Rounders
DOWN &
DIRTY:
Drama: After his friend's release
from prison, a young man must
decide whether to continue with
his new life as a law school
student, or get back into the
world of high stakes poker.
NITTY GRITTY:
Mike McDermott (MATT DAMON) is a
former card shark turned law
school student. After losing his
entire savings to Teddy KGB (JOHN
MALKOVICH), a tough Russian
player, Mike has given up the
cards for a better life that
includes live-in girlfriend and
fellow law student, Jo (GRETCHEN
MOL).
Things change when Mike picks up
his buddy, Les "Worm"
Murphy (EDWARD NORTON), who has
just been released from prison.
Still in debt for his gambling
losses, Worm wants to use the
poker skills he honed in prison
and urges Mike to return as his
partner.
Mike is tempted, but remembers
his promise to Jo that he'd given
up the game. Also, he doesn't
want to ruin a promising law
career being helped along by his
law school dean, professor
Petrovsky (MARTIN LANDAU).
Mike is dragged back into the
game when Petra (FAMKE JANSSEN)
tells him that Worm has wracked
up several thousand dollars debt
on Mike's credit. The news gets
worse when both Mike and Worm
learn that the debt has been
assumed by Teddy KGB.
With just a few days to pay back
Worm's $15,000 debt or face the
wrath of Grama (MICHAEL RISPOLI),
Mike takes on the risky and
dangerous task of clearing his
friend's debt.
THE ENDING:
Mike goes to his law professor
Petrovsky and explains his
situation. Petrovsky gives him
$10,000, but it's not enough to
pay the debt. Mike takes the
money and plays Teddy KGB in a
game of winner take all. Mike
figures out Teddy's 'tell' is
eating the Oreo cookies and beats
Teddy and pays off Worm's debt.
Then he takes the remaining money
and heads to Las Vegas to take
his chances in the World Series
of Poker.
WHAT EVERYONE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT:
John Malkovich's Teddy
KGB. Was that supposed to be a
Russian accent? Have another Oreo
cookie.
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