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HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY: Finally got to see this film last night. First off, let me just say I truly enjoyed the movie. I really wish I knew more about Stuey so that I could more easily dissect the truth from the fiction. But the overall story was very effective in turning Stu Ungar into a mere mortal with gifts and weaknesses, rather than some mythical god of poker and self-destructive tempest he has become in modern folklore.
Second, I'll say I had very high expectations for the film, so some disappointment was probably inevitable. The one complaint I have is that I wish they had shown more cardplay, but that's really just a minor complaint from a certified poker-holic. To me, poker has an inate drama that can be used so well to add tension to a film. But maybe that sort of thing just doesn't play as well out in suburbia.
TILT: When the first episode of this show came on, I felt it could go either way. I enjoyed the cardplay and the feeling that I was looking behind the scenes of a life that fascinates me, but I was worried that the plot could just disintegrate into cheesiness.
Now that we have three episodes under our belts, all I can say is, "Oh, my." This show is maturing rapidly. It could have easily fallen into the trap of good vs. evil corniness, and while there is that element in the background, it's done much more realistically, with the good guys having their faults and the main bad guy having his saving graces.
And what can I say about Seymour's exit? Last week's ending literally left my jaw hanging open. It was at that moment that my mind was made up -- Tilt is pretty damn good TV. Anytime one of your main characters is sacrificed for the sake of the story line, you can tell you're watching a show where everything else comes second to plot. After all, prior to Seymour's death, the show sort of had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Rounders feel to it, with Seymour serving as Splinter, herding his elite force of young poker punks into battle.
Second, I'll say I had very high expectations for the film, so some disappointment was probably inevitable. The one complaint I have is that I wish they had shown more cardplay, but that's really just a minor complaint from a certified poker-holic. To me, poker has an inate drama that can be used so well to add tension to a film. But maybe that sort of thing just doesn't play as well out in suburbia.
TILT: When the first episode of this show came on, I felt it could go either way. I enjoyed the cardplay and the feeling that I was looking behind the scenes of a life that fascinates me, but I was worried that the plot could just disintegrate into cheesiness.
Now that we have three episodes under our belts, all I can say is, "Oh, my." This show is maturing rapidly. It could have easily fallen into the trap of good vs. evil corniness, and while there is that element in the background, it's done much more realistically, with the good guys having their faults and the main bad guy having his saving graces.
And what can I say about Seymour's exit? Last week's ending literally left my jaw hanging open. It was at that moment that my mind was made up -- Tilt is pretty damn good TV. Anytime one of your main characters is sacrificed for the sake of the story line, you can tell you're watching a show where everything else comes second to plot. After all, prior to Seymour's death, the show sort of had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Rounders feel to it, with Seymour serving as Splinter, herding his elite force of young poker punks into battle.
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