The Gambler is a complicated film, despite it’s title it’s not really about gambling, it’s about a man who would rather die than live a mediocre life.  In an attempt to fill the void of his current mediocre life he gambles, he doesn’t care how much debt he builds up with loan sharks who will kill him because he would rather die than live his life the way it’s going.  Some people will not understand the theme of this film and hate it, but if you’ve ever striven for more in your life and hated the way your life was (or is) then you can understand the theme of the film and connect with Mark Wahlberg’s character.

The Gambler is a complicated story, there are layers to it.  Overall it’s a very well written story, it’s not so dense that you can’t follow it but it’s deep enough that it will make you think.

Mark Wahlberg just looks like he’s someone who has given up and doesn’t care anymore, and that’s what the character called for, you can really believe that this person doesn’t care if he lives or dies.  John Goodman plays the caring scumbag part perfectly, he knows there’s a problem and tries to help but deep down is still a scumbag and makes things worse.  Jessica Lang is the concerned and tired mother, you can see the hurt that she feels and really believe that she’s feeling what the character is supposed to feel.

Not much to speak of here, there was a little radio in the background style music but over all there wasn’t really anything to speak of in the film.

Everyone should take a gamble of this film, it’s not going to be for everyone but if you’ve ever felt out of place or incomplete in life I think you’ll enjoy this film.  Just remember that just because this film is called The Gambler it’s not really about gambling, it’s about a life unfulfilled.