Rounders
Poker addict Mike McDermott knows the game inside out, but loses his money one night in a game to Russian-American gangster Teddy KGB. Promising his partner Jo he'll give up, he meets up with best friend Lester 'Worm' Murphy, just out of prison and owing lots of money to the wrong kind of people. McDermott becomes his co-guarantor and now there's only one way to raise the money, the pair have to get back into the game.
Critics Sentiment
Mike challenges KGB to heads-up poker for the debt
Worm gets caught cheating at the state trooper poker game
The film recovers from its lowest point during the repetitive trooper game sequence to reach its peak with the climactic KGB poker showdown.
Rounders maintains solid audience appreciation throughout, anchored by strong performances from Norton and the authentic poker world portrayal. The film peaks during the final high-stakes confrontation between Damon and Malkovich, though some middle sections drag with repetitive gameplay. Critics consistently praised the cast chemistry and poker authenticity while noting weaknesses in female characters and predictable plotting.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 59
Matt Damon
Mike McDermott
Edward Norton
Lester 'Worm' Murphy
John Turturro
Joey Knish
Gretchen Mol
Jo
John Malkovich
Teddy KGB
Famke Janssen
Petra
Martin Landau
Abe Petrovsky
Michael Rispoli
Grama
Goran Višnjić
Maurice
Mal Z. Lawrence
Irving
Paul Cicero
Russian Thug
Ray Iannicelli
Kenny
Merwin Goldsmith
Sy
Sonny Zito
Tony
Josh Mostel
Zagosh
Lenny Clarke
Savino
Peter Yoshida
Henry Lin
Jay Boryea
Russian Thug #2
Lenny Venito
Moogie
Richard Mawe
Professor Eisen
Crew
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