"The Gambler" starring Mark Wahlberg had its theatrical debut on Dec. 25, and it is looking to be Wahlberg's "most ambitious acting job ever," Detroit Free Press reported.
Wahlberg stars as literature professor Jim Bennett who is addicted to gambling, getting in more and more with loan sharks and underworld gambling. He amassed a large debt with Korean mogul Mr. Lee (Alvin Ing), but managed to get into even more debt with Neville (Michael K. Williams) and King of the Sharks Frank (John Goodman).
Bennett is also in trouble with his own family, who are unable to stop him and whose advice Bennett decides not to listen to as he gets into more trouble.
Roger Moore from Detroit Free Press complimented Wahlberg's acting in the film - a remake of the original 1974 flick that starred James Caan. Moore also called the script "meaty" and each character an "articulate, quotable archetype-breaker," awarding the film two of two stars.
The movie is also garnering varying reviews from different sources.
As of writing, the film has a score of 6.5 of 10 from IMDb, 47 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 percent on Metacritic.
Several reviews on Metacritic have called it "quietly confident" and stated that it displayed "crisp, sharp dialogue," as well as complimented Wahlberg on carrying out his role. Some stated it was clichéd, excessive and anachronistic.
The film garnered 2 of 4 stars on Roger Ebert, which stated that the film should be called "Three Supporting Characters in Search of a Lead." The view by Odie Henderson claimed that the screenplay was of "one note" and "tiresome" as the movie went on, adding that it was "completely devoid of grit, nastiness and desperation" in comparison to the original 1974 film.
A review from Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called Director Rupert Wyatt's direction as smooth, confident and convincing, but commented on Wahlberg's character as not being too present in the film.
Peter Howell from The Toronto Star gave it 2.5 stars out of 5, claiming that the film is akin to a "benign indifference of the universe" while Jeff Baker from Oregon Live complimented Wahlberg's "generous" acting and Director Wyatt's and writer William Monahan's script, ultimately giving the film a B-minus rating.
Despite the reviews though, interested moviegoers can catch "The Gambler" on theaters to see and judge the movie for themselves.