Gambling is a worldwide phenomenon and popular online at sites like
Mana88, and America is
not the only country that knows how to create a dramatic, fun-filled movie
with a bit of gaming in it. Here are a few foreign gambling flicks that you
just can’t miss.
The Gambler
You don’t usually think of Lithuania as a place for great movies, but The
Gambler is one of the best films across the world in 2013, not just the
country. Ignas Jonynas really cut his teeth on this film and created a
directing career for himself. The cinematography was also well received, as
was the storyline. The character Vincentas puts himself at great risk to
finance his love of gaming, with plenty of intrigue and illegal activity
that all of you underground crooks will cherish.
Casino Raiders
The story of Sam Law and Crab Chan came along during a time that gambling
stories were highly popular in Asia. 1989 was a great year for gaming
cinema, but most of the movies coming out were light fare. Casino Raiders
broke from this trend and took a decidedly darker tone. If you want to see
the underbelly of gambling brought to the light, Casino Raiders is a great
choice.
The Conman
Hong Kong gambling movies have gained a reputation for their quality, and
The Conman was one of the films that made the industry here cool. The layout
of the casinos here served as an inspiration for
Casumo online casino
and many other top online casinos today. The plot gave us a wide variety of
colorful characters and plenty of comedy and drama. The movie also brought
Nick Cheung a Hong Kong Film Nomination for his performance.
From Vegas to Macau
For many international cinema buffs, From Vegas to Macau is the penultimate
mix of crime and comedy. Chow Yun-fat returns to the series as well as many
other regulars, giving the movie a familiarity that helped it garner its own
sequel in the following year. However, before you watch Vegas to Macau II,
get the basics of the storyline with this classic.
Croupier
By most accounts, this was the movie that
pushed Clive Owen to international stardom. As Jack Manfred, Owen puts himself into the shady world of casino gaming.
The love and intrigue that he experiences is one of the truly great dramas
of any gambling film in recent history. You get love and life lessons along
with drama and entertainment that many AAA Hollywood flicks have trouble
putting together. It isn’t often that an American actor goes out of the
country and seems to take the foreign market as seriously as Owen takes this
performance, but you are definitely getting a winner here from any angle
that you choose to view from.
Demons
Estonia is another country that does not necessarily ring bells when it
comes to cinema, much less a movie that features gambling. However, Demons
is a beautiful look into the dark side of gambling and what it can do to
someone who is not prepared for his own limits. The movie was one of the
most well received movies from the region in 2012, garnering nominations
from the Estonian Film Awards and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in
2012.
The Pelayos
The Pelayo family is an actual family that discovered a legitimate way to
beat the
roulette tables. The movie is a true story, following the short but incredibly successful
gaming career of Gonzalo Garcia-Pelayo. Gonzalo was able to put his math
degree to use for him in the casino, and the outcome is one that you might
not expect. Although the house has definitely caught up to the methods that
Gonzalo used to make his money, you can still watch this Canadian film for
the skill of the performances and the inspiration of the character.
Don’t let these seven movies be the last time you go out of America to find
a great gambling movie. The international gambling market is moving at an
accelerated rate, and it shows no signs of slowing down. As the industry
expands, we can fully expect even more of these classics to come out of the
lifestyle!