The Gambler

THE GAMBLER (1974) - August 19, 2008
Featuring a really impressive performance from James Caan, this was a good character study about a couple of days in the life of an English professor, who also happens to have a bit of a gambling problem (putting it mildly). It was completely plotless, but remained fairly entertaining throughout if only for Caan's performance, and the interesting look at an otherwise intelligent character who is so hopelessly addicted to gambling it impacts everything he does. The direction is ho-hum; I'm sure this film would have been remembered more if the direction were a bit better. Oh well. ***