Even Money (I) (2006) User Reviews (33)

Better than what I thought it would be...

[moviedude1 · 7/10 · 16 December 2008]

Following the lives of three individuals centered around an addiction from which they find no escape. The only thing it gets them is DEEPER! Basinger plays a housewife who hides her gambling addiction from her family, even if it means they think she's having an affair. Whitaker plays the older brother of a college basketball student on the verge of making it big time, only to run the risk of being brought down for shaving points. DeVito is a small time magician with a bit of a gambling problem, himself, while Grammar plays a cop trying to find the killer of a bookie and finds himself on the trail of another bookie who's trying to take over the dead man's action.

This film is good! Really! I don't know what else to say about it. The characterizations were right on and the message is there: what a world you live in that will feed you what your disease tells you that you need! It affects all areas of your life: your sanity, your financial situations, your loved ones, your job, and, eventually, if you let it, your life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bottom-feeders out there who's main reason for living is to give you that "sugar," only to take it away when the time is right (so to speak).

I'm not sure if the director and/or the writer were speaking from personal experience, but, speaking as one with his own addiction demons, he/they weren't very far off the mark! 7 out of 10 stars!

Don' t risk what you can't afford to lose.

[michaelRokeefe · 5/10 · 18 September 2007]

Cleverly written with a splash of suspense. Don't even forget about a dark side. People always want more than they have; more money, more time, more love...more life. A group of individual's lives are connected through an addiction to gambling. Kim Basinger is a perplexed writer that has lost almost all of her family's savings. Her husband(Ray Liotta)misses her and her daughter(Carson Brown)no longer has a college fund. Forest Whitaker needs his NBA bound nephew Nick Cannon to shave points in basketball games to win money. Danny DeVito is a washed-up magician needing money to restart a career. Jay Mohr is a volatile bookie, who is ruthless in collecting his money. Kelsey Grammar is a detective investigating the killing of two bookies. Atmosphere is moody and the pace pulsing. Also in the cast: Tim Roth, Carla Gugino and Grant Sullivan.

Double or Nothing: Big Gamble on Fine Cast in Otherwise Craps Film

[george.schmidt · 5/10 · 21 May 2007]

EVEN MONEY (2007) ** Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker, Tim Roth, Jay Mohr, Kelsey Grammar, Nick Cannon, Carla Gugino, Grant Sullivan,Carson Brown, Cassandra Hepburn (Dir: Mark Rydell)

Double or Nothing: Big Gamble on Fine Cast in Otherwise Craps Film

Gambling is an addiction that, like drug abuse or alcoholism, affects not only the one perpetuating the disease but also those around them including their loved ones. In this melodramatic attempt at showing the ills of the so-called gambling lifestyle (an oxymoron come to think of it) then the odds are against the viewer in this hodgepodge of dramatic vignettes.

Intertwined throughout this CRASH-like narrative are Carol Carver (Basinger, acting up a storm here), a novelist struggling to find her second novel but fritters her afternoons away in a local casino overwhelmed with guilt at having her family's life savings nearly completely lost at her bad luck; Walter (De Vito, one of the film's producers to boot), a down-and-out slight-of-hand magician who thinks he can get back in the lime-light and takes Carol under his wing in helping her get back her lost monies ; Clyde Snow (Whitaker, equally giving a run for his money acting up to a full-bodied sweat, a hard-working plumber who wagers too high on his younger brother Godfrey (Cannon), a skilled high school basketball player with dreams of the NBA in his brilliant future; Augie and Murph (Mohr and Sullivan, respectively), a pair of small-time bookies who take their anger out on the welchers with quick brutal beatings; and Victor (Roth hamming it up to the hilt) as an oily big-time bookie who may be guilty in a series of murders of his competition.

Also on hand are Liotta as Basinger's English lit teaching husband whose patience is growing weary thinking his wife is having an affair and their tween daughter Claudia (Brown) rebelling with her budding sexuality; Veronica (Gugino), a doctor and girlfriend to Murph who isn't aware (at first) of her beloved's violent tendencies; and Detective Brunner (Grammer in some unwisely recommended facial make-up prostheses), investigating the string of murders and the lure of a mysterious gangster/red herring named Ivan.

The scattershot screenplay by newcomer Robert Tannen is all over the place and while it gets the duh point of gambling is bad for you the flat direction by vet Rydell (ON GOLDEN POND) leaves his actors grasping for air like fish out of water. The odds for the viewer to be entertained are decidedly craps.

An Inside Perspective On This Film

[tony1-8 · 7/10 · 7 June 2008]

I worked in Hollywood when this script made the rounds. (I've now come to my senses and make my living in another field.)

I can tell you that it was a fantastic script. Highly ambitious.

The reason it is not as good a movie as the screenplay is due to the producer and the director.

It's a shame because it should have been a fantastic movie.

Trust me when I say that all the stars got attached because of the script. None of them got paid near what they usually make. (The producer is notoriously cheap.)

There are some wonderful moments which remain, but when I watched it, I just wanted to get back in the business and remake it as it should have been made the first time!

Pity.

A lot of things need to come together to make a great film.

If things do get as intertwined as many movies portray, don't say that they didn't warn us.

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 27 October 2007]

I've noticed that in the 21st century, there's been a surge in movies portraying several people who, although they may never meet, are all connected by something: "Traffic", "Syriana", "Fast Food Nation" and "Babel". Now, there's also Mark Rydell's "Even Money", depicting several people linked by gambling addictions. There's Carolyn Carver (Kim Basinger), a writer ignoring her family and spending all her time in the casino with prestidigitator Walter Markowitz (Danny DeVito); Clyde Snow (Forest Whitaker), a handyman trying to help his son become a basketball player; and Augie (Jay Mohr), who has taken some very wrong turns in his life. But in control of everything is slime-ball Victor (Tim Roth), intent on rigging the upcoming basketball game.

I should say that I didn't find this movie to be as good as the aforementioned intertwined-story films, as the aforementioned ones dealt more with political issues. But I thought that it was worth seeing as a look at the underbelly of life in general (is that a lame description?). And an ugly look at things it certainly is. Victor is one guy whom you hope that you never have to meet, but it's still possible to admire him somewhat. At times, every one of the characters made my skin crawl just a little bit.

All in all, an OK movie. Also starring Ray Liotta as Kim Basinger's husband, Kelsey Grammar as a detective, and director Rydell at the end.

PS: Mark Rydell also directed Bette Midler's movies "The Rose" and "For the Boys".

"Even Money" busts out

[Eat1 · 4/10 · 20 May 2007]

"Even Money" is an ensemble drama that aims to be the Traffic or Syriana of gambling, but comes off closer to Crash—a trite amalgam of scenes we've seen many, many times before. The fact that you've heard so little about a film with such an impressive cast (Kim Basinger, Ray Liotta, Danny DeVito, Tim Roth, Kelsey Grammar, Nick Cannon, Jay Mohr, Carla Gugino, Forest Whitaker) should tell you something; indeed, the scuttlebutt on the ol' World Wide Internets is that the film was headed straight to DVD until Whitaker picked up the Oscar.

The cast is mostly good, but there's only so much that they can do with this material. Basinger and Liotta are especially hard up, stranded in a story thread that is older than the hills; poor Carla Gugino is stuck playing the same scene (by my count) three times straight, which is a criminal misuse of an actress as intelligent and sexy as she. Tim Roth has some nice moments as an especially snarky bad guy, though this viewer wondered if he would really show up at the college basketball game that provides the film's climax (with a resolution that can be clearly seen the moment the story turn is introduced). Kelsey Grammar (nearly unrecognizable) appears, at the film's beginning, to be doing an interesting piece of character acting as a cop, but he then disappears for over an hour, which makes his character's big final scene somewhat less than compelling.

"Even Money" is a mess, an attempt to manufacture a prestige picture by throwing many talented actors at a script whose most complex insight appears to be "gambling is bad". We should expect as much from producer Bob Yari, who gave us the aforementioned "Crash" ("racism is bad"). Director Mark Rydell has helmed a couple of successful films ("On Golden Pond", "The Cowboys") and some interesting failures ("Intersection", "The Rose"), but when he pops up briefly as a powerful figure at the end of "Even Money", all I could think of was his similar acting role in Altman's "The Long Goodbye", and how much I'd rather be watching that movie than this one.

NOT BAD

[anitalansing-40-581915 · 6/10 · 12 May 2020]

This movie was plausible. Gambling addiction is much like any other addiction, very, very ugly. The characters in the movie did a pretty good job in showing how addiction can destroy one's life. Each character fit his part quite well. Doubling your money, betting the odds may provide a rush, but in the end, it's one gigantic let down. A not bad movie.

This Film Was Awful

[deanm85 · 1/10 · 12 March 2006]

I never write comments about movies but I have to on this one. This, unfortunately, was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I just got out of the theater and I feel a little bad that I'm writing this. It's here at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin and it seemed some other people liked it. The acting was atrocious and the plot was really weak. I guess I don't want to get banned so here's a minor SPOILER ALERT: It's a gambling movie but the casino chips I could buy for $.05 each at Walgreens. There was a point shaving story line that was laughable. Apparently no one who knows anything at all about gambling helped out on this film. Basinger's character pulls a complete 180 three different times in the film. It's completely unbelievable. This felt like a straight to DVD film.

The House Always Wins

[refinedsugar · 6/10 · 26 April 2023]

There's quite a few fine films that explore the darker side to gambling and the soul crushing effects it has on people. The destruction of lives, relationships, families, jobs, etc. The best humanize these characters with their sickness at their best and their worst. Perhaps that's what 'Even Money' was trying for amongst other things on its mind.

Simply put, the movie has too many players involved and too much going on. In a bid to be grandiose and end in epic all-tied-together fashion - it ultimately feels heartless and forced. The principal players are as follows. Kim Basinger is an addicted gambler writer with a family. She links up with Danny DeVito who's an over the hill magician also addicted to gambling looking to get his glory back. Forest Whitaker uses his skilled athlete brother (Nick Cannon) to point shave his basketball games to keep the wolves (he's deeply indebted to) at bay.

If you like a lot of recognizable faces in the cast you certainly get it here. In secondary roles you have the likes of Ray Liotta, Tim Roth, Carla Gugino, Jay Mohr and Kelsey Grammer. It's also with these names unnecessary plot points and side stories occur. In the case of Liotta in particular, he gets to play the husband to Basinger as the truth comes out and their family gets torn apart.

'Even Money' isn't a horrible film. The acting is generally decent and it doesn't go all Hollywood giving upbeat, positive endings to the characters. However it also doesn't reach a satisfying place, only sporadically entertains and you'll have a hard time liking many of the faces involved.

"Crash" for the gambling set

[Buddy-51 · 5/10 · 12 March 2008]

Despite its decidedly un-ambitious nature, "Even Money" is a modern film noir melodrama with more story lines and characters than Robert Altman's "Nashville." 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.

Robert Tannen'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 others' way.

Veteran filmmaker Mark Rydell has not only helmed the piece but appears in a crucial cameo role late in the film. Sad to say, he doesn't make much of an impact in either capacity.

Great film, unbelievable cast

[myundergroundcity · 10/10 · 16 March 2006]

This new film has a superb cast, with potential award winning performances from Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger and -- particularly -- Forest Whitaker.

Tense, tight script that keeps you guessing 'til the very end. A new writer, and I'd love to see other stuff he's written.

If you're looking for a typical light, frothy Hollywood film with a happy ending, look elsewhere: 'Even Money' gives you a strong dose of real life -- as several lives unwind because of addictive gambling.

The same producer took a chance on "Crash" -- this film, in my opinion, is definitely in the same league.

7.5 Actually.

[Gong5 · 17 January 2009]

I 've made up my mind to try to be succinct in my reviews, brief, to the point. This will be more helpful to me and to the readers here. Art should speak for itself, reviews are not diatribes.

It's a testament to the continued ignorance and emotionally shallowness of the majority (even at IMDb that is an IQ/eq click over the median) that decent films get sub par ratings, and atrocious ones get good ones. That said it's always heartening to see that an informed minority (who's voted 30/45 on another reviewer's positive review) has got the sense and the sensibility (to paraphrase one of the loveliest wordplays ever) to appreciate good films within their differing opinions of taste, background, world view, frame of mind.

This is one of those films that is actually quite good, yet you 'd never know that from the rating or some reviews here. First of all we have an excellent cast of seasoned actors giving fine, tempered performances, not overdone, not understated, just fine tuned performances all around. So the drama or the twists aren't spectacular, so what? There's plenty of humanity here and emotion to keep one's interest. A special vote to Kim Basinger who isn't getting the recognition she deserves, she's adorable here and she's grown to be a splendid actress, despite the ensemble cast the real star here is her. All in all a very sweet film.

Like the title, this movie is has equal amounts of good & bad scenes

[jaybob · 7/10 · 19 October 2007]

First odd, this is a multi-part story,involving various types of gambling & the persons involved with gambling.

The scenes involving Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger & Ray Liotta are the best, Forrest Whittaker & Nick Cannon scenes are almost as good, I could have had mess MUCH less of the ones with Jay Mohr & Tim Roth & Kelsey Grammar, Not they were bad, just not as interesting.

Mark Rydel directed with his usual Flair, & production values was quite good, The film runs 113 LONG minutes, it could have been shorter.

This film is another example of having a very short release in only a handful of theatres.

Ratings **1.2 (out of 4)78 points (out of 1oo) 7 (out of 10)

Absolute dreck

[Jeddy4 · 1/10 · 4 October 2007]

And I thought "Crash" was a pretentious "look at me!!" slab of moralizing garbage...This follows in the same stench that "Crash" left behind. I picked it because of some of the cast...Whitaker, Roth,...I thought there had to be something in there...no way. Ham-fisted and insipid. I come from a family with a gambling addict and this made me long for the real thing...as horrible as it is. It's a morality play for people who think it's a Hollie Hobbie world out here. There is nothing remotely heart-felt or realistic in the "film" and the characters are the worst of stereotypes and clichés. Some of the people involved should have known better...but when the buck calls, everybody comes running. Stick with an "after school special." It might have more weight.

Terrific ensemble cast seems underwhelmed at their material

[bver88 · 6/10 · 25 December 2011]

THIS cast could have taken the film into a 'HIGHER realm' of movie magic than the 'Great Abraham' ever managed. BUT it never gets going... Disappointing Mark Rydell film that fails to 'take off'....KGrammar&RLiotta, terrific actors both, seem in suspended animation. Can't put my finger on the problem, but the spark is not quite there.

Happy to hire this DVD based on the talent displayed on the front cover. Some good scenes especially where DDaVito is concerned.

All told?

This did not deliver the goods

Would not recommend. This gets a "6", and feel generous with that.

Mark Rydell should be ashamed of this garbage

[id247 · 1/10 · 12 August 2007]

Welcome to Even Money, a strictly, by-the-numbers, connect the dots, type of film that has very little to recommend it.

Everybody seems to be sleepwalking it, borrowing character elements from their previous films.

Tim Roth plays a vicious gangster. Oooh original. Danny De Vito a failed magician who dreams of the bigtime. Yawn. Kim Basinger a mother with gambling problems, whittling away the family savings. Done how many times before in TV movies? Oh and Forest Whitaker has to ask his basketball prodigy brother to throw games so he can cancel his debt with the loan sharks, wow that's novel.

And then we have Kelsey Grammar with a plastic nose and face to match, that distracted me so much from his character, every time he appeared I kept thinking what's Kelsey Grammar doing with the dodgy nose? I forgot who he was meant to be.

People are comparing this with Crash - why? Different director and very poor writer, and a plot that isn't anywhere near as intertwined as people think.

A very simple, unoriginal film, with NOTHING to commend it. Avoid.

A Bad TV Movie at its best

[Battoire · 1/10 · 2 December 2006]

I have never reviewed a film on this site before but after reading the one above felt compelled to do so. I too saw this film at a festival just last week and cannot believe that we are talking about the same one.

At its best, this film is a bad TV movie. It is one of only 3 films I have even walked out of. I will be surprised if it ever reaches the big screen or even DVD release.

The script is unbelievable, the acting bad, the plot rubbish and to top it all off Kesley Grammar has a prosthetic nose and chin - and done really badly!! Why?? Probably so you don't just see him as Fraser Crane? The cast list is very impressive (in fact the reason I went to see it) but no one gets the chance to shine as the script is so bad.

Avoid at all costs

What a waste of 112 mins of my life!!!

[emmyboo25 · 1/10 · 4 January 2009]

Absolutely, without a shadow of doubt the worst movie i have ever seen.....Ever!! What's the deal with Kelsey Grammar's false nose??? Crooked nose or not, he'll always just be Frasier to me. If you haven't seen it, don't bother....after 10 minutes i knew i hated it but had to watch it to the end in the hope that by some miracle the actors would start doing what they were being paid to do...ie. Act! and the poor story would somehow become bearable. Needless to say, neither things happened. I don't know who was the worst, Kim Basinger and her screaming shaky head or Forrest Whitaker repeating the one line he had in the film, "Godfrey Snow, Godfrey Snow!".AAAAHHHH!

A very good film

[mila4 · 9/10 · 16 March 2006]

Wow. I must disagree with the guy who hated the movie. Don't know what movie he was watching, but I was at the screening Sunday night and the film was well received and rightly so.

It's an intelligent, character driven movie. Great performances. They don't make many films like this anymore. I actually had issues with CRASH (the cartoonish depiction of race issues of LA, the coincidences). EVEN MONEY is a better film.

One issue: I had no idea in which city the movie took place.

Other than that, I highly recommend this film for those of you who miss the great character driven films of the 70's.

Good actors plus poor writing, directing and producing make a horrible movie

[petercmclean · 1/10 · 29 June 2020]

I saw this movie with all the actors in it I figured it must be good but for some reason I missed it when it came out now than ten years ago. This is a great example of actors can only work with what they have and this movie is pure garbage. It has to be one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I kept wanting to turn it off but thought it might change but it kept the horrible lines and cliche plot right to the end. Do not waste your time with this movie. There is NOTHING good about it. It's about as good as a day time soap opera and it turns out that what the director worked on besides this. The is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Do not waste time on this

Odd money

[karl_consiglio · 5/10 · 12 August 2008]

I like the political undertones of this movie. But that's about it really i would end my commentary here but IMDb would not allow me to cut so short. Some good acting I guess, but the movie really does not have that much to offer cinema as such. always a pleasure to see these actors, in this case not at the most convincing, none of them.Its a very spoon fed movie, any fool will get it. Its like an idiots guide to the concept so many times portrayed and the world still plays along. Cheesy bits like death with the mobile in the dude's hand and Danny DeVito hanging at the end you can see that he is still alive, he doesn't look dead at all. I found the idea of the book on Abraham the magician very inspiring. The ending of the whole movie though is oh so very predictable from the very beginning.

Gambling, addiction and full frontal betrayal

[Herby11230 · 9/10 · 20 November 2007]

The comparisons to "Babel" and "Fast Food Nation" are way off the mark. "Even Money" is a film noir with revenge at its center, in gambling win or lose there is a payday and in this movie all the debts are paid, and there is potential for two couples to emerge from their morass. This is a good film, directed by a pro, Mark Rydell, who has even has a cameo role in which some of the irony and mystery is explained.

This is a sleazy movie -- to paraphrase Michael Douglas in "Wall Street," sleaze is good, and tips its hat to Orson Welles in one of my favorite films, "Touch of Evil." Yes, it is about addiction and much of the extraordinary cast (Kim Basinger, Kelsey Grammar, Danny Devito, Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotto and Tim Roth among them) play it carefully, straddling the line, without becoming camp or going over the top. High marks to the director for this.

If you like your cynicism straight and don't turn your head at a little cinematic violence this is a movie you will enjoy. Its well worth taking a flier on.

Superb Performance of Kim Besinger and the rest of the cast

[hugo8 · 10/10 · 20 January 2007]

Beautiful realistic story of an ugly gambling addiction. From my point of view, the actors did the extra needed to make this movie an Oscar nominee and another one should be given for the castings. Just couldn't be better. The movie has obviously two different parts. On the first one we get presented to the three main figures and their gambling habits, that put them in deep deep troubles almost grabbing them to grave. On the second part, it's the fight to survive. Some do, while other have to face the unavoidable... Last but definitely not least. Kim Besinger. One of few that years of acting do so great for her. Such sensitivity, charm, and precise performance. Breathless. She must have the Oscar for this one, no question about it. with lots of help from the others: Forest Whitaker, Tim Roth, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta. Great movie.

I would agree with the last commenter

[coralcaves · 10/10 · 25 March 2006]

I saw this at the Sunday screening during sxsw as well. Similar in style to crash but not as overproduced and much better more realistic character development. Also I think the point was to not know what city it was in...the main focus was on the characters as the last commenter said....

Kelsey Grammar did such a good job he for sure will be nominated for many supporting actor awards if this film does see the light of day...in fact I would bet this movie would too....Kim Basinger was the low point in the movie to me...but that may just be because I don't like her...but the rest of the cast was amazing. Tim Roth did a fantastic job especially with the strange awkward body positions he would stand in...just made him seem so creepy...

anyway...great film...if you get a chance see it..

What are you willing to lay on the line?

[lastliberal · 8/10 · 5 August 2008]

You can sit in a University and listen to dry lectures from Psychology profs, or you can watch a great movie like this and understand human nature and desire more than you ever imagined.

Yes, we all want more, but most are not willing to make the commitment necessary to get it, and some cannot live with the consequences of failure. Who was it that said, "If you put all you own on one roll of the dice, and lose, and start over, you will be a man." That's why so many people stay married when they shouldn't - they can't face starting over.

This film had more life lessons that you can imagine and some damn fine actors to teach and entertain us.

Kim Basinger was magnificent as a struggling writer who falls into a gambling addiction. She really gets pathetic as she falls deeper in debt. Danny DeVito was also great as someone who life passed by and was now picking up crumbs. When faced with total loss, he took the coward's way out. Forest Whitaker gave an excellent performance as someone living on his brother's (Nick Cannon) ability. Tim Roth as Victor, the criminal, was dead on. I also enjoyed Ray Liotta and Carla Gugino, and thought Carson Brown was amazing.

Funniest Line: "Teenagers...they are God's way of punishing us for having sex."