CNN.com - Entertainment - 'Croupier': A tiny jackpot of a film

May 31, 2000
Web posted at: 4:21 p.m. EDT (2021 GMT)

By Reviewer Paul Tatara

Voice over narration is a tricky story-telling device. More often than not, screenwriters end up pointlessly describing what the audience is already looking at, instead of allowing the commentary to shade the character doing the talking.

Terrence Malick's "Badlands" (1973) and Paul Schrader's "Taxi Driver" (1976) contain brilliant voice overs that add texture to an already powerful viewing experience. Paul Mayersberg's script for "Croupier," though not as impressive as those iconic works, is another case in point. This movie wouldn't hold much interest without the insight supplied by its reams of shrewd, often caustic narration.

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Director Mike Hodges is inclined to keep his camera work simple. He allows you to focus your full attention on multiple streams of information without much razzle-dazzle. A garden-variety commercial filmmaker would have wrecked this narrative.

Clive Owen plays Jack Manfred, a struggling novelist. Jack is in dire need of cash, so his father (Nicholas Ball) snags him a job as a croupier at a London casino (Don't feel undereducated if you're not familiar with the term. A croupier is the person in charge of a gambling table). Jack has worked in casinos before; he knows the routine, up, down and backwards. But his steel-trap mind is being put to slightly different use this time around. He allows the events of his day job to dictate the fictional novel that he's writing when he's not dealing blackjack.

Dealing, watching

Jack and his girlfriend, Marion (Gina McKee), aren't very well-matched. Marion is more romantic than Jack, and his running commentary suggests that he's not altogether in love with her. As Jack grows increasingly obsessed with the casino, Marion recedes from view.

He tries to remain faithful to her, but it doesn't last very long. Without warning, he loses it for a somewhat mousy co-worker (Kate Hardie) who likes to prance around with her top off in the casino locker room.

It almost seems that Jack is standing outside of himself, watching the events of his life play out as if they're affecting somebody else. Soon, a mysterious, extremely sexy South African woman ("E.R."'s Alex Kingston) is making nightly appearances at Jack's table. There's an inexorable pull between the two, but it has little to do with physical attraction. Both the gambler and the croupier are playing mind games. Exactly what those games consist of make up the better portion of the film.

Don't think that this is one of those wryly deceptive storylines on the order of "Sleuth" (1972) or "House of Games." (1987) The last 20 minutes is full of wild twists and turns, but most of the appeal is contained in Jack's narration.

An insider's look

Owen is an elegant, strikingly handsome actor. He looks like James Bond puts on his tuxedo. Owen's intense gaze is the perfect visual compliment to the narration. Again, voice over supports at least half of the movie, and we learn a great deal about Jack from the dark insight that it supplies. Though nothing especially amusing is happening, his laser-like perception adds an element of black humor to the proceedings.

It's also fun to learn the tricks of the casino trade. Unlike Matt Damon's card-playing movie, "Rounders," (1998) the script doesn't go overboard with "how-to" tips.

But Jack constantly picks up on what's happening around his table, even when his customers are doing their best to act blase. He can immediately tell when someone is counting the cards, and can spot a larcenous employee from across the room. More important, he notes that there may be a scam of some sort in the offing, and it involves Kingston's character. Jack doesn't miss a beat, and -- even though he does some pretty tawdry things -- Owen never allows him to grow unlikable.

This is a subdued, independent movie with no action sequences, meaning it's destined for the video racks before most people get a chance to see it. And that's too bad. "Croupier"'s smallish charms are altogether worthy of your attention. At the very least, rent it. Then pay attention.

"Croupier" contains the usual profanity, a lovemaking session that seems more like a rape and one pretty intense punch-out. There's also a bit of pot smoking, and Kingston casually strips down to her impressive birthday suit. You won't see that on "E.R." Rated R. 91 minutes.

The British Council: Croupier

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