The Gambler has earned its fair share of criticism for being yet another film about the problems of a rich white dude. That’s more of an observation than a criticism, since the film is interrogating the idea of how one can deliberately erode this privilege. A fairer remark would be to note that, unfortunately, The Gambler is just as content with adequacy as its characters. The film’s potential – found in the germ of a decent idea about how privilege sits very uncomfortably with some people – is squandered in the kind of trite storytelling techniques that wouldn’t be out of place in a discount VHS from the late ‘80s.

Read my full review at the 500 Club.