New The Gambler Movie Received Mixed Reviews From Major Critics
Paramount Pictures released their new drama film, “The Gambler,” into theaters yesterday, December 25th, and all the reviews have been turned in from the top, major movie critics in the biz. It turns out that they were pretty mixed with their opinions, giving it an overall 55 score out of a possible 100 across 31 reviews at the Metacritic.com site.
The movie stars: John Goodman, Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Lange, Brie Larson and Michael Kenneth Williams. We’ve provided blurbs from a few of the critics, below.
Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle, gave it a 75 score, saying: “Actually, Mom is the essential difference between Wahlberg and Caan. Caan has the glow of mother love on him. Wahlberg plays Jim as having made the adjustment to a lack of love, but in a twisted way. He’s gambling now to see if the universe loves him.”
Kyle Smith over at the New York Post, gave it a 75 grade. He stated: “Dialogue, we seem to have forgotten, matters, and the words — by the brutally funny screenwriter of “The Departed,” William Monahan — are electric eels, slithering and sinister and nasty. They sneak up and sting you, or sometimes tickle your toes. Lowlifes don’t actually talk this way? Yeah. But if only they did.”
Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter, gave it a 70 score, saying: ” In nearly every scene, Wahlberg carries off the central role with what could be called determined elan.”
Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times, gave it a 63 grade, saying: ” Wahlberg has grown so much as an actor we can pretty much buy him as a college professor/author. There’s just not enough depth to the character of Jim, and not much of a story arc.”
Elizabeth Witzman over at the New York Daily News, gave it a 60 grade. He said: “Understatement is one of Mark Wahlberg’s greatest assets. But that admirable trait winds up working against him in The Gambler, Rupert Wyatt’s otherwise intriguing dramatic thriller.”
Manohla Dargis at the The New York Times, gave it a 50 grade, saying: ” Mr. Wyatt’s direction is smooth, although he’s more confident, and the movie more convincing, when he goes for baroque with the story’s excesses.”
Mark Olsen at the Los Angeles Times, gave it a 50 grade, saying: ” Wyatt, Monahan and Wahlberg never seem quite settled on what they want to say with the character or the story, so the film feels marked not by ambiguity but uncertainty.”
Justin Chang at Variety, gave it a 50 grade. He stated: ” A movie of slick, surface-level pleasures that’s unpersuasive at its core.”
Chris Nashawaty from Entertainment Weekly, gave it a 42 score, stating: “The one bit of good news is that the first Gambler is currently streaming on Netflix. Do yourself a favor and watch that one instead.”
Peter Keough at the Boston Globe, gave it a 38 score. He stated: ” It’s just like the Kenny Rogers song says: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” It’s time for this Gambler to walk away.”
Finally, Claudia Puig at USA Today, gave it a bad 38 grade, claiming: “The Gambler is a hollow, overwrought and glibly cynical remake of a ’70s drama about a self-destructive academic.” Stay tuned. Also, get your favorite Movie stuff, and more by Clicking Here.
