The Poker Club

I found a free copy of this in the little library outside the Presidio Y, so no big investment here, but I was really quite well pleased with this as a pizza night movie. Whoever put it together knows how to make a movie, and if you dig noir in general, and have reasonable expectations, this won't disappoint. The New Jersey locations add a touch of the exotic, and the performances are perfectly fine throughout. Some viewers may find the ending predictable, even so this rises to about the same level as various serial noir pictures of the classic era and avoids any excessive violence or embarrassing eroticism.

Johnathon Schaech has definitely got talent, writing and acting in this although it was a mediocre film. The plot seems all too easy and done plenty of times before, but it still somewhat keeps your interest. It was obviously not a Hollywood hit with a huge budget, but for what they had, I believe it turned out OK.

The story follows a lead character Aaron(Johnathon Schaech)and his response to him and his friends killing a burglar on their poker night. They make a commonly used film move and dump the body and get rid of the evidence. Things begin happening to the people involved in this murder and evidence points to our lead character as a determined and suspicious detective (Judy Reyes) investigates Johnathon's character. The plot leads us to an interesting, but non-surprising twist in the end which leaves the audience questioning elements about Aaron's wife and her actions. Johnny Messner once again plays an obnoxious character who is not too likable, for reasons explained in the film. Overall, wasn't too bad considering, but there's definitely better straight to DVD features out there to watch.

Obvious why it's a DVD feature, but still have to give credit to Johnathon Schaech for his drive and determination to adapt this screenplay and get it made.

I gave this one a 6/10 because of the twists involved. It was a very enjoyable movie, moved along very well, the actors were very good.

With all of the trash out on the market now days, its nice to see a good drama that catches your attention and keeps it.

I am not much for drama, but this is one I would recommend. I feel it will be one of the best missed movies of 2009.

Johnathon Schaech is riveting in this role.

I know that most of the critics will give this one a low score just because there are no big names in it, but don't let that miss-lead you... This is a good movie to watch, not a waste of time or money.

I've been a fan of Tim McCann for a long time, an underrated, cult director who always brings a gritty, realistic edge to his films. While this is a more conventional story than the brooding, psychological Runaway, or the insane, disturbing, genre-bending Nowhere Man, the snappy direction and some nice performances elevate this crime drama. A few of the plot developments require a little willing suspension of disbelief, but that's often the case in these 'Hitchcockian' thrillers. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised, and happy to see the charismatic Loren Dean and a good jittery performance by McCann stalwart Michael Risley.

Johnathon Schaech does that thing he does best playing Aaron Tyler, who hosts of a weekly poker game of his old friends. The game is interrupted by the appearance of a burglar, whose death leads everyone into a devastating spiral of treachery and deceit. The film takes some rather surprising liberties with the Ed Gorman novel, but it works on its own level thanks to the sure-handed direction of Tim McCann and the cast. Aside from the always reliable Schaech, I particularly enjoyed Johnny Messner as a cynical former baseball player, now a strip club owner, and Judy Reyes. It was good seeing her outside of her Scrubs. (Not that we see her completely out of her Scrubs, if you know what I mean.) Well worth a look.