast.'
- Jessica Lange's tennis scenes – 'just abysmal.'
- Wahlberg's haircut – 'looks like a 1974 right wing on the Flyers.'
- The professor-student romantic relationship – Brie Larson was probably 21 and he's supposed to be 40.
- Broke college basketball player pre-NIL – now he'd just have Chick-fil-A sponsors.
Easily Cruise – 'the easiest Cruise in a while.' Right after 'Jerry Maguire' / Vanilla Sky era Cruise. Running tally: Cruise 19, Hanks 16.
- Bill: The choir singing 'Creep' (Radiohead) during the breakup scene. CR notes Fincher already used this in the Social Network trailer.
- CR: Pulp's 'Common People.'
- Bill: Why would Brie Larson's character like Jim? No discernible reason. Also: why is a 20-year-old bookworm working as a cocktail waitress at an underground gambling ring?
- CR: Not enough sophisticated gambling – no real skill or strategy.
- Jessica Lange: 'Don't you call me Lady!'
- Professor Wahlberg's Shakespeare speech – 'really trying hard.'
- Originally Scorsese/DiCaprio/Monahan (the Departed trio). Todd Phillips was also attached.
- Bill's dream casting: Jon Bernthal. CR suggestions: Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke, Jake Gyllenhaal.
- Wahlberg sought the blessing of James Caan before doing the remake.
Dominic Lombardozzi (Dom from Entourage/The Wire). Also in The Irishman, Bridge of Spies, Public Enemies.
John Goodman – comes in for two scenes and steals the movie.
- Michael K. Williams: Yes (in terms of shaving points in a movie, beating 'Blue Chips').
- Watching basketball indoors with sunglasses on: Yes.
- Wahlberg lost 61 pounds (198 to 137). Sat in on college courses to study professors.
- Each day Jim's shirt gets lighter – starts all black, ends white.
- 22 black ending – same as 'The Sting'.
- George Kennedy's last movie.
- Pit bosses would swarm someone betting that much at a regular blackjack table.
- Bookies would never be this permissive with $240K in debt for a college professor.
- Neville says Lamar is playing Michigan, but the game shows the 'Bulldogs' – USC and Michigan weren't in the same conference in 2014.
- The bag of cash just sitting in Lamar's locker is ludicrous.
CR: William Monahan (the screenwriter). Bill: John Goodman – if his part isn't that good, the movie falls apart.
- Bill: Always be in a 'fuck you' position.
- CR: If you owe somebody money, don't fuck around.
The original 1974 Gambler (James Caan) – watch Caan's version first, then this as a palate cleanser.