The ever-watchable William H. Macy is the lead in this indie film as the perpetual loser employed to pass on his bad luck to others, but who eventually may lead a blessed existence through the power of love. This makes the film seem more charming than it is, since it is a genuinely nasty tale of the ruthless tactics of gamblers and casino-masters. Much attention was paid to Alec Baldwin in a major supporting role (and oscar-nominated for his effort) as a terrifying force of nature who will do anything to get his way and to preserve the status quo; his brutality in places actually made me cringe. However this is not a complete about-turn from his leading role days if one recalls "Glengarry Glen Ross".
Personally I would have nominated Macy for his hangdog worm-who-turned. All in all a very well-constructed and well-acted film but not one that I am in any hurry to see again.
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