tomsview I would have thought the main reason for using narration in a film was to help the audience understand what was happening on screen. "Croupier" uses narration, in fact, it is a key element in the movie; however, it clarifies very little and actually makes parts of the film even harder to follow. What it does do is give an insight into the personality of the narrator and hero of the story, Jack Manfred, whose basic philosophy is: "Hang on tightly and let go lightly"."Croupier", as the name suggests is about gambling. During the course of the film blackjack and the roulette wheel feature prominently. To the uninitiated, some of the gambling procedures are obscure, and the script provides little help in understanding them.The story is about a struggling writer, Jack Manfred played by Clive Owen, who becomes a croupier to make ends meet. His previous experiences in this capacity have left bitter memories, but he soon impresses his new employer with his prowess at the gaming tables. The job puts pressure on his relationship with his girlfriend, Marion, played by Gina McKee.Despite the casino rules, he becomes attracted to Jani, a female gambler played by Alex Kingston (with a fairly convincing South African accent). Jani is under pressure from creditors and talks Jack into helping rob the casino. Things take an unexpected turn with Jack writing a bestselling novel based on his experiences.Although the plot seems straightforward when spelled out like this, much of what happens is hard to follow. Don't make a cup of coffee during this movie, let alone go to the bathroom; otherwise it could become totally indecipherable.The film maintains a lively pace, building tension towards the robbery scene, but when it finally arrives, it is decidedly anti-climatic. It seems that in their attempts to create something fresh and avoid the obvious, the makers of the film also forgot how to reward an audience for staying the course.The characters in "Croupier" are relentlessly unsympathetic. They spend a great deal of their time at the blackjack table or at the roulette wheel; the focus of their world is on themselves and their addiction to gambling. Jack Manfred is cynical, egotistical, stern faced and humourless. Although he seems devoid of real charm, women in this movie are drawn to him, but he cheats on them, and treats them badly without exception.The movie ends with the revelation that the Jack's father may have had a hand in events that unfold during the course of the movie. This rings a little false as the father's character is only briefly sketched in the film, and for the plot to then hinge on his involvement undermines what had been up until then, a perceptive if somewhat cynical story line."Croupier" is original and different – even if opportunities have been missed to fully involve the audience with its unappealing and self-seeking characters.

secondtake The Croupier (1998)Take a steady, steely very young Clive Owen and give him a mysterious past in the gambling dens of South Africa. Then have him need a job in London--at a casino. That's the movie, and all the almost inevitable pressures on him to eventually either cheat of get involved in a crime. But he gives the appearance of having been there and done that and he's cool as a cucumber. And very effective. This is one of this first really movie roles (after years of British t.v.) and you can see how he is a whole level above his peers. There isn't really a bad performance in the bunch, but lots of just serviceable stuff that lets him do his thing. The plot builds nicely, with some subtle twists and decent writing. The ending is a weirdly flat experience--meant to be shocking and open-ended no doubt--which makes you re-evaluate the climax right before that. Owes plays it all as if nothing mattered, though he does on the inside seem affected.The other twist here, almost unnecessary but it works, is that Owen is also writing a book about it all, and he sometimes (through voice-over narration) confuses and conflates the lead character in the book with himself. They are of course the same, sort of, but not too closely or he'd get caught.At doing whatever he is really doing. Never mind all the possible flaws in the plot, it clicks overall and it's intriguing. It also has a nice, if a bit brightly illuminated (t.v. style) filming. Solid, low budget stuff. And an entry into the life of a mega-actor to be. Oh, and I wouldn't call it a noir (or neo-noir) even with all the voiceovers and the alienated lead male--it lacks the other element of pure style, which this functional movie avoids too well.

FlashCallahan Jack Manfred is a struggling novelist in London. To make ends meet, he sells his beloved car and gets a job as a croupier at the Golden Lion Casino.Jack had previous training as such back in South Africa. He doesn't particularly like being a croupier, but he's good at it and finds a certain pleasure in watching gamblers, for who he has disdain, lose. The casino has a strict set of employee policies, including no gambling ever, no relationships with other casino employees and no fraternising at all with the gamblers - also known as the punters - outside of the casino. Although Jack cannot tolerate cheaters, he is not averse to bending rules when it suits him As time goes on, he begins to observe casino life with a certain distance, through the eyes of "Jake", the main character in his novel and his alter ego......A lot of people do not get this film because of the fact that it's jack playing out his character Jake for the second half of the film, and no the film noir some think it is.This is a man in purgatory, living a life that no one wants, starting work as his girlfriend finishes, and comes home when she is going to work, the people he meets are false, or desperate, and when he gets close, they disappear or turn out to be something different.So why not live out a fantasy world, in order to get your dream underway (writing your novel).Many have said that Owen is wooden in this, I disagree greatly here, his motivation is to play someone unattached with the real world, to appear withdrawn, after all the world he is in at work is full of fantasy and falsehood.The rest of the cast are great, and the ending lets the movie down ever so slightly, but all in all it's an amazing movie, full of vibrant images, and that undoubted cheap nineties feel.

Paul Creeden I recently watched this film for the sixth or seventh time. When referring to the IMDb file, I noticed that I had never voted or commented on it. I have given it an extremely rare (for me) 10 vote. Clive Owen is now big news, but his talent has never shown more brilliantly than in this film. His subtle use of gesture and eye movement is masterful. I find him riveting in this character. The rest of the cast is also evenly talented. I especially enjoy Kate Hardie as Bella. This is one of the moodiest films I have ever seen. It sucks you in and holds you. The beauty of it for me is that the arc of Jack's character is not in the least bit flat, despite the blunt darkness of the film. It is the closest thing in quality to Michael Caine's early angry-young-man flicks. Mike Hodges directed Caine in "Get Carter", which was retooled by Hodges with Clive Owen as "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead", another wonderfully moody film. Clive Owen has the potential to be one of the very few male superstars of our age.