A brand new poker film is coming to video on demand (VOD) and restricted theaters on Friday, September 13. Useless Cash, written by Josh Wilcox and directed by Luc Walpoth, stars Emile Hirsch as Andy, who alongside together with his girlfriend Chloe, performed by India Eisley, “are concerned in a loopy 24 hours after a house poker recreation is robbed. Andy finds taking part in the most important poker recreation of his life as each of their lives are at risk.”
The movie, which costars veteran actors David Keith, Jack Earle Haley, Rory Culkin, and Peter Facinelli, has drummed up some pleasure inside the poker neighborhood, particularly given Hirsch did “analysis” with famous poker gamers Alan Keating (who has a cameo within the film), Nik Airball, and Ryan Feldman (who was a latest visitor on the Life Outdoors Poker Podcast).
The Chicago Solar-Instances’s Richard Roeper, a poker participant himself, gave the movie three out of 4 stars and acknowledged: “The sharp screenplay by Josh Wilcox nails the poker lexicon but by no means will get so deep within the weeds that the non-player could be misplaced.”
He added: “We’d not ever get the long-rumored Rounders 2, however in a style that’s full of motion pictures that transform busted palms in the case of authenticity, Useless Cash is a strong entry. This can be a poker film that will get it proper.”
Take a look at the Chicago Solar-Instances evaluation of ‘Useless Cash’ right here!
What Does PokerNews Assume?
I used to be given an advance screener of the movie and went in skeptical anticipating a B-Film at greatest, however I wound up pretty impressed. It wasn’t that dangerous, and whereas it’s not more likely to rank among the many greatest poker motion pictures of all time, there’s loads to love about Useless Cash.
Nonetheless, earlier than I get into all that I need to make an essential distinction – this isn’t a poker film within the sense that the sport is the first plot focus. As an alternative, it’s a crime thriller through which poker performs a giant position. So, in the event you go in anticipating a movie like Rounders you then’re more likely to be dissatisfied. The movie you’ll discover is extra akin to Runner, Runner starring Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, or extra not too long ago 2021’s The Card Counter with Oscar Issac and Tiffany Haddish.
When you view the film by means of that lens then there’s a very good likelihood you’ll benefit from the journey. Due to screenwriter Josh Wilcox’s poker expertise – he was a grinder at Hustler On line casino – the poker lexicon and palms are correct to our trade. In truth, there was just one second that made me cringe when one feminine character broke down a hand in less-than-stellar performing.
Apart from that singular second, the performing was glorious in my view. A leisure poker participant earlier than he took the position, Hirsch clearly immersed himself within the recreation and did justice to professional poker gamers. I not too long ago chatted with Hirsch about what he did to arrange for the position, and as you’ll be able to see, it had a profound affect on him:
Hirsch is surrounded by a powerful solid. India Eisley and Rory Culkin supplied grounded but efficient performances, whereas each David Keith and Jackie Earle Haley have been fascinating of their respective villainous roles. Toss in Peter Facinelli – I liked him within the cult basic Can’t Hardly Wait – gives well-timed comedic aid.
I at all times rank motion pictures on IMDb, which operates on a 10-star scale. 5 stars is my baseline rating if a film leaves me neither dissatisfied nor overly impressed, however merely entertains. Useless Cash is in that class, albeit with some small particulars I actually preferred. For that purpose I give it six out of ten stars and say its positively value a look ahead to any poker fan.
Take a look at PokerNews’ Prime 5 Poker Motion pictures right here!
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