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Some movies exceed expectations, others fail to live up to them, and some fall exactly where I expect them to. Rounders, starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, is one of those movies. It is one of those movies where you anticipate the antagonist’s downfall because you think the main character has gone through too much misfortune. It is one of those movies where you prepare yourself for the protagonist to realize their dream and finally seize it. It is one of those movies where you wish you were the one making those decisions. While the film portrays the dark and ominous aspect of gambling, it also illustrates the transformation the main character, Mike McDermott, undergoes when he encounters a moment where he must decide how he is going to define outside expectations and whether or not to follow his passion. The initial trials Mike McDermott undergoes appear to be simple decisions for the everyday person. Should Mike stay in school or head to Vegas for the “big game”? Should he stay with his dependable girlfriend or revel with his reckless best buddy? Should he gamble his tuition money or should he invest? These decisions should be an easy one. But still, the lure of nut-straights and check-raises until sunrise made Mike as light-headed as a first kiss.
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