Relax: poker movies for a quiet evening (Part I)

Poker today is not the reality it used to be. Well, or at least the way the cinema presents it.

A computer, an extra monitor and hours spent at home or anywhere else are the order of the day. Poker is played much less frequently in real life, but in the past it was not even possible to play it otherwise.

So PokerioMokykla.com offers you a break and a glimpse into the somewhat idealised, high-society and crime-ridden face of poker. Serious uncles at the tables, pulling cigars and drinking whiskey and holding a gun.

This is just the first part of a series of offers that will introduce you to the true classics of these films.

Rounders (1998)

IMDb rating: 7.4.

"Rounders is often called one of the most underrated films.

The story revolves around Mike (actor Matt Damon), a law student who loses a large sum of money on a poker game. Mike is too immersed in the game and can't help but return to the poker table.

His best friend, out of prison, encourages him to do so. And everything starts all over again.

This is probably the best film about poker and is recommended for every poker enthusiast. It is better to watch it once than to read the descriptions of this film a thousand times. The actors alone, such as John Malkovich and the same Matt Damon, make a big impression.

Maverick (1994)

IMDb rating: 7.0.

A film with Mel Gibson, probably familiar to many. "Maverick was nominated for an Oscar and is still popular today.

The film follows Bret Maverick, who is short of money for a poker tournament. A few days before the tournament, the protagonist has to make a little money and collect some debts. It's true, it's often all done through deception.

In order to achieve his goals, Maverick joins forces with a female thief who has the same goal as him.

Although it is relatively new compared to the others, it is perhaps the ultimate classic - a western with women, guns, horses, poker and money.

The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

IMDb rating: 7.3.

A true classic, nominated for a Golden Globe.

In a time when people bet on everything, gambling flourished and many wanted to prove they could compete with the best.

The "Cincinnati Kid" did just that, rising to the highest level of the highest stakes game against the poker masters.

It's a film about poker and about love. It's also about a player's rising prominence and new victories.

A Big Hand for a Little Lady (1966)

IMDb rating: 7.4.

A comedy-western that would be quite original even in a modern context. And how could it be otherwise when a man arrives at a high-stakes event accompanied by his wife, but after a heart attack during the game, it is his wife who has to take over the game.

As usual for such films, the man danced above his belly button, so losing would mean huge debts. Well, that problem is left to the wife, who has taken over her husband's cards and seat at the table.

A true classic of Western cinema.

Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)

IMDb rating: 5.8.

It's different from the films we mentioned earlier. "In the comedy Honeymoon in Vegas, Jack Singer (actor Nicolas Cage) is about to get married but loses $65,000 at the poker table before the wedding and has to cancel his debt.

Luckily for him, a rich gambler offers to cancel the debt for a weekend with his fiancée. The only thing left to do is to agree, but the strength of his jealousy forces the protagonist to take action.

This film is not about poker, but since it's set in Las Vegas, it's perfect for you too. By the way, don't be fooled by the low rating - comedies tend to be rated lower than more serious films.