Deal (2008) Movie Review

Official NWP Crappy Movie Rating: 2/10

Yay! Finally a poker movie that doesn’t suck! Just kidding. Welcome to yet another failure in poker cinema: Deal.

This movie sucks in many ways, the most obvious being a lethargic script, and a fundamental inability to bring anything to the fore that we haven’t already seen at least a million times. Equally as disappointing for the poker player and the B-movie enthusiast alike, Deal has the look and feel of made-for-TV movie, and manages to be glaringly deficient in the little touches that might balance the dreary plot and uninspiring dialogue… including wardrobe, lighting, editing etc. Perhaps the most humorous and remarkable thing this movie has to offer is Burt Reynolds’ new postiche.

Synopsis

Tommy Vinson, played by a newly face-lifted Burt Reynolds, is an ex-gambler who gave up Texas Hold'em 30 years ago after missing a family emergency and promising his wife he’d never again touch poker cards. So obviously the love of the game never left him, and he’s watching a poker tournament on TV one day and sees Alex Stillman (Bret Harrison) who somehow reminds him of himself as a young man, and insta-inspires him to get re-involved in high stakes poker – this time as a staker.

Alex is an arrogant showoff who’s been the best player in his senior class at Yale University. Despite his parents high hopes for his future in law, Alex wants nothing but poker, and imagines himself a professional player like his favorite TV celebs. After winning an on-line event that places him in a televised game, Alex loses his ass and ends up taking Tommy up on the stakage offer. All he has to do is agree to play it Tommy’s way.

The plot goes nowhere as Alex falls for a hot prostitute, and Tommy and Alex get into an idiotic fight and break their deal. Well who cares you say, as long as I get to stare at Shannon Elizabeth. True, but trust me, there’s not enough nudity or sex here to ever make up for the lifelessness of this flick. A few cameos by your favorite poker douches are worth a mention, including Antonio Esfandiari, Isabelle Mercier, Chris Moneymaker, Joe Hachem, Greg Raymer, and Phil Laak.

Wow who could predict this: with the deal off, Tommy, now forced to prove he’s the best, enters the final tournament of the season and ends up facing his protégé, Alex, in the finals of the World Poker Tour. Lame and lamer – I won’t spoil the ending for you except to say – it’s gay.

Director: Gil Cates Jr.
Writers: Gil Cates Jr. & Mark Weinstock
Release Date: 2008 (Netherlands)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content and brief drug use.

Fun fact: For the film's climax, the "World Poker Tour" (2003) set was shipped to New Orleans for filming.

Soundtrack: Fool Me Again written by Jesse Davey Wanbdi & Mato Nanji
Performed by Indigenous - Vanguard Records

Deal Movie Trailer

Cast

Burt Reynolds ... Tommy
Bret Harrison ... Alex
Shannon Elizabeth Michelle
Jon Eyez ... Mike 'Double Diamond' Jackson (as Jon Thomas)
Shannon Allen ... Gambler
John J. Anderson Bar colleague
Michael Arata ... Passerby
Michael Aston ... Dealer
David Barone ... Dealer
James Bearb ... Valet Driver
Dale Beasley ... Tournament Official
Tony Bentley ... Bellagio Maitre'd
Lawrence P. Beron Front Desk Clerk
Kenny Bordes ... Wally
Allen Boudreaux World Poker Tour Player
Lyle Brocato ... New Player #1
James Brothers ... Dealer
Edward D. Caiado Poker Player / Mafia suit
Allan Castro ... Dealer
DeAnna Charett ... Slot Machine Player / Poker Player
Chase Coleman ... Gambler
Corlis Coyne ... WPT Gambler
Carol Dupuy ... Gambler
Brian Edwards ... Poker Player
Dustin Hunter Evans Jordan
J.D. Evermore ... Tex Button
Joe Fontana ... Finalist WPT Gambler
Faye Fontenot ... World Poker Tournament Player
Mike Franklin ... Poker Player
Courtney Friel ... Herself
Luis Fuentes ... Dealer
Geraldine Glenn Spectator
Douglas M. Griffin Player
Rio Hackford ... Poker Player
Jacob Hamil ... Gambler
Scott Lazar ... Himself
Summer Lee ... Ann Kim
Tony Lewis ... Camera Operator
Elizabeth Lynch ... Bar Patron
Maria Mason ... Helen, Tommy's wife
Caroline McKinley Mrs. Stillman
Alita Molina ... Dealer
Linh Naquin ... Dealer
Brandon Olive ... Ben
Karen Penrose ... Poker player
Ellie Perez ... WPT player
Tommy Perna ... New Player 2
Billy Slaughter ... Jake Katzman
Gary Michael Smith World Championship Poker Gambler
Diane Spieler ... Dealer
Marcus Stanley ... Kevin Small
Lee Telle ... Gambler
Karlin Tessier ... Cocktail waitress
Lauren Zelman ... Cute / Sexy PA

Poker movie DEAL screen shots