Owning Mahowny

Being addicted to gambling is no joke—it drains your money fast. Dan Mahowny figures this out the hard way as he dives headfirst into it. Honestly, betting is always a losing game. I once put money on a “sure thing,” and of course, it went south—classic. Mahowny, though, keeps placing bets and blowing through millions. I do love watching gamblers; it’s fun to see them go all in, especially when it’s not your money. And if gambling involves sports, like football, even better. But this film isn’t about the thrill of the game—it’s about a guy who doesn't care about the consequences. He steals money and places huge bets on things like football matches, just throwing down $1,000 on every game. That’s not even gambling anymore; it’s pure recklessness, which doesn't really resonate with me. Italian films about gamblers who put their entire paycheck on a horse race and get chased down by loan sharks? Now that’s my kind of chaos. But here, the money flies around with no real tension, and no one seems to care. In the end, Owning Mahowny is an interesting story, but the way it’s told just didn’t grip me. Anyone can bet big, but it takes real wit to gamble with flair. (27.09.2010)

I can't say that Owning Mahowny is about nothing. It's just that I found the thing it's about so desperately boring and unbearably long-winded that I had a hard time sticking with it to the end. Seriously. Two and a half stars are deserved especially the unsympathetic, sweaty Philip Seymour Hoffman and (the only character I understood in this film) the casino owner played brilliantly by John Hurt. Otherwise, a pretty uninteresting, grey bore that I probably shouldn't have bet on. (23.07.2011)

A subtle, intimately crafted story about a gambling passion that led one bureaucrat astray. While the film lacks the atmosphere of Croupier or the compelling story of Casino, it has two significant strengths that reliably elevate it above average. The first is the presence of the excellent Philip Seymour Hoffman in the lead role, and the second is John Hurt in the role of his opponent. Excellent character psychology and decent direction. A small film about one big deception. Overall impression: 75%. (13.08.2008)