Shelley is also so intensely superstitious that he's hired a 'cooler' to rein in any gambler who starts winning a bit too much against the house.

breaking a leg or two or even rubbing a person out if the situation calls for it).

Baldwin plays Shelley Kaplow, a casino operator steeped in nostalgia who hates what has become of his beloved city and prefers to do business the old-fashioned way (i.e. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello give unforgettable performances in 'The Cooler,' a moody tale of high stakes gambling on the Vegas Strip. It makes for an immensely interesting watch.William H. Neo-noir is a genre that is rarely perfected, and while Croupier isn't quite perfect, it's definitely one of the best I've seen. His performance practically makes this film. If not for that, I feel like Owen wouldn't been nominated. Such a disgrace that this film was disqualified for the Academy Awards. He stands for something maybe the good in the world. He exists, and we're seeing him live his life, but he less of a person and more of a meaning. Who wants to watch a person live for a good hour and a half? But luckily for us, Croupier has a great lead character named Jack, and he is played to perfection by Clive Owen. Normally, people would find that sort of film boring. What you have here is a fine, meandering character analysis. It is a lot like another English film, Intermission, where the plot doesn't really take off until about any hour in, and that plot disappears within fifteen minutes. Such smooth camera movement like I've never seen before.Ĭertainly, Croupier is not a film for everyone. There is some fine direction here, and the cinematography is marvelous. His role here in Croupier, as the existential card dealer, is magnificent.Ĭroupier is directed by Mike Hodges, who, like Guy Ritchie, typically stays in the same genre of film. It's a shame that Clive Owen isn't out in good movies anymore.

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