Every director or writer, no matter how long they're in the industry, has that one film they will forever be known for. Sometimes this is a good thing and sometimes it's not. It can lead to a feeling that they’re always trying to recapture lightning in a bottle and it can sometimes feel like they’re constantly putting new spins on the same idea, creating new interpretations in the process.
Paul Schrader (“Taxi Driver,” “The Last Temptation of Christ”), whether you know the name or not, might just be one of the most recognizable voices in modern cinema. After his big break writing films like “Taxi Driver” and “The Last Temptation of Christ,” he’s had a long career both writing movies such as “Raging Bull,” “Bringing Out the Dead,” “Rolling Thunder,” “Mishima,” and “American Gigolo,” as well as directing movies like “American Gigolo,” “Hardcore,” “Patty Hearst,” and “First Reformed.” Clearly, he has a very particular style and vision; one that is on full display, for better or worse, in “The Card Counter.”
Starring Oscar Isaac (“Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), “The Card Counter” follows William Tell, a grief stricken former military man who travels the country playing poker after he taught himself to play cards in prison. Along the way he picks up a couple other characters, Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip,” “The Last O.G.”) as La Linda, a financial backer for a group of card players and Tye Sheridan (“Ready Player One,” “Mud”) as Cirk, a young kid whose father knew William when they were in the military.
For better or worse, Oscar Isaac’s performance is the reason to watch “The Card Counter.” Schrader is definitely experimenting a bit with camera techniques and some pacing elements, but for the most part everything in the film pales in comparison to Isaac’s commitment to his role. It’s almost as if Schrader found this real person and just surrounded him with actors, as the quality of Issac’s performance makes everyone else seem weaker as a result.
Haddish is doing a fine job most of the time, but some line deliveries give the impression that she’s straddling the line between serious dramatic work and parody of a serious dramatic work. She does a good job in what’s likely her most dramatic role to date, but it isn’t one-hundred-percent convincing and there are a few moments where the cracks show through.
Sheridan is more of a mixed bag. It’s hard to tell what exactly he’s going for, and while he can match Isaac’s intensity and skill when the moment requires it, there are numerous times where it feels as though he’s phoning it in; it's like he’s going along for the ride to all these different casinos just to give fifty-percent of an effort.
While Schrader’s films have never been exceptionally subtle, they’ve ridden the line between the two many times before. And while “Counter” has more than its fair share of unique or well executed ideas, the first time you see William’s hotel room routine is genuinely chilling. However, after decades of making these kinds of movies about tortured, violent men, it just doesn’t have the same effect it once did. Some of the monologues from Issac and imagery such as having the former military man go up against an America obsessed man in a red white and blue tank top who chants “USA” feels extremely on the nose.
Schrader has shown that he can still make excellent, affecting movies, just look at “First Reformed.” But “The Card Counter” feels like more of a phoned in experience. It's not a bad film by any means; it's shot well by cinematographer Alexander Dynan (“First Reformed,” “Dog Eat Dog”) and the cool, chilled musical experience from musician Robert Levon Been helps to set the film’s atmosphere perfectly. It's the kind of movie that’s so cool and cold you expect to pull the blu-ray off the shelf with frost around the edges.
It’s just not as compelling now as it would’ve been in decades prior. Issac’s performance is excellent, and the film’s overall atmosphere is compelling. But Haddish and Sheridan are more spotty in their roles, and overall it seems like the kind of movie that’s just been done numerous times before, not just by Schrader himself. It’s a good movie, just not a great or particularly memorable one. 3/5
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