Wheel of misfortune

>> Croupier hits the jackpot

by MARK SLUTSKY

British director Mike Hodges (Get Carter) has come up with a nice twist on the casino movie: his new film, Croupier, is not told from the point of view of the gambler, but of the person who deals the cards, the eponymous croupier. It's a great idea, and Croupier is a terrific movie, a taut and entrancing little neo-noir.

The croupier in question is Clive Owen, playing an aspiring and out-of-work writer. Unwilling to churn out a quickie soccer novel to pay the bills, Owen, with the help of his professional gambler father, lands a job dealing blackjack and spinning the roulette wheel at a London casino. He's amazingly good at it, and is completely absorbed in his work, to the consternation of his girlfriend (Gina McKee, also gracing the screen right now in Wonderland). Owen refuses to gamble; as the dealer, he's always on the winning side, and he takes a sick satisfaction in watching the customers lose their money. He also doesn't like to cheat, but when a tempting opportunity comes his way, it's a little too hard to resist.

Owen is an amazing presence. As he stands dealing cards in the mirrored, indeterminate space of the casino, you can't help but be absorbed, unsympathetic as the character may be. When the shit really goes down, the camera doesn't stray from his face--the criminal element of the story ends in anti-climax, for it's the croupier's dark character the movie is really interested in, not some heist.

Croupier is an elusive, elliptical movie; Owen is clearly a marginal player in a larger story, one we only see glimpses of. Nearly everything is seen through his eyes, imbuing the film with a real sense of claustrophobia. Adding to this is a relentless voice-over, heard throughout the film. At first, it's a little obtrusive, but gradually you realize the film couldn't do without it--it sucks us into the croupier's world, revealing much that couldn't be shown on the screen. With its intense characterization and cramped, closely-shot sets, Croupier almost feels like it's taking place entirely in Owen's head.

Croupier is a dark, impressive movie. Together with Wonderland, Britain could forge a whole industry out of gloomy films featuring Gina McKee--both movies are examples of tight, intense cinema. What sweet relief to see risky, intelligent movies in a season of Bruckheimerian excess.

Croupier opens Friday, Aug. 18