Deal (2008)

You won't be disappointed!

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

best movie i've ever seen.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

I have just recently read an article about Poker genre films.It was stated in that article that after Rounders was shown,a few movies of the similar genre came along such as Lucky You and Deal.Sad to say,they did not live up to the greatness of the Matt Damon film.Then I got into Walgreens.I was looking for DVD's.I came upon the movie,Deal and it was on sale.Since it was affordable,I decided to buy it.Upon reaching the cashier,it was delighted to find out that I got a cash reward for being a Walgreens card member and got more discount.Overall,I got the movie for just 99 cents.Not expecting much from it,I got home and began watching with this on my mind,"What's the deal with the Deal?" and how bad was it compared to Rounders?The Deal stars Burt Reynolds,a well-known icon together with Bret Harrison, and Shannon Elizabeth. World Poker Tour commentators Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten and Courtney Friel play themselves. A number of other professional poker players and poker-playing celebrities, including Elizabeth, Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker and Isabelle Mercier.Deal tells the story of a former poker player who tutors a younger player.Alex Stillman is a Yale senior with a knack for Texas Hold 'Em. But while Alex dreams of the day he'll be able to dominate the tables out in Las Vegas, he hasn't mastered the art of the cards just yet. Alex's luck begins to change, however, after a chance encounter with legendary poker player Tommy Vinson,who gave up gambling 20 years ago in hopes that he could save his family. Alex agrees to become Tommy's protégé, and together the pair wins every tournament they enter. But Alex's attraction to beautiful Michelle has caused his attention shift away from the tables, and that distraction has opened up a deep chasm between the emerging talent and the undisputed master which led them to call off their partnership.At the conclusion, they find themselves on opposite sides of the table at the fictional World Poker Tour championship.So going back to my question,"What's the deal with the Deal?".First of all,the plot simply was a rip off of Color Of Money particularly the teacher-protégé relationship. Instead of pool,we have it in the poker setting.Too bad that we don't have the great performances of Tom Cruise and the late Paul Newman in it but the uninspired and wooden acting of Reynolds and Harrison.Also,we didn't have the interesting characters of the Scorcese film.It seems that the people were just going to the motions.What's worse,the relationship between Alex and Michelle lack clarity until the film's end.It even bothers me why her character was even placed into the story and after a few scenes will just be written off?Overall,the movie just less inventive and totally uncreative considering that it employed multiple cinematic clichés which makes it predictable and the viewer is probably just saying,"Haven't I seen that in another movie before?".At the conclusion,we also find it similar to Lucky You wherein the protégé throws a winning hand for his teacher to win.I found it somewhat saying,"What??" I thought that Alex and Tommy had a falling out?Why the sudden change of heart in Alex's heart?That is one question left answered by the movie.Let's admit that the film is a second rate.But to its credit,it at least manages to cast well-known poker players.But it will definitely not generate more interest in the game unlike Rounders.

It feels like it would be more at home on the small screen rather than cinemas, There really isn't any suspense or tension. It tries, but never delivers. the movie's box office explain it all: the film cost $5 million to make, grossed less than $100,000 in theatrical release!! what a disaster, But I think "deal" was not that awful neither good, Had some good scenes like the scenes which take place at the poker table are very entertaining and well made. But if you don't like poker, you'll find this flick boring and the plot really stupid. The storyline was so predictable, I think a child could write that story! and got Burt Reynolds a Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actor!! HAHAHA thats tremendous, He's not deserving it!

This movie has the feel of a TV movie. There really isn't any suspense or tension. It tries, but never delivers. It's no Rounders. That was a truly awesome poker movie, probably the best I've seen. Deal tries to be for poker what the color of money was for pool and doesn't come close....I didn't think the color of money was all that great either. It's a shame to see Burt Reynolds age like this, he'll always be to me the bandit. He looks pretty good considering his age, but as many of these stars try to preserve their looks they look just that....preserved and unnatural. His skin looks plastic, over stretched, and when he walks, he walks like he's 70, maybe he is. Shannon Eliabeth has such a small part in this movie, they could have chosen any body to play the role. Jennifer Tilly, not sure why she was added, I guess for star content, but her role is so small they could have saved the money. It's not a horrible movie, but I really hoped for more.

Every time now and then we see some new poker related title, what is very understandable with all that "Americas last gold rush" going on all over the place.And every time I hope there will be something decent. But no - except "Rounders" there isn't anything worth your time and money.I am not talking about poker content even (which is truly horrifying in the sense of realities of the game world and poker as such). The story is as good as the baddest chick-flick may go in the terms of straightforward storyline that goes as far as "A man got into train in the city A. Rode for an hour. Got off in the city B. The end". "Donk-flick", if you wish. Acting looks like someone intentionally wanted to make this film as "seconds-grade-project lookalike".Do Hollywood is out of professional actors? The only worst poker movie could be "Lucky You".To sum it up - this movie is good only for one reason - we see Shannon's sexy ass in tight panties for a second. That's all. There's nothing more.