Negócios e Trapaças

Poker was still red hot going strong in 2008. No Black Friday yet. WSOP & WPT still doing a ton of tourneys with heavy tv coverage. Everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon, cash-in on the action - Hollywood included - leading to this relatively low budget entry 'Deal'. It has some moments card fans will enjoy, but also a healthy helping of cheese.

Alex (Bret Harrison) in his last year of university studying law likes to play poker, but it's his success online that allows him to be a part of a final table as played on national tv. Inexperience gets him eliminated, but he catches the eye of once legendary poker player Tommy Vinson (Burt Reynolds) who thinks he can make the kid a champion. Takes him under his wing in a 50/50 arrangement. Shows him the ropes, teach him lessons, but a blowup sees the two separate only for a showdown at the final table of a WPT tournament later.

Burt sports an obvious wig getting up there in age, but still fun to watch as Tommy. A man who hasn't played a hand in "over twenty years" after going busto and nearly losing his wife and now craves to get back into the game. Harrison holds his own and Shannon Elizabeth shows up to provides eye candy and a rather silly surprise.

Made in collaboration with the WPT, 'Deal' feels cheap at times given it's low budget. Purports to take place in multiple US gambling cities, but obviously all shot in one place. However if you enjoy the game of poker there's a few things here to enjoy. They don't do a bad job of capturing the game of no limit hold 'em and many pros & a few celebrities show up doing cameos. Counterbalance that with a cornball cliche story and a last second reveal that is beyond ridiculous.