I have never been one for gambling. I’ve only been to a casino three times and left within an hour. I’ve always been afraid and slightly fascinated with people that have become addicted to gambling. So when I saw a movie called “The Gambler” in theaters, it was a no-brainer to check it out.

The movie, staring Mark Wahlberg, portrays a professor and son of a very rich family who can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. Whenever he walks in to a gambling ring, he heads to the black jack table and bets everything. That’s what he is about; all or nothing.

He will almost without fail win the first round, then bet it all again. This cycle continues until he inevitably loses. Then to make up for his loss and need of more money, he turns to different gangsters for loans. Through this cycle, he digs himself into deeper and deeper trouble as the gangsters start demanding their money back when he has none to give.

I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I will say that it is surprising.

For the professor, he had one problem from the beginning. He believed in all or nothing. He would rather have it all, or nothing at all. He only saw the world as one side or another. There was no in between for him, no just going down the middle or having

just enough.

He also believed that if you have it all or nothing, you can’t have people hold things over your head and tell you that you don’t

deserve something.

Now, these things I’m telling you may not make sense, but it will once you watch

the movie.

I don’t know how I feel about the movie. I liked it because the movie had me sitting on the edge of my seat at times. That moment when you hold your breath with the main character when the dealer reveals the cards and their fate is invigorating. The chemistry of the main character with the gangsters was scary. You never knew what was going to happen next.

However, there were a lot of flaws in the story line as well. I didn’t like how the main character could just carry on monologues with other people and have it portrayed like that could actually happen. He seemed like a guy who loved to hear himself talk and people didn’t mind staying quiet for him for five minutes at a time. Sorry, but that is just annoying, especially if you’re just preaching.

In all, I would give the movie a 7 out of 10. It is a good movie to watch maybe once it goes onto Redbox or Netflix, but I wouldn’t pay to see it in the theater unless you have a discount.