Pacionsbo
Absolutely Fantastic
ChicRawIdol
A brilliant film that helped define a genre
ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
Brenda
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Dalazen_Junior
Before commenting on the film, I just want to say that Deal is not the bad film critics are bashing for apparent no reason, not even by far. It wasn't a masterpiece, but Deal was certainly entertaining for what it is: a light-weight, straight-forward drama/coming-of-age story that takes place in the world of Poker championships. The story doesn't need twists and turns. So what if you can see the ending coming by a mile?it was still great to watch Burt and Bret Harrison playing each other so well. With its short running time, Deal flows nicely. Not flashy or made on a huge budget, Deal delivered a good time nevertheless, and it was quite moving to see Burt Reynolds, one of the most criminally underestimated actors of Hollywood, back to the theaters playing a main part again. The man is seventy two now, but still holds his impressive charm and larger-than-life screen presence. To have lived the life he lived -being Number One Box Office actor for five years straight and then falling from grace and being destroyed by a serious of awful circumstances and career mistakes - gives Reynolds a living legend aura and certainly made me think that he is one of those last, great movie stars who won't get the recognition he deserves, that is, until the day he dies, but then it will be too late. It happened to Charles Bronson, it happened to Roy Scheyder, it happened to Rod Steiger: in the late phase of their careers, they were criminally forgotten and nighted, when they truly deserved the due respect.
MartinMaras
To make it short: the story is awful - poker hot-shot and his old mentor meet on the final table - and so is the acting - I really don't know what Charles Durning has lost in this movie! But if you like poker (like I do), you' ll love this film. Popular professionals have differentcameo scenes, the scenes which take place at the poker table are very entertaining and well made. Burt Reynolds does a good job, I think that he had a lot of fun doing this movie. By the way: Meg Tilly is one of the best female poker players ever (in real life), so this must have been her intention by acting here (if you have the guts to call this an acting).If you don't like poker, you'll find this flick boring and the plot really stupid.So your decision to watch it or not should be really easy!
intelearts
Another dud poker film.Why? Two main reasons; firstly, it does not look and feel like film. The script is really lazy: where was the REAL education, where was something we haven't seen a thousand times before. It is no way and at no time touches the heart and soul of the game. Plus it just looks and feels like a TV made movie: there is no attempt to use film to compliment the story, the grading, lighting, editing etc; are some of the most unoriginal I've seen for a while (And don't get me started on Reynold's hairpiece).And secondly, and for my money this is incredibly off putting the whole film reeks of being an ad for a poker company and its site - there is just no integrity, and not enough fun, excitement, or film here.The positives are the chemistry between the leads is good and that makes it just viewable for a really lazy beer and pizza night...But it's really just 90 minutes of regurgitated slick willy crap.Hugely disappointing, the best thing about this was the trailer....
steelyden
I saw this film last night and I liked it. Burt Reynolds was the right choice for the part and Bret Harrison was convincing. In spite of a basic storyline they took the poker-concept serious. Shannon Elizabeth's part is what surprised me the most, I will not spoil it for anyone, it was just something else. It has been a while since her last film and I have to say she still has her man-enchanting skills.So in a nutshell: A nice, OK movie with a sort of debuting Bret Harrison, a Burt Reynolds right in it's place and a comeback for Shannon Elizabeth which is definitely worth a watch, especially for pokerfans. I hope to see more of Bret and Shannon.