Superhero Movie

It’s been a decade since Rounders, the last (and perhaps only) good film dedicated exclusively to card-playing. And while this weekend’s box office winner, 21 (no. 1), doesn’t take over that mantle, it does raise the question why Hollywood hasn’t made this their bailiwick more often. Card-playing is always the bridesmaid, never the bride, good for a bit part, to add a little sense of danger and intrigue, but rarely the star of the film—it’s the Gary Oldman of movie themes. Despite being universally panned, 21 averaged over $47,000 on nine screens, grossing over $23 million nationally. That doesn’t sound like a gamble—that sounds like a sure bet.  read more »