Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Michael Ledo Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is an arrogant unlikeable mediocre literature professor, novelist, and one of the world's worse blackjack players. He is self destructive and much of the movie involves him attempting to get out of his gambling debts, getting the money to help, but then not using it. He has an odd relationship with one of his students (Brie Larson) and looks to borrow money from a shirtless John Goodman, a sight I could have been spared. Goodman revives his famous line from "The Big Lebowski" but not with the same bravado.The film attempts to study the character of Bennett and bores us by trying to make him "complex" when all he really was just a moody underachiever dissatisfied with life, welcome to the club. About an hour into the film I was yearning for the awful Kenny Rogers version, willing to settle for his Progressive commercial.I would recommend waiting to see this when it becomes a cheap rental.Guide: F-bomb. No sex. Stripper nudity (Chanon Finley)

ghcheese Wahlberg! I expected a lot more. Normally when I see he is in a movie it turns out pretty good. But not this time. When you don't like the main character it is hard to enjoy the movie. If you ate at a restaurant and the food was bad, would you go back again? No. Michael Williams and John Goodman did an excellent job portraying big time bad guys. But it was not enough because Markie Mark was unlikable. I also found the story predictable. My advice. Don't watch this.

wyatt Shurtleff To say that this film is a work of fiction is an atrocity. To say it is the work of a visionary writer would simply be wrong. The simple compelling aspect of this work of art is that it tells the truth. The truth about society, business, power, and most importantly-the human mind. In short, I myself am not able to adequately explain the beautifully written truths of this movie. After all, i'm no genius.

jb_campo The Gambler is terrible - just a mess. I like Mark Wahlberg, but again he seems miscast as Jim Bennett, disgruntled and disillusioned English Lit teacher who is addicted to gambling. Wahlberg struggles to portray this poor little rich kid who's had everything, yet values none of it. The only positive is that Bennett knows he's a jerk, and secretly is hoping that someone will take him out of his misery. Wahlberg is much better in comedy, and roles where his natural down to earthiness fit the role much better.He has a disgruntled relationship with his English Lit class, demeaning the kids who have scholarships and are just in class because it's required. Bennett tries to act cool, but it just comes off as stupid. Then at night, he goes into his gambling world and strives to gamble until he loses everything.Jessica Lange plays his mother - she's the only reason I give this a 3 instead of a 1. She's terrific as his angry rich Mom who enables her spoiled brat son, but finally comes to her senses. Also, John Goodman is pretty good as this loan shark Frank who is brutally honest about what the consequences are of not paying back money borrowed from him.Finally, Bennett has a relationship of sorts with his student played by Brie Larson. She also works in the gambling house he attends, so she knows all the off-school stuff he does. But instead of digging more deeply into the whys of gambling addiction via expanding their time together, the movie goes completely off the tracks with stupid scenes and just bad scripting. In the end, there's a Rocky-like epiphany, but I just wanted to scream because there was no build up, no reason, no good anything about why what happens would decide to happen at that point. I just threw my hands up in the air and said, boy this is stupid.Bad casting, so-so acting, crummy screenplay, bad story. Avoid The Gambler. You want to see a good gambler movie, re-watch The Sting. But don't bet your time on The Gambler. It's a loser.