A re-release from Get Carter director Mike Hodges, this tale follows
struggling novelist and one-time croupier Jack Manfred, whose
manipulative father lands him a job back in the gambling world. Jack (a
stony-faced, one-note Clive Owen) convinces himself it's all good
research for his novel: he's wrong, but that doesn't stop his
subsequent downfall – accompanied by a join-the-dots
pseudo-novelistic voiceover – from being dull, obvious and trite.
Croupier's 1998 UK release deservedly flopped: it's back now after
going cult Stateside. Remember, so did Saving Grace. If you missed it
first time round, now's your chance to miss it again. You've been
warned.
