if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Croupier is a very good film, that lacks in terms of excitement and overall story, though quite compelling. Clive Owen's character is a little bland on the exterior, though his inner dialogue throughout the film is very good, it's hard to care about the character. I especially loved Gina McKee as Marion. Killing her off, was an easy way out for the writer and quite disappointing. Many of the scenes feel like they were edited down quite a bit, either jumping ahead or not resolving. Which makes it feel rushed and mashed somewhat, with a short runtime. Croupier has quality content and is one of the better casino related films, though not up there with the likes of "Rounders" or "Owning Mahowny."

Jack Manfred (Clive Owen) is a struggling writer. His dad refers him for a job as a croupier in the Golden Lion Casino. He sleeps with fellow croupier Bella (Kate Hardie). His relationship with girlfriend Marion Nell (Gina McKee) deteriorates. Gambler Jani (Alex Kingston) pulls Jack into a relationship and convinces him to be the inside man to rob the casino.This tries to be a hard-boiled crime drama. Director Mike Hodges uses the Clive Owen narration to bring about that sense. His style is more like murky 70s drama without enough flash to make it exciting. Jack Manfred isn't that compelling. He's too cool, too detached and too calm. After everything that happens, he's bemused. I can't really feel for this character.

This is a strangely subdued mood / character piece with Clive Owen playing a writer who takes a job as a croupier and begins to live the croupier's life as the life of the main character in a novel he begins writing. As such, there is a strong metafictional thread to the narrative.Unfortunately, both Owen's character, and his fictional character, are rather dull, and most of the people he meets are rather unpleasant. He gets involved in a low key crime sub-plot, and that's rather dull, too. Shady lady femme fatale Alex Kingston is both dull and unpleasant. Only Gina McKee, as Owen's frustrated ex-policewoman girlfriend, is even remotely sympathetic. And she gets killed, for no apparent reason.This small, mildly unpleasant film, served as something of a launchpad for Owen. Heaven only knows why - he's as wooden as a mahogany worktop. He has improved since, I'm glad to report.

I enjoyed watching this but it wasn't anything fantastic. The main character is flat and a bit too two dimensional, not much of a person. That was the thing most wrong with this for me. The scenes in the casino seem believable and are interesting. The small insights into people other than our hero are sort of interesting and compelling, but we don't get to explore them. In a way, that leaves it lacking human interest but it adds some mystery. It's got an exciting denouement that isn't ruined by piles of equally over-the-top violence. Other than that, the plot was good and it kept moving along. The acting was good, the characters mostly believable (except the main). It was fine for a lazy Friday night with a bottle of wine.