Tag Archive: Matt Damon

Gambling movies remain as popular today as they did back in the 1960s. This is because the basic premise of gambling appeals to everyone thanks to its overarching depiction of the importance of luck in life. The idea is that, for the audience, chance could change their trajectory. There's the thrilling anticipation of waiting for the roulette ball to fall or the next turn of a card. Also, many protagonists are somehow flawed characters, which in many ways makes them more real and accessible.

Because gambling is mainly based on chance, it makes a great subject matter for directors the world over. Many characters involved with gambling are flawed in that they are relying on luck to turn their fortunes around. From the cheeky gunslingers to the mafia bosses, they all love the rush of the win and the passion of the loss. It's also possible to construct a great story around a sympathetic gambler, as elements of good or bad fortune play a central role in driving the narrative forwards.

Deciding to make a remake of an old Frank Sinatra movie, director Steven Soderbergh set about finding a star-power cast of the most popular and bankable stars working in Hollywood. Nevertheless, the script was both clever and funny and it gave the famous actors a chance to shine, as did Soderbergh's clean and immersive directing style. They used the real-life Bellagio Casino and Resort in Las Vegas for many of the casino scenes. Without a doubt, this gives the movie a sense of authenticity.