Poker is without a doubt one of the most compelling games you can play at casinos. It’s a complex, strategic game where there’s so much more than luck involved. In real-life games of poker, body language has a key role to play. There are also tells, which are subtle physical or verbal signs someone gives that can indicate the strength of their hand.
When it comes to mastering real-life poker, learning the rules of the game is just the first step. Many people who want to become proficient at poker join an online casino and play digital versions of the game there to improve their gameplay. The second step for becoming a pro at poker is knowing how to interpret body language and tells. Watching movies about poker is an easy way to see these in action and learn how to use them to your advantage.
Molly’s Game
Released in 2017, Molly’s Game is a crime/thriller movie that’s based on actual events. It’s based on the 2014 memoir of Molly Bloom, who spent many years running an underground poker ring in Los Angeles that attracted many wealthy players, including some A-list celebrities. It became so popular that the tabloids referred to her as ‘the Poker Princess’.
Molly’s Game stars Jessica Chastain as the titular character, as well as Idris Elba, Kevin Costner and Michael Cera. It grossed nearly million worldwide against a budget of million and was generally well received by the critics. It received particular praise for both its screenplay and the performances of the lead cast.
For those looking to get into poker, Molly’s Game offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of high-stakes poker. Even though it focuses on those who spend large sums of money on the game, it’s still interesting to watch because the fundamentals of poker are still there.
There’s roughly 15 minutes of footage that focuses on the game itself. This isn’t a huge amount of content in a movie with a run time of 141 minutes. However, it still helps people understand poker gameplay and appreciate the importance of recognising body languages and tells.
Rounders
Another pokie movie that can teach you a lot about the game is Rounders, which came out in 1998. Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, it’s similar to Molly’s Game in that it focuses on high-stakes poker, though it differs in that it’s fictional. The plot is about two friends with significant debts they need to pay off. They become rounders, people who travel from one city to the next looking for high-stakes games to take part in.
It made nearly $23 million against a budget of $12 million, though the reviews it received from critics were average. People in the poker community responded well to the film, which to this day has quite a good reputation amongst poker players. In fact, some well-known players such as Dutch Boyd, Brian Rast and Gavin Griffin have said that the movie inspired them to play poker.
What many poker enthusiasts appreciate about Rounders is that the movie is very accurate when it comes to portraying poker gameplay and the use of terminology. It also does an excellent job of showcasing the pressure that comes with playing high-stakes poker games. When watching it, you’ll see just how much of an effect poker can have on people’s emotions.
Casino Royale
You should also take time to watch the James Bond movie Casino Royale, which came out in 2006. Though it doesn’t focus on poker, or casino games in general for that matter, a game of poker is included in one of the movie’s most pivotal scenes. The scene in question has James Bond take on Le Chiffre, a financier of terrorist activity, in a high-stakes game of poker at Montenegro’s Casino Royale (hence the name of the movie).
During this scene, the poker game is showcased in full detail. Poker enthusiasts would agree that the depiction of the game is very accurate indeed. While the movie presents the actual gameplay and mechanics of poker accurately, it also adds realism to the scene by adding a lot of tension.
As you’ll see if you watch Casino Royale, this particular game has a lot riding on it for Bond. It’s not just about the money, it’s about bringing down someone heavily connected to terrorism and preventing him from funding further terrorist activities. The way the scene is shot, the quality of the set and, of course, the acting all come together to portray a high-stakes game of poker in a realistic way. The game is very much a highlight of the movie not just because of its importance to the plot, but also because of how well shot it is.
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