So bad, expecting for something that just doesn't happen

Looks like watching a low budget cheesy Colombian telenovelas from the '90. Not sure how they could have done something so bad with such a strong cast. How can anyone give this movie 4/5 stars?!?

If you're looking for a fast paced thriller, look the other way. But this is a slow slide into the world of gambling and a man who, with his tortured past (literally), tries to redeem himself and save another lost soul.

Whether it was a choice made to pare down the budget or to serve the narrative, having most of the action take place offscreen did a lot to increase the weight of what I take away from this film. Maybe there were a few too many fisheye-lens flashbacks, or more reliance on voiceover than there could have been, but this movie made sense in a way many don't these days. Sheridan's performance wasn't what it could have been, although maybe he doesn't have the expressive depth for this sort of character. Isaac, predictably, did a fantastic job. Haddish was underused, I thought, but she did the best she could with what she was given. Is it against some sort of law to say that Dafoe could have hammed it up a little less? Paul Schrader does a good job of telling stories that aren't particularly straightforward in a "good guy gets bad guy" sense. I do wish this movie was a little more tightly edited. Perhaps they could have leaned away from the WSOP foolery. Yes, I get why the Mr. USA stuff is in there, and even why beating a dead horse is an apt metaphor, but after a while it's not serving the narrative. Nevertheless, The Card Counter is head and shoulders above most of the movies released in a similar timeframe, benefiting strongly from having a real story to tell, some depth in perspective, the adept application of contrast, and the clear understanding that not all endings need to be satisfying or happy.

Um filme de drama policial, considerando principalmente o pano de fundo, que se utiliza das formas como as torturar e abuso de prisioneiros em Abu Ghraib, apesar de em pequenos flashbacks, a trama é boa, filmes em cassino pouco me cativam, mas o drama intrínseco do jovem em busca de vingança e o amor quase que paternal do protagonista, balanceado com a personalidade forte da mulher que articulou o golpe, faz da química ao trio o ponto alto. E o surpreendente excelente desfecho premia a película.

This film is a wonderful meditation on the nature of personal responsibility. It's contemplative and relentless in exploring dark subject matters. The Card Counter doesn't shy away from showing the breadth of humanity, from all the deeply disturbing things that people are capable of, to the beauty of connection between flawed individuals.

A timeless redemption story that is beautifully written and directed by Paul Schrader. Oscar Isaac is excellent and charismatic, as always.

When the critic review score is high and the audience review score is low, it's a safe bet that the film is worth watching.

The Card Counter - 7.5/10. The Card Counter is going to be a perfect example of a film that will split audiences in entertainment. Some might love the slow burn pace, while others might check their watches in order to help pass the time. This Paul Schrader film is a throwback to the great 70s character driven films, focusing on the main character's morality issues and the demons that they have in the inside. Though a great film overall, it does suffer from familiarity. Based around a former sadist jail guard who has just left prison, the mysterious man played by Oscar Isaac begins a new life as a card counting poker player. Along the way, he befriends a young man who seeks revenge against the man's former boss, and also becoming a star poker player under the financing of a financier wrangler played by Tiffany Haddish. With strong performances from the lead pair and Tye Sheridan, the movie is a great in depth study on a demonized person who battles their past and tries to seek a better future for his now pseudo son/friend. Schrader is well known because of his work on Taxi Driver and some of Martin Scorsese's greatest classics. He has a keen attention to building a character, and Isaac's character is super interesting. He's a brilliant actor and gives some subtle nuanced expressions that help build the mystery behind his character. The film ties in the Iraq War into the story in an interesting way, and shows how the repercussions of the lead's actions have affected his mental state. I know some people won't enjoy the movie as it is a slow paced film, but for those who like movies that follow a character's journey, especially one that goes down a dark path, this movie is a good one!

The slowest and most boring movie I've ever watched. Don't recommend it even to your enemies!

Pretentious work of all style no substance. What a waste of Oscar Isaac.

It's incredibly slow and full of "I'm a high class artsy film" without any of the real substance. The editing has a lot of questionable decisions especially with lyrical music overriding convsersstions. Nothing happens the entire movie.

Someone has to point this out. The story's end was a bit jolting especially since the final redemption scene doesn't land. Why doesn't it work?... for the same reason all the scenes which included an actor that was not up to the task failed. Its so distracting to think "Oh, I can really see how professional acting compares to amateur." But it is impossible to feel anything for a character played as wooden reading of lines and it makes the emotional heart of the film wooden and so the movie fails. Casting needs to deal with its problems in a way that protects films.

The videography was different than I’m used too and the plot was not at all what I expected. Not a big fan tbh.

This movie a great movie to watch eventhough it was kind repetitive on each scenes but it is still worth it to watch. It was not that bad but it could boring to some scenes that happen over again.

This is one of those films that almost is seriously great but falls severely short with the screenplay's second half

I can understand why some people described this film as slow and boring. Action movie it isn't, but as a study of a deeply damaged individual who wants to atone for the hurt he has caused other human beings, I thought it was superb.

Stopped watching out of boredom, 33 minutes in. A restrained performance tipped over into dull tedium. Sloppy, disjointed narrative didn't help.

An excellent film which requires patience and some understanding of the context. Iraq, Abu Ghraib. Brilliant acting and the slow pace combine to draw you into its moral questions.

My review is a question. We're they paid for this?