‘The Gambler’ Starring Mark Wahlberg Reviews Mostly Positive: Opens Christmas Day

A remake of the 1974 film “The Gambler” arrives in theatres this Christmas Day and the reviews so far have been mostly positive.  The Mark Wahlberg starring vehicle has received around a 65% approval rate at movie review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.

Wahlberg reprises the role of Jim Bennett, College Professor and high stakes gambler, who finds himself borrowing from a gangster and offers his own life as collateral.  The film also stars Academy Award (R)-winner Jessica Lange and Alvin Ing.

Todd McCarthy of the Hollywood Reporter calls “The Gambler” “a slick remake of the gritty original is marked by sharp performances”.

In nearly every scene, Wahlberg carries off the central role with what could be called determined elan. Bluntly, sometimes viciously frank, Jim spares no one in his circle, beginning with himself, and his uncensored talk with his chosen students stands in sharp contrast with his limited ability to communicate clearly with his grandfather and mother. His gambling compulsion goes beyond addiction into something congenital; the causes behind it are not precisely spelled out but clearly have to do with severe family issues and emotional warp. All the same, Jim remains to some extent an unreachable character, someone you pity or shake your head over rather than empathize with.

The supporting roles are well etched, from Goodman's turn as a Buddha of the underworld and Lange's sharp portrait of an outwardly tough mother to smart work from Larson as a bright and bold student, Kelley as the talented but questioning hoops star and Williams as a multifaceted and eloquent crime figure.

Jordan Hoffman of the Guardian writes:

If it weren’t for Wahlberg’s dynamite performance and the strangeness of the dialogue, The Gambler would have you muttering: “You jerk, just OD on sleeping pills and shaddap already!” And it would surely be more noble to donate the family money to Médecins Sans Frontières instead of busting at 21. But there’s the undeniable romance (and cinematic virtue) of having an entire film come down to one roll of the dice while the vultures circle above. This spiral of self-imposed despair feels like part three of a trilogy of American financial darkness after “Killing Them Softly” and “The Counsellor”. The Gambler isn’t quite so audience-unfriendly, but those looking for a typical Wahlberg thriller might come away disappointed. Others looking for a less sure bet might reap the rewards.

Not every critic was enamored with the film.

Alonso Duralde of TheWrap.com wonders:

It's no mystery why actors and directors want to relive the magic of American studio movies from the fabled 1970s, but if you're not going to take the risks that the originals did, or illuminate as much about the characters, why redo them at all?

- Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com

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