This interesting but flawed film is ultimately let down by its disappointing and unsatisfying final 15 minutes. Before that there is much to enjoy in this archly cynical tale of part time author and full time croupier, Jack, played convincingly by Clive Owen. Jack compartmentalizes his life, so much so that he almost comes across as being a split personality. But great interest is maintained by his personal involvement in events are combined with his dry detached observations of the same events.
He has a tempestuous relationship with his wife, Marion. He claims to love her but has a brief fling with another casino worker Bella. She is promptly sacked from the casino but then turns up on Jack's doorstep to accuse him of getting her sacked. He denies this. but since we get no other explanation, we can only imagine she was correct.
Then there's Jani, a south African woman, who appears to be heavily in debt and in real risk of physical violence or worse being acted on her. After a scene in which he, rather strangely, fails to sleep with her (although literally sleeping in the same bed as her) she offers him £10,000 for some odd and unclear casino scam. He accepts.
Various more or less interesting characters and subplots appear along the way to kept the story moving. These all seem to be progressing to a powerful conclusion. Sadly, however, this is never realized. Instead the climax consists of not just one, but many, failed attempts to tidy things up.
MAJOR SPOILERS The first indication of this is the shocking and unnecessary death of Marion, which seems to serve no other purpose than to write her out of a story after she has fulfilled her usefulness. No explanation for this is given and to add to the strangeness, the policeman in charge blurts out "I loved her you know." A line both puzzling and almost unintentionally funny.
As bizarre and shocking as this was, had the film ended here, it could have been filed away alongside certain enigmatic events, such as the payment made to Jack. Being unexplained, the viewer could decide for themselves. But instead we are spoonfed a 'feel good' ending which blandly and unconvincingly over-explains some things while leaving other things dangling.
The payment turns out to be made by his father using his bride-to-be Jani as go-between. This explanation actually undermines the film before it since this subplot, which seemed sinister, now becomes cartoonish.
Likewise Jack's novel is published (anonymously) and implausibly becomes an international sensation. This is unlikely since Jack's authorial voice is too dark and cynical for the masses. I did not believe it, nor did it fit the general mood of the film. Nor could I believe that Jack would just carry on a job he professes to hate when he is rolling in money.
Finally we see Jack with Bella. Now they are together? Is this meant to be a feel good ending?
He has a tempestuous relationship with his wife, Marion. He claims to love her but has a brief fling with another casino worker Bella. She is promptly sacked from the casino but then turns up on Jack's doorstep to accuse him of getting her sacked. He denies this. but since we get no other explanation, we can only imagine she was correct.
Then there's Jani, a south African woman, who appears to be heavily in debt and in real risk of physical violence or worse being acted on her. After a scene in which he, rather strangely, fails to sleep with her (although literally sleeping in the same bed as her) she offers him £10,000 for some odd and unclear casino scam. He accepts.
Various more or less interesting characters and subplots appear along the way to kept the story moving. These all seem to be progressing to a powerful conclusion. Sadly, however, this is never realized. Instead the climax consists of not just one, but many, failed attempts to tidy things up.
MAJOR SPOILERS The first indication of this is the shocking and unnecessary death of Marion, which seems to serve no other purpose than to write her out of a story after she has fulfilled her usefulness. No explanation for this is given and to add to the strangeness, the policeman in charge blurts out "I loved her you know." A line both puzzling and almost unintentionally funny.
As bizarre and shocking as this was, had the film ended here, it could have been filed away alongside certain enigmatic events, such as the payment made to Jack. Being unexplained, the viewer could decide for themselves. But instead we are spoonfed a 'feel good' ending which blandly and unconvincingly over-explains some things while leaving other things dangling.
The payment turns out to be made by his father using his bride-to-be Jani as go-between. This explanation actually undermines the film before it since this subplot, which seemed sinister, now becomes cartoonish.
Likewise Jack's novel is published (anonymously) and implausibly becomes an international sensation. This is unlikely since Jack's authorial voice is too dark and cynical for the masses. I did not believe it, nor did it fit the general mood of the film. Nor could I believe that Jack would just carry on a job he professes to hate when he is rolling in money.
Finally we see Jack with Bella. Now they are together? Is this meant to be a feel good ending?