Movies based on casino play have been a part of Hollywood for decades. The movie industry sees them as an ideal backdrop for an entire plot while providing a glamorous location as its setting.
The best of those movies tend to mix fantasy with a touch of reality. While viewers are happy to suspend belief at times, they will tend to switch off when the film becomes completely unbelievable. With that factor in mind, just how realistic is one of the most successful casino-based movies of all time, 1998’s Rounders?
Changing Landscapes
To begin answering this question, we need to look at the casino landscape at the time Rounders was released. Back in 1998, the first digital platforms were first coming online and were many years away from the dominance of online operators today.
The focus, therefore, remained on land-based casinos where Rounders is set. Nowadays, you can switch on your PC or log into your mobile phone and call up any one of a hundred casinos or more, so why not try this one? In 1998, that choice simply wasn’t there, so we first have to travel back in time and recall that point when the general public’s attention was on bricks-and-mortar gaming rooms.
The Plot
Rounders features an early appearance by Matt Damon as one of the lead characters, Mike McDermott. Along with his friend, Lester Murphy, McDermott aims to pay off a significant debt by winning at high-stakes poker games.
On the way to achieving their targets, the two companions run into a series of colorful characters, some of whom are mixed up with the casino underworld. The brilliant cast includes appearances by John Malkovich and Famke Janssen, along with Edward Norton who takes the role of Murphy.
The release was well-received and has grossed over $22 million worldwide since it came out. It’s certainly an entertaining film, but how realistic is Rounders?
Key Element
Most films in the casino genre highlight the underground world. It adds a sinister element of intrigue and many feel that the underworld was accurately portrayed in Rounders.
Among the supporters is professional poker player Erik Seidel, who grew up around similar characters to those portrayed in the 1998 release. Seidel even plays a cameo role in the movie, and his appearance adds an extra level of authenticity to the film.
Seidel confirms that the depiction of the underworld in Rounders is similar to the one he was familiar with. For any film to be truly authentic, the characters have to be believable, and this is one area where Rounders definitely succeeds.
Authentic Settings
While it’s not, strictly speaking, based on a true story, Rounders has some real-life elements within it. The Chesterfield Club is the focal point for much of the on-table action, and this location was based on the Mayfair Club, a legendary venue for players.
Erik Seidel’s inclusion helps raise the belief levels and Rounders even incorporates footage of a poker game between Seidel and Johnny Chan. All of these elements help to add realism, but what about the movie’s central theme?
The Big Issues
While Rounders uses realistic characters and settings, the big question regarding authenticity relates to the plot. Could two players with relatively little experience of the poker tables win the type of money at stake in this movie? Of course, anything is possible as many of today’s poker professionals have proved. Since online casinos have been around for almost thirty years, there are many players who began here with little knowledge of the game. They honed their skills on the digital tables, before making it to the big leagues.
Back in 1998, those digital portals formed only a minor part of the poker scene. Unless players could set up a social game between friends, they had to learn on the go and risk their own money. It was possible to reach the levels of Rounders’ main characters, but it was far less likely.
More than 25 years on from its release, reviews of Rounders generally suggest that the poker plays are believable. The narration of those plays undoubtedly helped viewers, but the hands played will have been experienced by players in real life. That’s another reason why Rounders hits the mark in terms of realism, even if there is some doubt over the ups and downs that McDermott and Murphy experience.
Conclusion
Overall, Rounders falls into the category of a casino-based film that mixes fact with a level of fantasy. Even those movies that are based fully on true life, such as Molly’s Game need to stretch belief at times. If a release focused on the daily routines of an average casino player’s life, it would be fairly dull.
On the whole, it is believable, and there are realistic elements. The fantasy factor is brought in to increase interest, and Rounders is one of the more genuine casino movies around.
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