A Full House of Poker Movies

List creator: underdog Created on: October 26, 2007 - 12:06 AM PDT Description: Some of the best - and some not as great - films set around the card table. Ante up.

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	movie title	related list	average rating	MPAA rating	watch	rent	buy
	A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)			Not Rated
Western set around poker game which Fonda blows and his wife (Woodward) saves his behind. Underrated.
	Cincinnati Kid (1965)			Not Rated
Not a great movie and yet one of the best poker movies - go figure. A stellar cast of character actors and some great gaming action. Plus, Steve McQueen!
	Rounders (1998)
Damon and Norton square off vs. Malkovich's oily Russian crime boss. Highly watchable poker-playing, even if it's often quite unrealistic; with cameo by Johnny Chan.
	Maverick (1994)
Fluffy escapist fun, with amusing climatic poker challenge.
	California Split (1974)
Very 70s, very Altman but still one of the best poker movies - showing the sleazier, downbeat side of gambling.
	Lucky You (2007)
Not as bad as some critics had it, but not all that great either. not much chemistry, it plays a little flat but some of the Duvall-Bana stuff is decent and the cardplaying works. Except in ludicrous finale.
	House of Games (Criterion Collection) (1987)
The pyschology of playing cards, playing games - and playing other people - in this brilliantly written Mamet work. "You can't bluff someone who's not paying attention."
	The Gambler (1974)
Extremely overlooked film, one of the best about card-playing and gambling. One of Caan's best roles.
	Gambling City (1976)			Not Rated
Underrated Italian crime film.
	Croupier (1998)			Not Rated
Not a poker movie but a good poker scene. Plus: Clive Owen. Card dealer. Nuff said.
	Casino Royale (2006)
A no-brainer of course, and there's a lot of action away from the card tables, but the gaming here is superb.
	Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (Director's Cut) (1998)			Not Rated
Also not a poker movie per se, but, great scene; to quote runawayjim: "one of my fave poker scenes ever"
	No Limit: A Search for the American Dream on the Poker Tournament Trail (2006)
	The Grand (2007)
Uneven and frequently falls like a lead balloon, but there are also some hilarious moments and great characterizations by a game cast. (Dig director Werner Herzog playing an insane poker player called The German. Gabe Kaplan is good, too. A mess but worth a watch)