I think I was ten years old, when I first saw this movie. And i thought it was a great movie. And I still do. Edward Norton plays the best friend the we all have had. That we feel the obligation to protect.Its just a great movie, If You haven't seen it, You have to. ;)

John Dahl's Rounders is the premier poker movie, an utterly charming, never too serious and surprisingly slight look at the lives of several very different individuals whose lives revolve around the game in New York City. The main focus lands on two young men who are fast friends, yet reside on somewhat opposite sides of the responsibility coin. Poker prodigy Mike (Matt Damon) has since given up his art after a soul crushing loss to local Russian bigwig Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). He's content to simmer in solitude with his perky girlfriend (Gretchen Mol, who never fails to convince me that she's Samantha Mathis until I double check on IMDb). Right in time to disrupt his quiet life is cocky street rat Worm (Edward Norton), fresh out of prison and looking for the type of trouble that landed him there in the first place. It's to long before he's racked up some serious debt to dangerous people with ties to Teddy KGB, and Mike is forced to come out of retirement and risk everything he has once again, this time for his friend. The poker scenes are staged with meticulous eye for detail and mannerisms in attempt to put you at the same table as the players, and it's nifty to see each acting style played to the microscopic hilt as Dahl maintains patient focus on his work. Norton is appropriately scuzzy with just a dollop of endearing, scrappy charm and Damon fills the protagonist's shoes very well. It's Malkovich, however, who pulls the stops out and is my favourite character of the piece. With a muddy Russian accent that rivals his french one from Johnny English, a lazily snarky streak with just a hint of intimidation and a bag of oreos at his side without fail, he's a hoot, holler and a half as the life of the poker party. Sexy Famke Janssen has as great bit as as shady chick with eyes for Damon and connections with dodgy folks, expertly playing the half sweet and seductive, half menacing game. Watch for topnotch work from John Turturro, Josh Pais, Michael Rispoli, Josh Mostel, Adam Lefevre, David Zayas, Goran Visjnic, Lenny Clarke and Martin Landau in an earnest turn as a kindly professor who looks out for Mike. It's short, sweet, concisely paced, tightly written, flawlessly acted and wonderfully entertaining stuff.

Firstly to get this straight this is not tutorial about poker. If you do not know the rules of certain poker game or poker rules and manner of play, then do not expect that after this movie your knowledge is greater. So that once again this is not a tutorial about poker, but great drama that is used as the theme of the story of a poker player. Mike McDermott is a law student, part of his scholarship paid by means of poker. Known as a player who plays it safe, but everything changes when one night in a game against Teddy KGB, loses all savings of $ 30000th stops gambling, until his old friend Worm does not come out of prison and drag again in the world of poker, debts and Russian criminals. Matt Damon and Edward Norton are great played their roles. Matt Damon really totally fits the description of a good the guy who is trying to achieve something in life, right, who has the ambition and who would never cheat on poker table. While Edward Norton is a real bad guy who is always in trouble, always gets into more trouble than that each worse than the last, and always at the table looking for a particular advantage in the form of cheating and tricks with cards.Matt Damon and Edward Norton are actually played his great roles but John Malkovich is perfectly played the role of a Russian gangster Teddy KGB. Movie adorn excellent scene. The last party between Mike and Teddy KGB, I felt like I was with them in a stuffy basement of the smoke, where time has stopped and everyone watching two masters how play. For poker fans, this is a movie that you must see for the other ones I'm not sure whether you like it or not but definitely recommend this movie to anyone.

"First prize at the World Series of Poker is a million bucks. Does it have my name on it? I don't know. But, I'm gonna find out."These are the last lines from Rounders, the best movie ever made about poker. Their meaning, in my opinion, is that everyone one with poker skills has chances to win WSOP. You just need to believe it and play really well.I absolutely enjoyed the movie and the actor's performances( Edward Norton just doesn't know how to play badly). One of my friend's recommended me this movie, and I can only say that I was delighted by it. I consider myself an intensive poker player (Texas Hold'em), as I spent some of my nights in front of my computer playing non-stop poker on the internet(Pokerstars especially). Knowing the game really well, played a big role in my opinion about this movie. Movie which, i think, expresses very good the feelings you experience playing one your own. The ones who played poker before watching the movie, most probably found themselves in some of Mike's situations and choices. I also like that in the movie, poker is not considered a game of luck, but a game of patience and real skills.So, if you are a poker player, just watch it. You'll love it. It's like a story where it is explained in an original manner how Texas Hold'em Poker is played or should be played. Tells you about Luck, Why Play It, Winning, Losing and most important .. How to get back on your feet and star all over again.. with nothing, except high poker skills. Even if you lose, there is always another hand. If you're not a poker player... you'll be after you'll watch this movie. Trust me.