Dead Money is a poker term which refers to foolish card players who have virtually no chance of winning. What's meant to be a clever film title falls flat when the audience watching ends up being the big losers. Emile Hirsch leads a veteran ensemble in a predictable dark comedy packed with goofy, one-note characters. Slick editing and a swinging soundtrack aim for a flashy vibe but only exacerbate the hollow script's failures. There are minor saving graces with an accurate depiction of compulsive gambling and clownish theatrics. People who are addicted to gambling don't know when to quit until they're facing ruin...or in this case, a kidnapped girlfriend with a shotgun to her head.
Emile Hirsch Leads a Strong Cast in Dead Money Dead Money 2/5
A stolen bag of money forces a professional poker hustler to play the biggest game of his life to save himself and his girlfriend.
Release Date Director Rating Cast Runtime Writers Distributor(s) ProsThere is promise here, and some slick style, even if it never gets solidified.Jackie Earle Haley and Peter Facinelli are particularly fun in roles they rarely get to play. ConsThe film descends into dumb buffoonery and its characters become dumb airheads.India Eisley is woefully underused and her character is objectified in an antiquated way. Expand
Hirsch stars as Andy, a stats whiz and card counter who makes a living playing professionally on the illegal games circuit. He pumps himself up by listening to motivational poker speeches about being the alpha male while everyone else is a beta loser. Andy gets chin deep in trouble in the aftermath of a robbery at Jack's (David Keith) house during his nightly game.
The fracas begins with Andy on a losing streak while Jack stares in horror as his sports bet goes down the tube. Chloe (India Eisley), Andy's medical school girlfriend, is a bartender for the testosterone-fueled table. Everyone jumps when LT (Peter Facinelli), a crazy cop, bursts into the room as a joke. He settles down to play, but he's quickly followed by two masked goons (Jackie Earle Haley, Rory Culkin) who aren't kidding.
Jack gets his nose broken as the robbers line everyone up against the wall. They strip everyone down to their skivvies and abscond with all the cash. Their escape isn't flawless as LT has another gun and uses the getaway vehicle as target practice. A rattled Andy and Chloe drive home dejected before she realizes something is missing. Chloe accidentally forgot her backpack at Jack's and asks Andy to go back for it.
A Strong Premise Descends Into Buffoonery Close
Dead Money's initial premise has promise. The opening scene at Jack's gambling den works with the shady players being jocular. It's what happens after the robbery that takes the film down a rabbit hole of buffoonery. Screenwriter Josh Wilcox, in his debut feature, paints the antagonists as bumbling morons, but also doesn't give a lick of common sense to Andy and Chloe. He's sharp enough to deduce every player's hand. She talks about studying for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). They're ostensibly smart people, but somehow make ridiculous mistakes to land themselves in hot water. That's not believable and defangs the shenanigans that follow the robbery.
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The intermittent use of voice-over narration is puzzling. We hear Andy's thoughts as he calculates poker strategies and explains his betting philosophy. What's missing is any insight into the poop storm he and Chloe are involved in. You'd think Andy would have something to say about his beloved in mortal danger, but I guess no machinations were needed there. Wilcox shows off his poker acumen with a barrage of hand possibilities and nifty terminology. That'll resonate for gamblers, but most people probably want to hear Andy's rescue plan.
An Objectified Damsel in Distress Garners Groans
Chloe becomes the stereotypical damsel in distress. She's the pretty pawn for all the macho guys to fight over. Eisley spends the majority of her time tied up with duct tape that looks like a five-year-old could break through. Her multiple escape attempts are so half-assed. There's a wonder if they're meant to be some kind of comic relief. Dead Money does have several humorous bits, but her being held as a hostage and repeatedly moved isn't one of them. Eisley needed more to do than simply be objectified.
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Director Luc Walpoth (Peripheric Love) emulates similar gambling genre films with stylized edits and camerawork. He speeds up tracking shots to give the narrative short bursts of visual adrenaline. This actually looks cool, but there's no methodology as to when this happens. One scene in particular would have been the perfect moment. It's a missed opportunity and obvious to the viewer. I'd liken it to frosting a cake and leaving a chunk of the top exposed.
Haley and Facinelli add the most entertainment value with slapstick physical gags. They have bloody altercations throughout that aren't neat and pretty. The pair show a comedic range rarely seen in their long careers. It's good to see veteran actors break out of their mold and do something unexpected, even when the film is a bad beat. That's enough with the poker slang for this reviewer.
Dead Money is a production of Benacus Entertainment and Bleiberg Entertainment. It will have a VOD and digital release on September 13th from Samuel Goldwyn Films. You can rent or buy it through digital platforms like YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, and on Prime Video through the link below:
Watch Dead Money