User reviews

Yes Paul Schrader (not Martin Scorses who is billed quite big on the posters, even though he's just a producer) is and forever will be known for his script to Taxi Driver. And I reckon if you liked the dirty and quite mean outlook, he has on the world ... and his pacing when it comes to characters ... his weirdness writing them and how they behave ... irrationally at times or often, depending on how you look at it. Well there is a certain style you have to dig, to get with it.

Of course having someone like Oscar Isaac in the lead ... well it helps a lot! The man is amazing! If anything can be taken away from this, how stoic, yet fully commited emotionally his character is. Now that doesn't mean you'll understand or actually go along with his decisions. Especially when it comes to a kid he meets in a chance encounter. Quite a coincidence you say? Yes ... why does he act around him the way he does? Why does he help him? Even if not in the way the boy wants him to help? And does he know deep down, that the help might not conclude the way he imagines it will? There are a lot of things that are left up to the imagination of the viewers (pun intended and including a scene towards the end ... with the end result visible, but not explicitely shown) ... a tough movie to watch on many levels, but those who will love this, will really love it! Paul Schrader is never an easy watch ... you should know this by now.

Great cast overall by the way, but I was a bit taken back by Tiffany Haddish. I really dig her style and humor a lot. She seemed quite out of place for many reasons at first though. Her dialog felt more than wooden ... she did seem to struggle or at least it did feel like she wasn't convincing enough in more than a few occasions and with more than just a few lines she had to do. Of course when it came for her to be funny and sassy ... well needless to say she delivered and then some. Don't expect any nude delivery from her though - even though it's a Paul Schrader movie. She's a big name now. Not critisizing, good for her actually.

I swear people these days can't stand anything that isn't fast paced, action filled movies. Did you all think this was going to be Ocean's Eleven or that Kevin Spacey Vegas movie?

The Card Counter lures viewers in on the premise that this is going to be another fun-loving gambling flick. That's a genre by now so when people set out to watch the latest installment to the long series of excellent films about gambling, they are apt to be disappointed to learn that the director has played a sneaky trick on them, creating instead a searing critique of the moral horrors perpetrated by ordinary people during the War on Terror.

Since I happen to be interested in that topic and am keen to see that the horrific story not be memory holed by the NPCs currently waving Ukrainian flags, I applaud the creators of The Card Counter. I am not surprised by the low ratings here at imdb, which obviously reflect people's disappointment at having been persuaded to watch a scathing critique of U. S. foreign policy which they otherwise might have avoided.

It's all about weight. Tipping the scales! Is that a spoiler? Yes...and no.

If you haven't seen this film yet, I wouldn't recommend reading this past the 'spoiler alert below' note near the bottom. However the majority of this review before that note should not negatively affect or spoil your viewing of the film.

I'm a person who has played in many, many poker tournaments and let me just start by saying that really, this is not at all a poker film. In few ways is this a true reflection of the modern Texas hold 'em tournament game, nor is this of any real importance to the story. So, it really doesn't matter. However for those who are interested in this because it may seem like it is actually a 'poker film'; Don't bother, it really isn't. I imagine that most, if not all of the Blackjack aspect is legitimately true numbers wise. Though I'm not even entirely sure about that. Nor does that really matter either, and Schrader may have even messed with that just because these things ultimately have little to no meaning in the film in full scope.

What are we really counting here?

For the most part, Paul Schrader films are only for certain types of film lovers. Many will find this film slow and even pointless. On the other hand many will find it entirely engrossing and will find the watch a very worthy and somewhat unique experience. Many Schrader films are just that, a real experience to watch. This film fits into this mold because it's a film that challenges the viewer emotionally, philosophically, morally. It will challenge your comfort zone at least to some degree, just as many of his other films do. Schrader films are often a lot closer to real life than most American films, not in that every aspect is entirely authentic nessicarily; But in that they resemble truer to life type human experiences than most films are ever able to capture/mimic, and these are almost all internal experiences. The complexities of human characters are more real with Schrader, and because of this the dilemmas often feel more real as well. This, no matter how convenient some aspects of the story may sometimes seem.

I've seen a few people making comments in their reviews about this film not being realistic in some ways, and that this ruined the film for them. My advice, and even question is, why would you go into a film expecting anything/something? From the very beginning of this film, it's made plain as day that this is not a story that has any interest in being 100% authentic about our world; That is other than capturing realistic internal human type experiences. That's all that really matters here! Pretty much everything else is just the dressing, the convenient delivery system if you will. If you didn't see this, that's most likely because you were too busy looking for other things. You may as well watch the film with you're ears stuffed with cotton. Narrowness of mental focus will rarely find a Schrader film worth it. Watching a film is not an action in truth, other than just letting it in. Your senses are already in absorption mode without doing anything, like autopilot. It's the doing that gets in the way of clear vision, the only thing to do is to quiet your mind and take it in. In other words, focus on watching the film. If you're not letting it all in, are you even really watching it? Think about the film afterward. Trying to fit a piece of art into your own limited vision of what art should be is an endeavor rooted in self centered control. Artistic work is a kind of communication, and trying to put boundaries or rules on it is a mockery of it's very purpose; And the greatest art of all is that which is reflective of the self, simply because this can often inspire growth, internal evolution, progression, and this is definitely such a work.

In terms of acting, this film comes somewhat close to perfection. In my view Schrader has written a number of great screenplays over the years and this is definitely another one of them.

Watch those emotional calories now!

***Spoiler Alert Below***

We all know the feeling of when something is weighing heavy on us internally or when a weight has been lifted. A weight upon our conscience one might say, or one may call it spiritual weight or something similar. However you choose to define such feelings, it's in these very familiar, yet often less looked at aspects of the internal human life that Schrader's film is interested in. Tipping internal scales that produce extreme reactions in the real world is honestly such an important and relevant topic right now. This film really looks at how extreme events can take a toll on people internally, especially for those who cannot find forgiveness (Or other means of healing) within themselves. Sometimes this weight becomes too much for a person to bare, and in some way or another, the weight eventually manifests into worldly action. The danger of entertaining the thought of the extreme manifestation is even subtly and wonderfully put into the dialogue here.

This is an 8.5 out of 10 on my scale. The film has serious weight!

The Card Counter: Yeah, William (Oscar Isaac) counts cards at Black Jack tables, he is also an accomplished poker player, he honed his skills during his years in a military prison. He was one of the fall guys for the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib He explains the odds in Black Jack, how they change as more cards are dealt, his philosophy of poker and other games is expounded. He likes to fly under the radar, not to win too much. An acquaintance La Linda (Tiffany Haddish) wants him to take on a financial backer so that he can move into big time poker tournaments. William is reluctant until he meets Cirk (Tye Sheridan) whose father was also imprisoned due to the Abu Ghraib events. The senior officers and the contractor, Major Goro (Willem Dafoe) who trained them in "interrogation techniques", weren't charged. They encounter Major Goro, now a consultant speaking at a Security convention, William wants to divert Cirk from his plans for revenge against Goro. The world of competitive poker is explored, leading players all have their own quirks, some crack under the pressure. William has his own demons to contend with as he dreams of the atrocities committed at Abu Ghraib. A dark thriller/road movie as William and Cirk travel from casino to casino, there is something of the Eastwood/Bridges vibe from Thunderbolt and Lightfoot between them. Where the film is headed remains open until the final fifteen minutes. Not one you'll forget in a hurry. Written & Directed by Paul Schrader. 8/10.

We really enjoyed this. The acting was superb but if you are expecting a Scorsese film it is not quite that. The story is very engaging and although lacking in the violence and action one might expect it provides a much more fertile place from which we can question our assumptions.

Probably one of the most undervalued. It keeps you alert, thinking about what will happen. The camera changes are spectacular, the flashbacks too, the choice of music, the metaphors and thoughts with voice. Isaac is AWESOME transforming himself into an silent man in pain, Haddish stars in his best picture and Sheridan is unrecognizable.

When I heard that a movie about a card counter , written and directed by Paul Schrader and starring Oscar Isaacs was being released I couldn't wait to get to the theatre to see this . I'm a poker player myself , I love Schrader's work and I think Isaacs is so underrated. So did it live up to expectations?

Absolutely!

If you think this film is just about a card player you couldn't be more wrong .This is a revenge thriller , a love story and movie about redemption. It tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past and it's typical schrader.

You just know that not everyone ( or anyone ) is going to come out of this smelling of roses .

The performances are great . Especially from Isaacs and Tiffany Haddish . A quite unlikely paring but they have a great screen chemistry.

The soundtrack is foreboding just like the film itself and I found myself asking what Bill's motives are . They eventually become crystal clear .

If you are expecting a movie all about card playing you might be disappointed because it's much more than that . I really enjoyed it.

When you think of a Paul Schrader film this is exactly it, a man who has a dark past seeking redemption through the thing he knows best. In the same way Taxi Driver isn't really about driving taxis, this isn't really about card counting, it's really nothing new.

Along with Pig of Nic Cage, The Card Counter is one of the best movies of this year. Why? Well first of all it has a kick ass anti hero portrayed by amazing Oscar Isaacs. He should get an Oscar nomination with this role easily. Secondly, it is the best writing of Schrader after Taxi Driver. Smooth screenplay and narrative structure... Simple but technically flawless cinematography, great supporting characters are bonuses. 8/10.

"The Card Counter" has moments of genuine brilliance but it is certainly not for everyone. There are flaws (Tiffany Haddish is slightly out of her depth here)- yet overall it's a riveting and at times emotionally lacerating film about my favorite subject: redemption.

Oscar Isaac and Tye Sheridan are both terrific playing locked down men wrestling with extremely toxic pasts. And Haddish, though not entirely believable in her role, has at least one scene of pure transcendence while she and Isaac flirt over cocktails. Her response to his line "I like you," is as fresh and unexpected as anything I've seen this year. And thankfully the two have genuine chemistry and supply a much needed dose of sweetness that tempers the dread and regret on display for most of the movie.

I don't know when the idea of American Exceptionalism began to tarnish. Or if it ever really existed outside the minds of crazed patriots clutching the rotting corpse of dead ideals. Certainly the abu ghraib photos were undeniable proof that something sickening was going on at the heart of the lie that "America cares". I've avoided knowing too much about that incident because torture is something I don't want to think about, let alone see images of.

What Paul Schrader deftly and sensitively accomplishes in this film is to find a way to talk about that grotesque turning point in a way that doesn't exploit it or become unwatchable. There are a few images and sounds from inside the hallucinatory memories of William Tell (Isaac) that bring us into that mordant abattoir, but Schrader lets our imaginations do the dirty work, most effectively in a monolog delivered by Isaac (in perhaps the finest five minutes of acting this year) about how a human deals with becoming inhuman.

The film looks great, the scenes of poker playing are tense and exciting, the cocktails look inviting (when Haddish orders a Manhattan and Isaac says he'll have the same, I sat there hypnotized, waiting for those drinks to arrive). And the music from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club lead singer Robert Levon Been is near perfection. When he sings "...in my lonesome aberration..." it seems to be emanating from the ruined center of Isaac's unredeemable soul.

2021 continues to be a landmark year for film.

8.7 for me. Intense and uncomfortable, but you can't take your eyes off the screen. Hard truths are difficult to hear and imagine, a solid grasp and understanding of the back story, allows us to access a mind of something most people know little about. . A strong performance from Oscar Isaac, able to maintain a 'hard basta*d, blood from a stone persona, yet offering a tough love, from the heart feeling for another lost soul. Looking forward to watching the second time round and immerse into the characters

Now I'm just filling up space on characters for a review. I'ts just a synopsis not a spoiler or outline of the story thanks very much for listening.

I rolled the dice and decided to watch "The Card Counter" with moderate expectations, and boy, did it deal me an interesting hand! Oscar Isaac's deadpan expressions make you wonder if he's trying to hide an unbeatable poker face or just needs a strong cup of coffee. Tiffany Haddish brings her sass to the table, making me wish she could deal me into a real-life game. Plus, Willem Dafoe's character is so unhinged, he made me question if he was just practicing for the next Spider-Man movie.

This movie is like a game of poker where you think you know the rules, but then it throws in a wild card and leaves you scratching your head. It's got the tension of a high-stakes poker match, mixed with some unexpected humor. Sure, it might not be the cinematic ace I was hoping for, but it's definitely a winning hand with its unique blend of suspense and wit. I didn't leave the theater a millionaire, but I left with a smile, and that's worth four stars in my book! 🃏💰🤣

A slow burning nuanced film based on a version of actual events from the Iraq invasion and the fallout for those left behind.

Definitely worth a watch.

I can't understand why other people have given this movie such low reviews.

Without adding spoilers you need to pay attention to the dialogue and the nuance and perhaps understand a little bit about the history of the aftermath of the Iraq war to appreciate how the soldiers at a lower level are left behind by the system.

The film is beautifully shot, the acting is great, the ending is great. It's definitely one of the better films I have watched recently.

Is it a good film? I don't know. I am not sure it is the real question here. Is it worth it? Hell yes. It is more tought provoking, intense, weird, vital and important then 99.5% of the movies out there. So give it a try. At worst, you will see wonderful actors and maybe learn a few things about recent history. At best, you will see something else that cinema can be, besides super hero movies and entertainment.

Oscar Isaac brings depth and humanity to this Paul Schrader movie. The story, written by Schrader, shows the depths to which humanity can go to, whilst offering hopes of redemption. It is slow but grips throughout, with Oscar Isaac brilliant in his role as a gambling addict with a dark, traumatic past.

The soundtrack matches the sombre mood of the film, and the final shot as the credits roll, together with the song that accompanies this scene, is very powerful. The supporting cast are also fine.

As has been said in other reviews there are echoes of Taxi Driver, the 1976 classic for which Schrader wrote the screenplay, this film equally memorable yet more subtle.

The Card Counter is a Paul Schrader film through and through. His trademark nihilism is brought to the world of gambling where he focuses on the mind games rather than the payoff. It's a great story about a tortured individual seeking redemption that ends on such a strong final shot.

Oscar Isaac is amazing. He has the perfect voice to deliver the self-loathing monologues and he's fittingly unpredictable as he keeps everything behind a poker face, resulting in an unexpected intensity and vulnerability. He's supported by Tiffany Haddish, Willem Dafoe and Tye Sheridan who all do a lot with potentially one note characters.

Paul Schrader's direction keeps 70s cinema alive visually and narratively. It's a world that perfectly matches its protagonist's view of it with its desaturated colour palette and claustrophobic locations. The soundtrack has a fair few needle drops that add to the overall tone of the film and go on for longer than expected.

"You know the phrase tilt? Just like a pinball, any man can tilt. You could tilt."

Paul Schrader's The Card Counter tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler given a chance in redemption. Soon enough, this road takes him down a path haunted by the ghosts of his past. This is a case where the trailer didn't match the level in which that movie was at. I watched the trailer two or three times and didn't feel it necessary to watch it, even with the greatness that is Paul Schrader. But once the early reviews rolled in from Venice, it surprised us all. Luckily, there was an advanced screening last week and I could attend. We may have been a little late to take our seats and had to sit in the very front row in front of a 40 foot tall screen, but it was worth it. The Card Counter is an interesting thriller that you don't see too often. Schrader has a distinct style. Those who've seen his films know it, and it comes quint in handy here. Had this been in the hands of anyone else, it probably would've been one of those January or August movies that only makes box office money one week and never talked about again. This is indie so it won't make too much, but it's one to remember. The screenplay is smart and well written. The dialogue never felt awkward to me and had a nice flow.

We had a great ensemble of actors for this. Oscar Isaac never disappoints, and though his character is mysterious and we could've gotten a little more, he is very good. Tye Sheridan has more than I expected, but I forgot how good of an actor he is. He's one of those actors that you can tell will have this amazing performance someday and become a household name. As for Tiffany Haddish, I felt a bit conflicted. She fit her character on and off. Maybe it's the writing or just characterization, but I wanted to like her more. It was like she was trying to be serious but she also provides the comedic moments throughout. I think she's a good actress, but maybe this wasn't exactly the best fitting role for her. The story takes quite a few turns. Slowly, and this is a slow burn, it becomes so intense that you're at the edge of your seat. Sometimes it becomes hard to tell where it's trying to go, or goes in places it really doesn't need. The ending conflicted me. I like it, but it didn't need to fall into the place it did. In order to be plausible, we would've needed a scene or two extra. The score and cinematography fit the dark story. The trailer shows a strange combination of camera work, and it may seem weird out of context, but once you see it play out it works well. Everything falls into place nicely. Paul Schrader is a writing and director that I find myself getting excited for with each new film. This isn't his best, but one that surprises and stands out this year.

The Methodical Pace of this Film is amazing. Structured thinking like the Sheets over the Furniture routine. Blackjack and Poker scenes excite backed by a searing Soundtrack. The Flashback scenes are horrific but explain actions. William (Oscar Isacc) bonds well with Cirk (Tye Sheridan) and La Linda (Tiffany Haddisch) and they become a traveling team. One seeking Revenge on Gordo (Willem Dafoe) which starts the relationship and connection. William just wants to play cards but is sucked in attempting to help Cirk and Win for La Linda.. Film climax at World Series of Poker in Las Vegas when things unravel. Final Scene when La Linda visits dramatic as heck. Touchings hands 🤝🏼