The Card Counter: Movie Review (No Spoilers)

 

By Michael Momper

    Paul Schrader is the kind of filmmaker that makes theater-going worthwhile. In delivering intense moral quandaries and violently high stakes, he slowly puts the audience on edge and makes them squirm in their seats. His filmography is impressive, as he has co-written or written some of the greatest dramas of all time. Most notably, he has worked with Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation of Christ. His writing has become known to focus on troubled and twisted characters; characters grappling with their own past and the horrors that they have committed or that they have witnessed at the hand of others. His vision is often one heavily doused in cynicism, highlighting a cruel and wicked world but showing the effects that we can have on those around us for both better and worse. Taxi Driver in particular is one of the greatest character studies in American cinema, and its portrayal of an incredibly tortured soul trying to exist in an ever-changing world is both an intense, ugly and rewarding experience all at the same time. Thematically, his newest work,  The Card Counter, most closely resembles Taxi Driver as it follows a man attempting to work out his inner demons through a worldly penance- leading a troubled teen away from a vengeful path that he himself had gone down years before.

Oscar Isaac, as our main protagonist, is absolutely exceptional. It is perhaps the greatest performance I've seen all year. He is dark and brooding, but also very subtle. I've always enjoyed how Isaac can be so subdued even in his moments of intensity, and you can see this especially in Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis. He conveys so much with his nearly black eyes, flashing everything from deep sadness to unbridled rage to everything in between. This performance is one that should certainly be considered in Oscar season. He is an A-list actor and should be talked about amongst the likes of John Goodman, Michael Fassbender, Sam Rockwell etc. It’s time for people to get excited about this man’s extremely bright future, because he is showing all the signs of an absolute superstar. 

The Card Counter is a slow-burn character study, dealing most notably with the nature of forgiveness. This thoughtful and provocative script wrestles with forgiveness between people who have done wrong to others and themselves, but also deals in depth with self-love and self-forgiveness. If the sins of the past, which are unable to be erased, aren’t forgivable, than what chance do we have of leading a meaningful life in the future? After immense suffering, or causing immense suffering ourselves, how do we properly pursue a penance that will help us avoid paralyzing and soul-crushing guilt, shame or post-traumatic anxiety? This movie tackles these tough questions, but brings you deep into the weeds and the filth, showing that sometimes these deeply existential questions can't be answered in veritable black and white. Schrader's screenplay refrains from being preachy but doesn't shy away from showing evil for what it is.

Don't expect The Card Counter to be a booze-filled romp through America's casinos. Definitely don't expect it to be an action-packed poker hustling or heist story; you will be let down. Instead, see this movie if you want to see some high-caliber acting, delicate direction and hard-hitting drama. Be prepared to search yourself. If any of the aforementioned Scorsese films appeal to you, you will no doubt be interested in the heart-wrenching moral quandaries depicted in this film. It is an excellent portrayal of the way our past can haunt us and force us to confront our demons. I couldn't help but be reminded of a powerful line from John Prine's classic folk song, The Late John Garfield Blues: "An old man sleeps with his conscience at night; a young man sleeps with his dreams."

Rating: 90/100