Rounders
Rounders ★★½ 1998 (R)
Damon plays Mike, a law student who used to be a poker hustler, but is now ready to leave the game and settle down with girlfriend Jo (Mol). His good intentions are undermined by his “friend” Worm (Norton), whose gambling debts are mounting. Mike's return to the table doesn't reduce the debt; instead, he loses money and his reputation. Knowing he must get the money himself, Mike sets up a final showdown with Teddy KGB (Malkovich)—a tense game of Texas Hold 'Em in which Malkovich's drawnout accent provides the most fun of the movie. Damon holds his own, using some elaborate monologues reminiscent of “Good Will Hunting,” while Norton and Malkovich add a lot of spark. It's all style over substance, but that's what makes it (mostly) work. 120m/C VHS, DVD . Matt Damon, Edward Norton, John Turturro, Gretchen Mol, Famke Janssen, John Malkovich, Martin Landau, Michael Rispoli, Melina Kanakaredes, Josh Mostel, Lenny Clarke, Tom Aldredge, Lenny Venito, Goran Visnjic; D: John Dahl; W: David Levien, Brian Koppelman; C: Jean-Yves Escoffier; M: Christopher Young.