Movies About Counting Cards

From George Roy Hill, starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning
Rated PG

The Sting is a 1973 American caper film set in 1936, directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It tells the story of two professional grifters, Johnny Hooker (Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Newman), who team up to con a crime boss. Hooker seeks revenge for the murder of his mentor, "Luther" (Robert Earl Jones), by targeting mob boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). To con Lonnegan, the duo enlist the help of "The Kid" (Jack Kehoe) and construct a complicated scam involving an illegal betting parlor. The Sting was a critical and commercial success upon its release, earning seven Academy Award nominations and winning seven awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It became one of the most beloved films of the 1970s and is now considered one of the best con-man films ever made.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods
Rated R

Casino is a 1995 crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. Set in 1970s Las Vegas, the film follows the mob's involvement in the casino business, and chronicles the lives of Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert, and his Italian-American associate, Nicky Santoro (Pesci). The film follows Ace's success at the casino, where he is able to quickly turn the casino into one of the highest earning casinos in Las Vegas. However, his success leads to the mob's increased involvement in the casino, which ultimately leads to the corruption of Ace and Nicky, along with the violence and power struggles between the two. The film culminates in a riveting climax, as Ace is forced to choose between the life of his friend, Nicky, and the power of the mob.

From Guy Ritchie, starring Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Statham
Rated R

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels tells the story of four Londoners who get caught up in the world of organized crime. Eddy, a card sharp, and his three friends, Bacon, Tom and Soap, find themselves in debt to "Hatchet" Harry, a local crime lord, after a failed attempt to make money in a high-stakes poker game. To pay off their debts, the four friends devise a plan to rob a local gangster, JD, who is believed to have a large amount of money stashed away in his house. They soon find themselves in the middle of a rapidly escalating crime war, as they are pursued by a group of violent gangsters and a pair of malicious cops. As the story progresses, Eddy and his friends must outwit their enemies in order to survive. In the end, the four friends are able to outsmart their enemies and get away with the money.

From Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman, George Kennedy, Strother Martin, J.D. Cannon
Rated GP

Cool Hand Luke is a 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg. It stars Paul Newman as Luke, a non-conformist prisoner in a rural Florida prison camp who refuses to submit to the system. The film's title comes from the line "Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand," which is spoken in the film by the character Dragline (played by George Kennedy). The film follows Luke's struggles with the camp's authoritarian prison officers, as well as his interactions with other prisoners. It is loosely based on the novel of the same name, written by Donn Pearce, which was inspired by his own experiences in prison. The film was acclaimed by critics and has become a classic, often associated with Newman's career. It was ranked 41st in the American Film Institute's 2007 list of the greatest American films of all time.

From Martin Campbell, starring Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright
Rated PG-13

Casino Royale is a 2006 action spy film directed by Martin Campbell and starring Daniel Craig as James Bond. It is the twenty-first film in the Eon Productions James Bond film series and the first to star Craig as the fictional MI6 agent. The film follows Bond as he faces off against Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorists, in a high stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. Bond must defeat Le Chiffre in order to stop him from raising funds for international terrorists and also to secure his own personal revenge against him. Along the way, Bond falls in love with Vesper Lynd, an ally assigned to help him by M (Judi Dench). The film also features Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter, Mathieu Amalric as Dominic Greene, and Eva Green as Vesper Lynd. Casino Royale has received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its action sequences, screenplay, performances, direction, and its reinvention of the Bond character. It was the highest-grossing James Bond film until Skyfall surpassed it in 2012. It is the first Bond film to be released in the United States since Die Another Day in 2002.

From Robert Rossen, starring Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott
Rated Not Rated

The Hustler is a 1961 drama film directed by Robert Rossen, starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. It tells the story of "Fast" Eddie Felson, an up-and-coming pool hustler who challenges the legendary, highly skilled Minnesota Fats for a high stakes match. With the help of his mentor and friend, Bert Gordon, Eddie must overcome personal demons and struggles to beat his nemesis and become a champion. The film explores themes of ambition, morality, and redemption.

From Steven Soderbergh, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon
Rated PG-13

Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh. It is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name. The film stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts. The story follows Danny Ocean (Clooney) and his eleven accomplices, who plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. The group attempts to pull off the heist with a combination of wit, intelligence, and technology, but must contend with a determined casino owner (Garcia) and a team of private security guards. After managing to evade the authorities and con the casino's security system, the group successfully steals millions of dollars. In the end, they manage to make off with the money, but are forced to part ways as new enemies appear.

From Todd Phillips, starring Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, Ed Helms
Rated R

The Hangover is a 2009 dark comedy directed by Todd Phillips and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film follows a group of four friends, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Doug (Justin Bartha), who go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party for Doug. After a night of partying and heavy drinking, the four wake up in their hotel suite with no recollection of what happened the night before. In an effort to piece together their night, they realize that Doug is missing and must now embark on a wild and hilarious journey to find him before the wedding. Along the way, they encounter a tiger, Mike Tyson, and various other misadventures.

From Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Roger Duchesne, Isabelle Corey, Daniel Cauchy, Guy Decomble
Rated PG

Bob le Flambeur is a 1956 French crime film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. It stars Roger Duchesne as Bob, a small-time gambler in Paris who is struggling to stay afloat. After losing a large sum of money at the casino, Bob hatches a daring plan to rob the Deauville casino. He enlists the help of a small group of friends who are all willing to risk everything to make the robbery a success. The film follows Bob and his crew as they attempt to pull off the daring heist. Along the way, Bob develops a relationship with Anne (Isabelle Corey), a young prostitute, who helps him come to terms with his life and his losses. In the end, the heist is successful, and Bob is able to move on with his life, a richer and wiser man.

From Robert Altman, starring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Rene Auberjonois, William Devane
Rated R

McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a 1971 western film directed by Robert Altman. Set in the Pacific Northwest of the early 1900s, the story follows John McCabe (Warren Beatty), a gambler, and Mrs. Miller (Julie Christie), a businesswoman, who team up to open a successful brothel in the small town of Presbyterian Church. Despite their success, McCabe's business savvy and Mrs. Miller's ability to attract customers clashes with the local authority, which is determined to keep the town's resources in the hands of the powerful mining corporation. After a series of unfortunate events, the two become increasingly disillusioned with their business and the town, and eventually find themselves having to fight to keep what they have built. The film is an exploration of power structures, as well as an examination of the human cost of ambition in the face of an unforgiving landscape.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Michael Lee Gogin
Rated R

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a dark comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and based on the novel of the same name by Hunter S. Thompson. The movie follows journalist Raoul Duke, played by Johnny Depp, and his attorney Dr. Gonzo, played by Benicio Del Toro, as they embark on a wild and psychedelic journey through Las Vegas. Duke and Gonzo are on assignment from a magazine to cover a motorcycle race and take advantage of the free-wheeling atmosphere of the city. Along the way, they get into all sorts of trouble, including run-ins with the police and gambling debts, as well as engaging in a wild array of drug-fueled activities, such as taking LSD and consuming copious amounts of alcohol. The movie is a satirical portrayal of the counterculture of the 1960s, and examines themes such as drug use, freedom, and the American Dream.

From John Dahl, starring Matt Damon, Edward Norton, Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich
Rated R

From Louis Malle, starring Burt Lancaster, Susan Sarandon, Kate Reid, Michel Piccoli
Rated R

From John Cassavetes, starring Ben Gazzara, Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassel, Robert Phillips
Rated R

From Bob Giraldi, starring Danny Aiello, Edoardo Ballerini, John Rothman, Frank Bongiorno
Rated R

From Directors: Norman Jewison, Sam Peckinpah, starring Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden
Rated TV-14

From Robert Altman, starring George Segal, Elliott Gould, Ann Prentiss, Gwen Welles
Rated R

From David Mamet, starring Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Lilia Skala
Rated R

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson
Rated R

From John Sayles, starring John Cusack, Clifton James, Jace Alexander, Gordon Clapp
Rated PG

From Karel Reisz, starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky
Rated R

From Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene
Rated PG

From Richard Kwietniowski, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, John Hurt, Maury Chaykin
Rated R

From Martin Scorsese, starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver
Rated R

From Mike Hodges, starring Clive Owen, Nick Reding, Nicholas Ball, Alexander Morton
Rated Not Rated