Perfectly Cast But Not Very Fast... (Croupier (DVD))

Member Name: Cwej1

Product:	Croupier (DVD)
Date:	31/01/02 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good cast

Disadvantages: Slow and disjointed, No appropriate resolution, Dull and unoriginal directing

...what do you get when you put together the fantastic acting talents of Clive Owen, Gina McKee and Alex Kingston. Well not very much really.

'Croupier' was highly rated by the critics and though I felt it didn't particularly look like my sort of film, I decided to give it a go.

The film is seen from beginning to end through the eyes of Jack (Owen), a failing author who's father manages to get him a job in a local casino in an attempt to get his son making some money again. And then he pretty much works at the casino. And then the film ends and you wonder why you just spent nearly two hours of your life watching this.

The plot is virtually non-existent, a concept that CAN work in some films, but only if the characters are particularly brilliant or the script is outstanding - an example would be the 45-minute monologues that Alan Bennett writes for television, 'Talking Heads'. These basically consist of a very similar style to 'Croupier', in the fact that the only REALLY important character is the one that narrates the whole thing. How they differ is that the 'clever, satirical' comments that Jack makes throughout the film are not really very clever at all. At times the dialogue is awe-inspiring for just how cliched and bad it is.

The story jumps around from episode to episode like a kangaroo on heat with no particular links seeming apparent. The reason for the fate of Marion (McKee) is not fully developed (is this a satirical comment on the odds of having what happens to her, happen to you, to fit with the betting theme?); the appearance of Bella in the final scene is pathetic and the sudden publication of the novel at the end is not explained at all. I watch a lot of films and usually don't miss what has happened but I feel like I must have missed a severe amount of the plot in my head...

One thing saves the film from being a complete mess and that is the exquisite performances
from Owen, Kingston (one of Britain's finest actresses) and McKee (who I sometimes do not like, but feel she is strong in this movie). Without them, I may not have even finished watching this film.

Summary: