Hollywood often takes liberties for the sake of spectacle, but this usually comes at the cost of accurately representing aspects that any expert in their field would spot. When a film manages to avoid this pitfall, it’s easy to see how it becomes a timeless classic within the real community they are emulating. Lawyers have My Cousin Vinny, ballers have Glory Road, and poker players have claimed Rounders as their winner.
American poker player Darren Elias recently graced an episode of the online series How Real Is It? to rate various poker scenes from film. He shares that Rounders is “almost unanimously the best poker movie ever made.” That’s high praise from a multiple World Poker Tour champion, but it’s seemingly a consensus as various World Series of Poker (WSOP) winners join the DVD commentary of the film itself. Among the many dramatized depictions of the mind sport, what aspects make this 1998 movie the ace of poker films?
The reality behind Rounders
Rounders had a moderate reception at the time of release, but eventually grew from a critic’s standpoint over the years. Perhaps more importantly, it earned a cult following after the poker boom that emerged in the early 00s. This film fit nicely into the string of massive films that catapulted Matt Damon to stardom, creating a gripping narrative with strong performances rooted in the underground poker scene.
Part of what made it an enduring film on the subject is how it surrounds its fantastical elements with the realities of the game. In fact, the movie’s cast even participated in the 1998 WSOP Main Event at the invitation of the Binion family. Damon would even go all-in against Doyle Brunson, ultimately losing as the legendary Poker Hall of Fame inductee flipped over aces. Decades later, Damon continued to be a fan of the sport and still participates in real events with professional players.
In 2020, he joined Adam Sandler, Tom Brady, and long-time buddy and collaborator Ben Affleck with other stars for an online Feeding America charity tournament. Playing Texas Hold ‘Em, he once again competed with Brunson. This event was established as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on food insecurity. It’s an interesting trajectory from the early days of Rounders, as the film was ultimately embraced after the infamous Moneymaker effect. When poker soared in popularity, it was heavily attributed to Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 WSOP win. Today, Moneymaker is an ambassador for the US online poker giant Americas Cardroom. In a full circle moment, the site arranged the same major charity event in partnership with Feeding America that Damon participated in, where their very own ACR Pro Ebony Kenney would win against Hollywood’s biggest names.
There is real-life passion and firsthand experience behind the scenes that seeps into every scene of the movie, which is why many experts are looking forward to Damon helming a potential sequel.
Another ‘round’ in the works
The stakes are high for a follow-up that enthusiasts have been clamoring for over two decades. When discussing the potential of a Rounders sequel, Damon has dropped many hints and expressed his interest across different interviews. He has even stated that the rest of the original cast share his enthusiasm for a return to this world, especially because of how much poker has changed and grown in the last 25 years.
Screenwriters David Levien and Brian Koppelman already had a concept and story for a possible screenplay in the 2010s. However, as with many cases in Tinseltown, the sequel is still floating in the ether thanks to production delays. The main issue is rights, with various entities having a stake in the original. The complications of settling these matters legally and with equity are the main hurdle for Damon, whose experience extends beyond acting into producing and screenwriting.
The actor has also shared how the current state of filmmaking is “so different from 20 years ago,” ultimately affecting what projects get prioritized. In the meantime, Damon has kept busy with other releases and was invited to the Tom Brady roast. Scheduling conflicts prevented him from appearing, a testament to how much time Damon has poured into keeping filmmaking alive. A sequel may be uncertain, but the cast and producers’ desire to make another great poker film for the new era sparks some hope that it may see the light of day.
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