A lean Clive Owen came to Hollywood’s attention in this star-making performance. Sharp and smart, he’s nonetheless unconvincing in what passes for the emotional scenes. In fairness, that may stem from his character having deadened his emotions, resolving himself to play life only by the odds.

Gina McKee disappoints as his girlfriend. Perhaps it’s because she’s not movie-queen attractive, while he’s leading man handsome. In any case, she’s a downer, even in a fatalistic movie.

Alex Kingston, OTOH, lights up the screen in the key supporting role of troubled roulette player with a hidden agenda. ER’s Dr. Elizabeth Corday is a natural star.

Hard-bitten and well drawn, the film deftly profiles the people you meet in a casino – degenerate gamblers, stupid gamblers (which is to say most), crafty croupiers, flinty eyed pit bosses, connivers and blowhards.

With novelistic precision, it pulls these players into a web of intrigue full of clever twists, many that you shoulda seen coming, but don’t.

For looking as good as he does, working in a casino and having no dependents, Clive Owen’s character gets remarkably little sex. Then when he does, it doesn’t get shown. Rather the intrigue around it and the ulterior motives of the women loom larger than the acts themselves.

The croupier’s disdain for gamblers is bracing. He knows they’re all going to lose, not because the house cheats but because the odds are stacked in its favor. Remember that next time you lay your money down.