A Look at the Best Gambling Films Over the Years
The gambling genre is deeply engrained within the history of cinema. There is a wide range to choose from including a number of familiar faces. If you feel inspired by some of the characters from these films you may want to try your hand at the slots online, before heading all the way to Las Vegas. Apart from land base casino where it is possible to spend few days playing slots or table games and to leave there a lot of money, today online casinos are on the rise. You can stay at your home and play all the newest games and even win some money.
It was very tough to decide on just five films, but here they are.
Casino Royale – 2006
After the flop that was the final Pierce Brosnan Bond movie ‘Die Another Day’, the Executive Producers decided to reboot the franchise and go all the way back to Bond’s beginning casting Daniel Craig as the then-rookie 007. Sticking true to the roots of its novel counterpart, the bulk of Casino Royale takes place during a tense game of poker. Bond’s mission is to beat the villainous Le Chiffre, who weeps blood when he’s bluffing. Sounds simple right? Wrong! This movie pulled the Bond franchise out of the post-Cold War doldrums and reinvigorated it for a new generation.
Ocean’s Eleven – 2001
What do you do if you can’t beat a classic? Remake it of course. The super suave George Clooney is joined by Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts take the place of the Rat Pack in Steven Soderbergh’s modern adaptation. Danny Ocean (Clooney) leads ten of the best criminal specialists in a heist to simultaneously rob the Bellagio, the Mirage and MGM Grand casinos. You may wish to visit some of these Las Vegas casinos for yourself. This remake cleaned up at the box office and paved the way for two sequels: Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen. There are now plans for another Ocean’s film with an all female cast
Casino – 1995
Going back in time a little further brings us to a Martin Scorsese classic. One of nearly half a dozen of his collaborations with Robert De Niro based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi. A lot of the film is based on true historical events with De Niro’s character based on the late Frank Rosenthal, a former Las Vegas casino executive. Casino also reunites Scorsese and De Niro with Joe Pesci, the three worked on Goodfellas together, and Pesci is no amusing clown here.
The Hustler – 1961
Heading even further back now to the swinging 60’s with classic Hollywood Icon Paul Newman in the lead role. Based on the 1959 novel of the same name, the Hustler focuses on “Fast Eddie” Felson as he travels cross-country to challenge the legendary pool player “Minnesota Fats”. Aside from being an entertaining film, the Hustler is credited with sparking a resurgence in the popularity of pool in the United States, a game which had been declining in popularity in recent decades prior.
The Color of Money – 1986
More than two decades later we get the long awaited sequel to the Hustler. The Color of Money sees Newman reprise his role as the now-retired “Fast Eddie Felson and also includes an early role for a young Tom Cruise. The uncredited opening voiceover belongs to Director Martin Scorsese, cementing himself as the Don of the gambling movie.
