Honestly this movie is one of those made just for college kids. I personally don't think it is that bad of a movie, more to the contrary i think it is one of those quality film production from first time movie directors.(i think he is email me if i am wrong). However i wonder why the movies pace was all over the place. It went fast and slow and then all over the place. More to the point if you wanted to watch this movie it is a great 90 minutes of passing time. However if your looking for a movie more based on drama in the casino go watch the movie Casino. This movie more or less touches on many subjects involved with the casino. How people cheat casinos and so on! But the thing about this movie that bugs me the most is the stereo types portrayed in the movie. They put the movies players in roles whereby we all know exactly what they are and how the movie will involve them when we first meet them. Enough ranting. End of the day. Good movie.

A great watch because you can tell a great deal of time was spent getting the gambling details and terminology correct. A non gambler may watch this movie and not pick up on that, but for die hard, committed, everyday punters like myself, the movie comes off as a great snapshot of what would happen (and does everyday) in the gambling world.The essence of the movie is this - a gambler must try and put the odds in his or her favour before they make a bet. Otherwise in the long run (unless they are extremely lucky) the percentages will work against the player and a loss will be generated. For example, at blackjack if the player plays sensibly at level stakes without counting cards, the house edge is about 1 to 2%. So if you outlay $10,000 in one session, you can expect to lose on average $100 to $200.However, in this movie the college professor behind the blackjack team gets them to count cards to put the odds in the long run in the players favour, not the casinos. The 3 students in the movie learn how to keep a running count of cards. When the count is in the players favour (ie when there are more tens to aces in the remaining deck rather then low value cards) it is time to increase the bet to take advantage of the count. Likewise when the count is in the casinos favour, the bet should be reduced to the bare minimum.After a few teething problems, the maths genius team of youngsters hit their straps and the system brings in big reliable profits. The movie captures the problem of gambling addiction very well. The professor who teaches the students the system loses nearly all of his share of the profits from the blackjack team on the horses and trots. Why does he do this?? Because of the adrenalin rush gamblers get from gambling. He knows the odds are against him when he plays the horses (it is very difficult to beat a 20% takeout edge that the betting agencies take out of the pool before paying out winning customers, unless you are an astute judge of form or have fixed a race). But he cannot help himself. He must be gambling all the time to get his fix, similar to the high of a drug addict I would imagine. He puts the odds in his favour with the blackjack but gives it back on the ponies. He's a gambling addict. And there's the rub because people can and do make money from gambling. Casinos on a whole do very well, bookmakers generally do and there are a few dedicated professionals that make a decent living from simply betting. They win by putting the odds in THEIR FAVOUR. This is a storyline that the movie catches beautifully.Eventually the students are shut down by the casinos because they want losers in their casinos not winners. They go their separate ways but you can tell they all seem to have been bitten by the gambling bug. Who wouldn't be attracted to working for yourself, working your own hours and only having yourself to blame if things turn nasty. The reality is then that gambling would turn out to be more like a job, the glamour is taken away by the fact that you have to be concentrating all the time to maintain your competitive edge. However it's a job that is a lot more entertaining and enjoyable than your standard office or factory job where there is limited freedom or flexibility. Plus the world is your office.All in all, a well written, well acted movie. The female student lead was especially hot, and I hope big things are in store for her down the line.I would certainly rate The Last Casino up there with other great gambling movies such as The Runner, Let It Ride, Rounders and Bookies.

Alright I admit...I have been known to poke fun at "uniquely" Canadian films. This seems to mean that it has to include Beer, Hockey, horrible East Coast accents, boats of some kind, winter, and Native Americans. For the first time EVER I come across an ACTUALLY unique Canadian film, that doesn't force feed the world stereotypes by our own people.The Last Casino is the story of a gambling addicted card counting University Professor who works for professionals who have been bankrolling him up until his latest Casino catches on to him as a professional and bars him for life. His financial support pulls out and wants their bankroll back but unfortunately Professor Doug Barnes has blown the bankroll on his own obsession...horse racing. Barnes encourages his financiers to give him another shot by training a team of top University Math Students, genius' to count cards and work together to triple the profit. They give him some time to do such. Barnes begins to assemble the best possible team he can find. Elyse, a photographic memory, outspoken, independent and smart. Scott a brilliant Math student who is as smooth as he is brilliant and finally George a nervous, shy but astounding analytical mind. Barnes teaches them everything they need to do from the counting to the disguises and sends them out promising them a 50% split between them which would make them rich. The plan is foolproof until the team starts to slip and Barnes gambling addiction gets worse. When it comes down to it, Barnes will try to double cross the team while paying back his financiers but are they too smart for him?? A truly dark comedy with a unique and talented cast. There were some familiar faces for good measure in the necessary character roles. The freakishly frightening looking Julian Richings as the guy with all the cash and Charles Martin Smith as the pitiful but brilliant Professor Barnes. The kids are the real shining point though. The strangely seductive Katharine Isabelle in a very outspoken role, a strong female lead. Kris Lemche as the cocky Scott who adds a certain amount of male hunk to the film and the comically funny, and yet tragically entertaining George is played by Albert Chung. The three of them, although very different characters play off each other and have a great chemistry as a team. Their constant fights and squabbles show of their differences in character but in the end working together as a team works best. They need each other and the three of them are more loners than they care to admit in different ways. The Last Casino takes you into a very dark, broody, yet flashy world of cards and gambling with an overtone that makes it suspenseful and interesting. It's definitely a good watch for anyone looking for something different and something Canadian with actual Brains for once. 7.5/10

I second the comment that this movie is one of the best of 2004. I'll actually go as far as to say this is THE best movie of 2004! The brilliant writing, convincing acting, skilled directing, and all other aspects of this film come together wonderfully to create a masterpiece. The plot is fresh and fairly unconventional, releasing its pathway from the overused movie plot clone formulae of Hollywood (ugh). The characters are all very lifelike and are performed masterfully by the actors! The music is also well done. I never felt myself distracted by flamboyant themes, but instead was drawn in by the music which worked perfectly to enhance the action on screen. I can't wait to see future movies by this relatively new director, skilled writer, and these great new actors.I recommend this movie whole-heartedly! Bravo Canada!