Even Money (2006)

Even Money: Directed by Mark Rydell. With Kim Basinger, Kelsey Grammer, Michael Eaves, Forest Whitaker. Gambling addiction bring the stories of three otherwise unconnected people together as it destroys each of their lives.

“Despite its decidedly un-ambitious nature, u0026quot;Even Moneyu0026quot; is a modern film noir melodrama with more story lines and characters than Robert Altmanu0026#39;s u0026quot;Nashville.u0026quot; Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta, Kelsey Grammar, Forest Whitaker, Grant Sullivan, Jay Mohr, and Carla Gugino all play individuals whose only real connection is that they are in some way or another touched by the evils of gambling.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRobert Tannenu0026#39;s overstuffed screenplay wanders all over the map, forcing the actors to spend most of their time just trying to keep up with all the narrative permutations. The most ludicrous subplot features DeVito as a washed-up magician who contemplates a professional comeback by teaming up with the best-selling author and compulsive gambler played by Basinger. Individually, any of the various plot strands might have made for an interesting movie, but taken together, they just keep getting in each othersu0026#39; way.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVeteran filmmaker Mark Rydell has not only helmed the piece but appears in a crucial cameo role late in the film. Sad to say, he doesnu0026#39;t make much of an impact in either capacity.”