I loved this movie. Brilliant men like Axel always find philosophical reasons to justify their innate self-destructive tendencies. His true pure psychopathology is best exemplified in the scene where he tells Hips he could clean the floor with him, but picking sure things has no “juice”. If he knows he will win there is no thrill. This is were we see that once you strip away his title and education, nothing is left but a man suffering from severe self-destructive tendencies. His scarred face in the end of the move become the physical manifestation of his scarred personality.
Greatest dialogue in a movie IMHO, was in "Things to do in Denver when your dead". Came out around the same time as 'Pulp Fiction' but did nothing at the box office. It's in my top 10, yet anyone I've ever mentioned it to has never heard of it.....!
Terrific movie! The music score was aptly chosen! James Caan's gambling addiction comes to a climatic summit!!!! This deserves a criterion blu-ray release!
One of my favorite films. One of the best films of all time. Should have won several Oscars. Unfortunately,I can't find it on dvd. I've asked the library I'm presently at to search for it. No luck so far. Haven't seen the entire film in decades. It used to play on one of our local channels every now and then. Used to ask a now defunct video rental spot if they could get it. Again,no luck:it hadn't been transferred to dvd. Caan is fantastic,spot on as a hopelessly addicted gambler who right to the end never stops taking that last risk,who can't quit even when facing a very possible death. The thrill,as he admires his nasty gash,never leaves him. Maybe the best film ending ever.
This movie is a lot better than the remake because its more realistic. You feel the character goes to extremes without it being unbelievable, so it is more real and tougher to watch some scenes.
@@scottmandu8316Yes. Also, my interpretation was this. Seeing how he just corrupted his student player, when they caught each other's eyes as the game ended, plus the thoughts of Axel's mother and the impact on her pushed Axel to the final scene. Once he gambled his life, maybe that would break his gambling addiction, because it was the ultimate gamble.
he does it because he enjoys the thrill of possibility to lose, even if it means gambling his own life because he is confident that in the end he will always win
walter white no, he’s willing to die, that’s what gives him the thrill. He can’t handle living a safe boring life. He wants his life to either be constantly at risk or to end.
Axel’s mirror smirk is a way of proving that willpower is greater than anything anyone can put themselves through. No amount of security, liberty, danger, or pain can limit his or her freedom to chose. Even when the choices are irrational by nature. Axel is presented to know and understand the endgame of all his situations. Axel is actually more rational than all of the people who keep losing their wagers against him. There is no context he is unfamiliar with so there is no real way to contain or intimidate him. Axel’s story isn’t about whether he is wrong or right because the movie indicates that his beliefs are correct beyond the shadow of a doubt. The moral is simpler. The movie is just about addiction’s destructiveness and where it can lead.
I agree with the other replies, but I would add something. After the game ended, Paul Sorvino puts his hand on Axel's shoulder, and Axel pulls away from him. At this point, I believe Axel is disgusted with himself, for tainting his student/player/college so heavily. He's also walking away from the ordeal unscathed. And recall his mother telling him he has to come to grips with whatever is causing him to do this. He has an earlier flashback scene, dancing with his mother, happier times. The combination of all this now drives him to take the walk downtown and put his own life at grave risk. He now has the permanent scar. And perhaps he made his final gamble.
He claims an idea is true because he wants it to be true, because he says it is true. An the issue isn't whether he is right but whether he has the will to believe he is right, no matter how many proofs that says he is wrong. Fyodor Dostoevsky or Donald Trump?
Actually, this applies to many powerful people. The 2020 college football season coping with the Covid pandemic was a great example. Big 10 and Pac 10 conferences immediately panicked and postponed the entire season until the Spring while the SEC said "NOPE." When the SEC season rolled along (sans in person spectators) with very few hitches, powerful Big Ten and Pac Ten officials took quite some time to admit their error.
@@johnconway9882 False Equivalency.....They admitted their error after looking out for welfare of their students. They didn't have anything to gain and a lot to lose by canceling the season. Donald Trump has the will to believe he is right, no matter how many proofs that he didn't win the election.
Caan’s best performance… RIP , cowboy
RIP. Lost a great one
I loved this movie. Brilliant men like Axel always find philosophical reasons to justify their innate self-destructive tendencies. His true pure psychopathology is best exemplified in the scene where he tells Hips he could clean the floor with him, but picking sure things has no “juice”. If he knows he will win there is no thrill. This is were we see that once you strip away his title and education, nothing is left but a man suffering from severe self-destructive tendencies. His scarred face in the end of the move become the physical manifestation of his scarred personality.
Well said
The ending of this movie is perfect. James Caan’s best performance IMO.
One of my top 10 ... forever. GREATEST dialogue ever.
Greatest dialogue in a movie IMHO, was in "Things to do in Denver when your dead". Came out around the same time as 'Pulp Fiction' but did nothing at the box office.
It's in my top 10, yet anyone I've ever mentioned it to has never heard of it.....!
One of the best if not the best gambling movie all time. James caan is a class act.
Caan's finest performance
Terrific movie! The music score was aptly chosen! James Caan's gambling addiction comes to a climatic summit!!!! This deserves a criterion blu-ray release!
Rest In Peace to this legend. James Caan The GOAT 🐐
The descending intervals of the opening of the Mahler brilliantly expresses the character’s decent into self-destruction. Haunting…
check out Mahler in Death in Venice - I reckon you have already : )
Such a Great film, James Caan.
M Rosen.....Absolutely brilliant film. ''Once you ain't a virgin no more, you're a whore till you die''. [Hips] The 1970's - best era for films.
Can't think of an actor who could have pulled off this role better than James Caan.
RIP JIMMY
One of my favorite films. One of the best films of all time. Should have won several Oscars. Unfortunately,I can't find it on dvd. I've asked the library I'm presently at to search for it. No luck so far. Haven't seen the entire film in decades. It used to play on one of our local channels every now and then. Used to ask a now defunct video rental spot if they could get it. Again,no luck:it hadn't been transferred to dvd. Caan is fantastic,spot on as a hopelessly addicted gambler who right to the end never stops taking that last risk,who can't quit even when facing a very possible death. The thrill,as he admires his nasty gash,never leaves him. Maybe the best film ending ever.
It's on YT.
I got it twice on dvd on eBay over the years. It is region one only. There is this version that’s in the video.
I had the same problem for months. I finally bought it on Blu-Ray, on which it's recently been re-released, and borrowed my adult daughter's machine!
@@andrewtrainer3772 Never thought of that because I never see it anywhere. Did you get it online?
GREAT fucking movie
44,000 that's 6 Eldorado's! Great line
Great inflation.
Three Reasons: James Caan, James Caan, James Caan
Music - Mahler's Symph. #1. Wonderful.
Otra obra maestra de Karel Reisz
Fantastic. Could not agree more.
Great movie.
Great movie.
When they Knew How to Make Movies...
Wahlberg couldn't tie Jimmy Caan's shoelaces.
Harvard, Ga Tech and UCLA
Yes. And the Lakers Sonics game was also perfection, with Chick Hearn. Lauren Hutton was also excellent.
Sonny, in the Witness Protection Program.
So I’m guessing this and The Killing of A Chinese Bookie is what the Safdies had in mind for making Uncut Gems?
6 Eldorado's , LOL. Mobsters love their Cadillac's.
This movie is a lot better than the remake because its more realistic. You feel the character goes to extremes without it being unbelievable, so it is more real and tougher to watch some scenes.
Yes, I thought the remake was a complete train wreck. The original version was perfection.
Does anyone understand the ending of this movie seems to nothing to do with the rest of the movie
Willing to gamble his life
@@scottmandu8316Yes. Also, my interpretation was this. Seeing how he just corrupted his student player, when they caught each other's eyes as the game ended, plus the thoughts of Axel's mother and the impact on her pushed Axel to the final scene. Once he gambled his life, maybe that would break his gambling addiction, because it was the ultimate gamble.
Linda película, no está aquí ni en ninguna parte si alguien sabe le agrdeceré me indique donde encontrarla
Is this in NY? If so, I need to watch again
Yes. Many of the outside scenes are filmed in the Upper end of Manhattan/Bronx/Harlem.
I just watched it and can't figure out the end. Anyone help out?
he does it because he enjoys the thrill of possibility to lose, even if it means gambling his own life because he is confident that in the end he will always win
walter white no, he’s willing to die, that’s what gives him the thrill. He can’t handle living a safe boring life. He wants his life to either be constantly at risk or to end.
He took the ultimate gamble , with his life. the little smirk when the movie ends is the tell.
Axel’s mirror smirk is a way of proving that willpower is greater than anything anyone can put themselves through. No amount of security, liberty, danger, or pain can limit his or her freedom to chose. Even when the choices are irrational by nature.
Axel is presented to know and understand the endgame of all his situations. Axel is actually more rational than all of the people who keep losing their wagers against him. There is no context he is unfamiliar with so there is no real way to contain or intimidate him. Axel’s story isn’t about whether he is wrong or right because the movie indicates that his beliefs are correct beyond the shadow of a doubt. The moral is simpler.
The movie is just about addiction’s destructiveness and where it can lead.
I agree with the other replies, but I would add something. After the game ended, Paul Sorvino puts his hand on Axel's shoulder, and Axel pulls away from him. At this point, I believe Axel is disgusted with himself, for tainting his student/player/college so heavily. He's also walking away from the ordeal unscathed. And recall his mother telling him he has to come to grips with whatever is causing him to do this. He has an earlier flashback scene, dancing with his mother, happier times. The combination of all this now drives him to take the walk downtown and put his own life at grave risk. He now has the permanent scar. And perhaps he made his final gamble.
He claims an idea is true because he wants it to be true, because he says it is true. An the issue isn't whether he is right but whether he has the will to believe he is right, no matter how many proofs that says he is wrong. Fyodor Dostoevsky or Donald Trump?
Try Wokesters, for a REAL disconnect from reality: "2 + 2 = 4 is a *racist* statement!"
Actually, this applies to many powerful people. The 2020 college football season coping with the Covid pandemic was a great example. Big 10 and Pac 10 conferences immediately panicked and postponed the entire season until the Spring while the SEC said "NOPE." When the SEC season rolled along (sans in person spectators) with very few hitches, powerful Big Ten and Pac Ten officials took quite some time to admit their error.
@@johnconway9882 False Equivalency.....They admitted their error after looking out for welfare of their students. They didn't have anything to gain and a lot to lose by canceling the season. Donald Trump has the will to believe he is right, no matter how many proofs that he didn't win the election.