CroupierDiscover what drives a man to compromise his values, and you'll learn what he truly values. Croupier is the story of an aspiring writer named Jack Manfred (Clive Owen), who returns to the profession of a croupier (a dealer in a casino), despite his assertions that he doesn't gamble or even likes gambling. Jack finds himself circling the proverbial cesspit of vice and addiction, looking onward with stoic neutrality. When he is approached by a lovely woman named Jani (Alex Kingston) to be complicit in the robbery of his casino, Jack must consider whether he really is a gambling man or not.
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Jack narrates his story to the audience in a detached way--sometimes in the third person, referring to himself as "the croupier"--as though he were reading the story of his life, or the story of the man he believes the story to be about. Jack is stricken with writer's block from the start of Croupier, and struggles with the condescending suggestions of his publisher, Giles (Nick Reding), and even his disingenuous father (Nicholas Ball). He claims that he returns to the world of dealing in the Golden Lion casino--an underground lair run by the arrogant and unscrupulous David Reynolds (Alexander Morton)--because of the lucrative paycheck. But Jack comments that he "doesn't need the money", contrary to selling his car for a pittance under the auspices of paying "rent" to his live-in girlfriend, Marion (Gina McKee). Jack's writing languishes after working as a croupier--miscellaneous documents pile up on his word processor. It isn't until he is struck with the thunderbolt of inspiration to write a novel about being a croupier that the itch to tap away at the keys once again grabs him. When he shares his story with Marion, it's clear that his protagonist--whimsically called "Jake"--is a parallel to himself. He steals details and plot points from his nights at the Golden Lion, and integrates his co-workers into the story, like the self-absorbed Matt (Paul Reynolds). As Jack becomes immersed in his alter ego, he begins to become Jake, considering his actions from his protagonist's point of view. He begins to go out dressed in his uniform--a tuxedo--even when he isn't going to his job...he even begins to write while dressed in the suit, blurring the distinction between his home life and work. This transition actually begins earlier, when he has his bleached blond hair dyed black, and jokes about being an undertaker to his stylist. Jack is beginning a journey into the underworld of addiction and dishonesty--even the casino is accessed by a staircase leading underground.
Jack claims that he hates a cheat; he couldn't care less about the welfare of the casino, but he desires justice in the world, even if it comes in the form of cold and impartial odds. Jack also resents anyone who tries to defy that "divine" order, evidenced in the vindictive pummeling he gives to cheater who tries to assault him outside the club. His strict "code" of ethics is important to Jack because he feels that without it, the world is nothing but chaos and chaos leaves one defenseless; this speaks to Jack's concealed self-esteem issues. Jack styles himself as superior to others; Marion chides him about this during one of their arguments. Jack is intelligent and learned, but he is also arrogant. He secretly enjoys his position as a croupier, because he can watch the constant flow of people entering his domain and losing to the "house", which is really him at the tables. Jack claims he doesn't gamble; even though Jack doesn't put his own money down when working, the truth is that he is gambling, playing the game as the "punters". Jack espouses his theory that he should not get too attached to anything; as he says, "hang on tightly, let go lightly." This is just one more lie that Jack tells himself to block the pain of losing something he values. Jack sneers at his publisher's suggestion to ghost write a formulaic book, but he publishing his novel under anonymity; he does this because he gets a thrill out of seeing the plebeian public enjoying his story as he secretly watches them. This lets him maintain his air of superiority and to feel special--but deep down, he doesn't feel that special. That is why comes back to his job as a croupier--it may be unfulfilling and mundane, but that he's terrified of losing something valuable, so he keeps the stakes low. Jack's trust issues stem from his father; Jack talks about him in a way that makes it clear that he cannot be trusted. This relates to why Jack claims that he "hates cheats"; he says this to a fellow croupier named Bella (Kate Hardie), even though he has "cheated" on Marion by sleeping with her. Why would Jack sabotage his own life this way, or his relationship with Marion, and then conceal it without a hint of remorse? Jack's decision to become a croupier again is a way to "punish" himself, out of his perceived failings--be it his writer's block or the guilt of avoiding commitment to Marion.
Jack's decision to write a character who is a cipher for himself is his way of exploring his own mind and desires. But Marion recognizes and despises the character; Jake is sad and lonely because Jack views his own life this way. But after Jack starts writing, the casino become more exciting, like when Jani begs for his help in the complex heist. While Jack would never have cooperated with such a gamble, Jake would; Jake is the manifestation of his id and his pulp fiction-inspired shadow. This exploration of Jack's seedier side, combined with the detective story narration, gives Croupier a film noir edge; it is often regarded as a neo-noir film. Jack's narration almost always has a sardonic edge to it, as if he is cynically bemused with life. His almost neutral expression is occasionally betrayed by the faintest hint of a smirk, somewhere between smug and resigned. Jack's claims his "addiction" to being a croupier comes from a desire to see people lose, but it is more than that; he wants to understand the people he judges. He doesn't connect with people all that well, and often appears as the odd man out in a group. Jack recognizes that he is missing something in his life from the start of Croupier. The film is bookended by a scene at the roulette table, where the unmistakable sound of the ball bearing (called a "pill") is spinning and spinning against the wooden wheel. It is a siren's call drawing him back into a life he thought he could bury, as if he left a part of his soul behind in that underworld.
Recommended for: Fans of an introspective film about gambling, writer's block, and cheating, all with a film noir slant. Croupier is a meditation on gambling, as much as a meditation on human nature.
Jack claims that he hates a cheat; he couldn't care less about the welfare of the casino, but he desires justice in the world, even if it comes in the form of cold and impartial odds. Jack also resents anyone who tries to defy that "divine" order, evidenced in the vindictive pummeling he gives to cheater who tries to assault him outside the club. His strict "code" of ethics is important to Jack because he feels that without it, the world is nothing but chaos and chaos leaves one defenseless; this speaks to Jack's concealed self-esteem issues. Jack styles himself as superior to others; Marion chides him about this during one of their arguments. Jack is intelligent and learned, but he is also arrogant. He secretly enjoys his position as a croupier, because he can watch the constant flow of people entering his domain and losing to the "house", which is really him at the tables. Jack claims he doesn't gamble; even though Jack doesn't put his own money down when working, the truth is that he is gambling, playing the game as the "punters". Jack espouses his theory that he should not get too attached to anything; as he says, "hang on tightly, let go lightly." This is just one more lie that Jack tells himself to block the pain of losing something he values. Jack sneers at his publisher's suggestion to ghost write a formulaic book, but he publishing his novel under anonymity; he does this because he gets a thrill out of seeing the plebeian public enjoying his story as he secretly watches them. This lets him maintain his air of superiority and to feel special--but deep down, he doesn't feel that special. That is why comes back to his job as a croupier--it may be unfulfilling and mundane, but that he's terrified of losing something valuable, so he keeps the stakes low. Jack's trust issues stem from his father; Jack talks about him in a way that makes it clear that he cannot be trusted. This relates to why Jack claims that he "hates cheats"; he says this to a fellow croupier named Bella (Kate Hardie), even though he has "cheated" on Marion by sleeping with her. Why would Jack sabotage his own life this way, or his relationship with Marion, and then conceal it without a hint of remorse? Jack's decision to become a croupier again is a way to "punish" himself, out of his perceived failings--be it his writer's block or the guilt of avoiding commitment to Marion.
Jack's decision to write a character who is a cipher for himself is his way of exploring his own mind and desires. But Marion recognizes and despises the character; Jake is sad and lonely because Jack views his own life this way. But after Jack starts writing, the casino become more exciting, like when Jani begs for his help in the complex heist. While Jack would never have cooperated with such a gamble, Jake would; Jake is the manifestation of his id and his pulp fiction-inspired shadow. This exploration of Jack's seedier side, combined with the detective story narration, gives Croupier a film noir edge; it is often regarded as a neo-noir film. Jack's narration almost always has a sardonic edge to it, as if he is cynically bemused with life. His almost neutral expression is occasionally betrayed by the faintest hint of a smirk, somewhere between smug and resigned. Jack's claims his "addiction" to being a croupier comes from a desire to see people lose, but it is more than that; he wants to understand the people he judges. He doesn't connect with people all that well, and often appears as the odd man out in a group. Jack recognizes that he is missing something in his life from the start of Croupier. The film is bookended by a scene at the roulette table, where the unmistakable sound of the ball bearing (called a "pill") is spinning and spinning against the wooden wheel. It is a siren's call drawing him back into a life he thought he could bury, as if he left a part of his soul behind in that underworld.
Recommended for: Fans of an introspective film about gambling, writer's block, and cheating, all with a film noir slant. Croupier is a meditation on gambling, as much as a meditation on human nature.