Wahlberg! I expected a lot more. Normally when I see he is in a movie it turns out pretty good. But not this time. When you don't like the main character it is hard to enjoy the movie. If you ate at a restaurant and the food was bad, would you go back again? No. Michael Williams and John Goodman did an excellent job portraying big time bad guys. But it was not enough because Markie Mark was unlikable. I also found the story predictable. My advice. Don't watch this.

Screenwriter and self confessed compulsive gambler James Toback joined William Monahan to concoct this rather bizarre but ultimately fascinating film about a very bright English Literature Associate Professor who is an inveterate gambler. Rupert Wyatt directs this cross between philosophy of life and the dangers of the life of gambling. Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman in a superb performance), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett's future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance.The strange admixture of classroom teaching with students whose views of learning vary from creativity to going pro-basketball (Anthony Kelley) bring out some interesting philosophical comments from Jim the teacher to the underworld of crime and gambling that is complicated by Jim's addiction to the 'sport' ultimately makes for a thought provoking film. There are some fine supporting roles by Andre Braugher, George Kennedy, Alvin Ing, Richard Schiff, but in the end the performances by John Goodman and Mark Wahlberg are the focus of the odd but compelling drama.

The Gambler is terrible - just a mess. I like Mark Wahlberg, but again he seems miscast as Jim Bennett, disgruntled and disillusioned English Lit teacher who is addicted to gambling. Wahlberg struggles to portray this poor little rich kid who's had everything, yet values none of it. The only positive is that Bennett knows he's a jerk, and secretly is hoping that someone will take him out of his misery. Wahlberg is much better in comedy, and roles where his natural down to earthiness fit the role much better.He has a disgruntled relationship with his English Lit class, demeaning the kids who have scholarships and are just in class because it's required. Bennett tries to act cool, but it just comes off as stupid. Then at night, he goes into his gambling world and strives to gamble until he loses everything.Jessica Lange plays his mother - she's the only reason I give this a 3 instead of a 1. She's terrific as his angry rich Mom who enables her spoiled brat son, but finally comes to her senses. Also, John Goodman is pretty good as this loan shark Frank who is brutally honest about what the consequences are of not paying back money borrowed from him.Finally, Bennett has a relationship of sorts with his student played by Brie Larson. She also works in the gambling house he attends, so she knows all the off-school stuff he does. But instead of digging more deeply into the whys of gambling addiction via expanding their time together, the movie goes completely off the tracks with stupid scenes and just bad scripting. In the end, there's a Rocky-like epiphany, but I just wanted to scream because there was no build up, no reason, no good anything about why what happens would decide to happen at that point. I just threw my hands up in the air and said, boy this is stupid.Bad casting, so-so acting, crummy screenplay, bad story. Avoid The Gambler. You want to see a good gambler movie, re-watch The Sting. But don't bet your time on The Gambler. It's a loser.

If you're expecting anyone to get murdered in this film, you're going to be very disappointed. There's almost no violence which is something i expected after seeing the trailer. i honestly think you could watch the trailer and be more satisfied than actually watching the film. the only good part about the movie was john Goodman. it almost seems like the movie will be good within the first ten minutes but it just goes downhill from there. I expect to see a lot more crime going on when i see a movie like this. HUGE let down. I almost stopped watching but i was sure someone was going to be murdered toward the end. it never happened. it was a waste of two hours. don't watch it.