This year marks the 25th anniversary of the classic poker film Rounders. The film, which stars Matt Damon and Edward Norton, is widely regarded as the greatest poker film of all time.
Accurate Portrayal
One of the reasons for the film's success is its accurate portrayal of the New York City underground poker world. The film's depiction of the gritty, high-stakes world of illegal poker games resonated with audiences and helped to popularise the game of poker just as the online game was born.
The storyline, written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, is relatable for many old school players who have rubbed shoulders with the criminals and misfits you can find in that scene.
Another reason for the film's popularity is its realistic card action. The poker games in the movie feel authentic, which is definitely not true of most efforts that we have seen over the years.
Damon and Norton both absolutely nailed their characters. As Mike McDermott, Damon portrays a talented player who experiences the misfortune of losing his entire bankroll to Teddy KGB. Norton’s Lester "Worm" Murphy is fresh out of prison and conspiring to get his friend back into the game.
The story naturally concludes with a rematch against Teddy KGB in typical Hollywood style.
Memorable Characters and Star-Studded Cast
Rounders features a number of memorable characters, including the Russian gangster and poker shark Teddy KGB, played by John Malkovich. The film's cast also includes Martin Landau, John Turturro, and Famke Janssen.
The star-studded cast, combined with the compelling storyline, has contributed to the film's enduring popularity among poker players and movie fans alike.
Rounders had a significant impact on poker culture, helping to popularise the game and inspiring a new generation of players. The film's influence can still be seen today, with many professional poker players citing it as a major influence on their careers.
Two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Johnny Chan, who had a cameo in the film, reflected on its impact, saying;
"We opened the gate for poker. A lot of young kids saw that movie and started to learn poker. Next thing you know online poker is coming, WPT is on TV, and then the Poker Superstars started shooting the shows. The rest is history, that's why poker has gotten so big today".
What About Rounders 2?
There have been so many rumours of a planned Rounders 2 over the years but, obviously, they all came to nought.
Brian Koppelman has always been keen to take on the project but the number of moving parts is considerable and the idea, even though incredibly popular, never gained any significant traction.
Jailbird film producer Harvey Weinstein distributed Rounders in 1998 and mooted plans for sequels and TV series’ but nothing happened.
We’d love to see it, that’s for sure, but we won’t be holding our collective breath for anyone to get this project moving in the near future.