Whether or not you are a fan of poker, you have likely heard someone talk about the movie Rounders. Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, the movie delves into the underground world of poker. For many, this movie is the quintessential movie on poker. Let’s take a look at the cultural impact of Rounders and why it is so loved.
The movie starts out with telling the story of Mike McDermott, played by Damon, and how he went from aspiring young poker star to bust. It then shows what is the reality of many poker wannabe’s that go broke. They give up the game and go back to working a job or going to school. Many players identify with this as they have been in the same boat as McDermott.
Then enters Worm, played Ed Norton, and the convinces Mike to reenter the poker world. Worm is that friend that most of us has, and you probably are thinking of him now. He isn’t exactly good for you but he also shows you the path you should take and sometimes inspires you to be the person you should be.
Unfortunately, a friendship like Worm’s usually comes with a price like it did for Mike. Worm owed significant debt and the two tried to raise the money. Worm tried to cheat his way to success and the two got beat up for their troubles. After finding out that the money owed by Worm was to the guy that Mike lost his bankroll to, Mike cuts ties with him. Many of you can think of a friend like Worm whom you had to cut off because they ended up doing more harm than good.
Finally, the story concludes with Mike coming up with one last stake to try and pay off Worm’s debt in order to save his own life. He does so by playing a high stakes Texas Holdem poker game for his entire stake. At a key moment, he discovers something about his opponent that gives him the edge and ultimately the win over KGB, the man who took him of his bankroll. This is very similar to those of us who have put everything on the line for one last shot at something, whether it be a career, a personal dream, or whatever. Granted, we do not always hit those dreams, but we have to take the shot. Sometimes our lives are on the line like Mike and sometimes we do these things so we have no regrets.
Outside of how the story of Rounders resonates with everyday life, the movie also was a hit with poker fans as the movie looked at poker in a more realistic fashion than other movies. It did not portray it as a game that required great luck, or a magic moment to win the game. It showed the game as a mental game that also uses psychology to manipulate opponents. Also, much of the lingo used by players was very much in line of what poker players actually expect and did not feel forced.
Ultimately, Rounders it the banner movie for poker fans for the last decade or more. Poker players and fans of the game identify with the game not just for how it portrays poker but also how it portrays life. You don’t have to enjoy poker to love this movie, and if you have not watched it, you should go rent or buy a copy of it today.
