Cold Deck Movie Review – All or Nothing

How far will you go to help those you love? Cold Deck features a realistic story about addiction, with interesting mature themes. But is that enough to help it stand out among similar films? In our Cold Deck movie review, we will go over everything you need to know to enjoy this movie, such as an overview of the plot, its cast of characters and where you can watch it. Read on to learn more about this spectacular poker film.

Cold Deck 2015 – Important Production Info

The Cold Deck film was released on the 1st of December 2015 as a video on demand by Screen Media Films. It was directed by Zack Bernbaum, an indie film director and storyteller, who has become famous for his movies “And Now a Word from Our Sponsor” and “The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova”. Cold Deck 2015 would also see a limited theatrical release in the US and Canada on the 4th of December, with a DVD being released in 2020.

Unlike “And Now a Word from Our Sponsor”, Cold Deck is a darker movie with a realistic setting and compelling characters. Bergman refines his skill and tells a dramatic story with a somewhat sympathetic character. While “The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova” would prove to be much more successful, this is still an excellent film that can rival the best poker movies.

Cold Deck Film Plot – Desperate Times

Our Cold Deck review will now give a brief glimpse at the plot. Bobby is a young factory worker with a severe gambling addiction, always trying to win big at poker tables and participating in lotteries. He also must pay off his mother’s ever-increasing medical bills, who is worried he will ruin himself and end up just like his father.

In a desperate bid to escape his life, he agrees to participate in a high-roller poker game. After stealing a car and robbing his mom to afford the buy-in, Bobby is confident he will win the game against the amateur players and the enigmatic Turk. Unfortunately, his long-time friend and experienced player, Chips, is also attending and easily beats him. Bobby is then kicked out of his home by his mother and has to stay with his girlfriend.

With no money and no home, Bobby has one last chance to fix his mistakes by working with Chips to rob a poker game. Will he finally be able to settle his debts, help his mother and live a happy life? Or are the odds truly stacked against him? You can take a look at this thrilling plot with the fantastic Cold Deck trailer:

Cold Deck 2015 is an incredible movie with fascinating characters. Bobby is very relatable as he is fully aware of his gambling addiction but it is his only way of briefly escaping the misery of his life. Although he wishes to help his mother and does everything to heal her arthritis, he is frustrated with his dead-end factory job and hopes to do more.

One of the poignant themes of this movie is overcoming your own faults and improving, even if it is incredibly difficult to do so. Although his best friend, Ben, and his paternal figure, Chips, revel in their earnings from crime and gambling, Bobby tries to overcome his addiction and only spends money on getting better help for his mother. Ultimately, he learns the truth about his father and eventually overcomes his addiction while still enjoying gambling.

The movie is often compared to other gambling films, such as the Rounders movie for its similar themes. However, Bergman’s excellent dramatic storytelling and compelling characters help it stand out. Compared to other films, it does not feature many action scenes or glamorous casinos. It is simply a short tale about a man’s grounded and relatable life, overcoming the hand fate has dealt him.

Cold Deck Cast – Outstanding Performance

Although this is an indie film, the Cold Deck cast gives an excellent performance, bringing the characters to life. Aside from outstanding dramatic scenes, the characters frequently make jokes and appear in happy situations, making the movie feel much more realistic and allowing the actors to show off their talents. As there are only six essential characters, they are all memorable and put on an enjoyable performance. You can find the complete cast list below:

Stéfano Gallo is both a screenwriter and the main character in this movie. He is able to perfectly capture the depression and desperation of an ordinary down on his luck man. However, he is also able to portray other facets of his character, such as his responsibility, kindness towards his family and shock at learning his father’s fate. Bobby is, undoubtedly, a fleshed-out character, and Gallo delivers a remarkable performance.

The spectacular support cast enhances Gallo’s performance. Playing as Bobby’s mother, Aubrey, Kate Trotter captures the audience’s hearts as despite struggling with arthritis, she still worries about her son and wishes to spend time with him. Jessica Sipos is the supportive girlfriend who helps keep Bobby on the right path. Meanwhile, Kjartan Hewit is Bobby’s best friend and foil, portraying a character who has succumbed to his vices and enables his friend’s bad habits.

Even the antagonists are interesting, as Robert Knepper plays a crazy man named Turk, obsessed with getting revenge for the robbery, and becomes a looming threat to Bobby’s life. Chips, played by the spectacular Paul Sorvino of “Goodfellas”, is an interesting antagonist, who seemingly wishes to help Bobby, yet also tries to pull him into the criminal underworld and exacerbate his gambling addiction.

With such spectacular characters, a great plot and fun performances, you can expect the same excitement as playing at the best online roulette sites.

Cold Deck Movie Reception – An Underrated Gem

In this part of our Cold Deck movie review, we will go over the audience and critics’ verdict, along with our opinion on the movie. Unfortunately, critics completely slammed the film, claiming it is too similar to other gambling movies. While some praised the performances and the production quality, most agree that the plot and characters are too bland and do not do enough to stand out among other more popular films. To them, it is an uninspired film that plays it too safe and holds no originality.

Audiences are a bit more divided than critics. While some criticise the movie’s writing and believe the ending is unrealistically optimistic, others enjoy the characters and the sense of realism. It is undoubtedly a divisive film, so viewers will have to see it for themselves and form their own conclusions on its quality.

We believe the movie is worth seeing. Despite being an indie film, it has the same quality as a high-budget Hollywood flick, and while the plot can be somewhat predictable, it is presented uniquely with fun characters. Instead of focusing too much on Bobby’s addiction, the movie uses it to set up a dramatic story and shows us how he deals with his issues and how that affects other characters.

Another fun detail is the focus on gambling games. Aside from several rounds of Texas Hold’Em poker, Bobby also buys a lottery ticket and frequently plays online blackjack. At one point, he even discusses odds and strategies with his fellow players. Gambling isn’t just a plot device, but an essential part of Bobby’s character, making the games much more exciting. With such experience, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was also aware of the top roulette strategies.

Cold Deck Film – Where to Watch

Knowing the details and overall reception of a movie is all well and good, but viewers will also want to know where they can find this great movie. Despite its reception, Cold Deck 2015 can be found at many different services. You can stream it on YouTube, rent it on Apple iTunes or buy it from Amazon. There’s plenty of variety, and we’ve listed all available options below. Have fun with this spectacular gambling movie.

Cold Deck Review Conclusion

Overall, the Cold Deck film is a fantastic indie movie with plenty of charm and a fascinating story. Although it is not the most original or revolutionary movie, it presents a refreshingly mature story with few over-the-top action scenes or convoluted plot elements.

It also never focuses too much on the dark elements and shows plenty of comedic moments, making the themes feel even more poignant. It is definitely worth a watch, and with so many options, you are bound to find a high-quality experience.

If you’re interested in more exciting gambling movies, you can check out our reviews of the top blackjack movies. Those who wish to learn more about gambling games may be interested in the roulette rules.

Cold Deck FAQ

Before we wrap up our Cold Deck movie review, we will answer all your pressing questions regarding this movie. You can learn more details about the movie’s production, along with where to watch it and some extra trivia. Enjoy the refreshingly grounded and dramatic story of this fun indie movie.

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