THE GAMBLER

Lit professor and gambler Jim Bennett’s debt causes him to borrow money from his mother and a loan shark. Further complicating his situation is his relationship with one of his students. Will Bennett risk his life for a second chance? — IMDB

This one pretty much falls flat. I found it unengaging, little real tension, and Wahlberg not quite up to the task of playing a nuanced character. Visually and technically, it’s a polished movie. But there’s nothing about it that ultimately convinces us of its authenticity. There are no risks taken in the retelling of this 1970s movie and little creativity. Spend your money on something else.