Tag Archive: Tom Cruise

In many ways, the movie Rain Man is typical of many Hollywood stories. Many feature what's known as the "Hero's Journey." In this case, the protagonist, Tom Cruise has to overcome selfishness in order to eventually emerge as a nicer and more complete human being. If you're a gambler, you'll know the film from its scenes of card counting in the table game of blackjack. These take place in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and allow the star to clear his debts, whilst appreciating his autistic brother.

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.

Black Adam is the latest superhero movie from DC's Extended Universe. With the film headed by The Rock, it has huge expectations riding on its box office debut. In fact, it was the most bet-on movie in 2022 when it comes to future bets, with many punters trying to second-guess who will be making up the cast. The same goes for its position in the annual box office total takings. Unfortunately, without the film having an opening in China, it's going to struggle to beat Top Gun: Maverick.

They say that gambling is almost as old as time itself. With luck playing such a major role in the turn of a card or spin of the dice, then many authors, poets and singers have used gambling as a metaphor for life. After all, there is risk in many day-to-day activities. And none of us knows when we will shuffle off this mortal coil. So, whilst we wait, we can amuse ourselves with famous gambling quotes to help us feel better about ourselves and our recognition that life itself is but a game.