The Card Counter
2021
William Tell just wants to play cards. His spartan existence on the casino trail is shattered when he is approached by Cirk, a vulnerable and angry young man seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel. Tell sees a chance at redemption through his relationship with Cirk.
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My notes
This film caught me off guard, primarily because I hadn't realized Paul Schrader included it alongside First Reformed in what he now calls his "Man in a Room" series (this is the second installment, with a fourth currently in production).
By "caught off guard," I mean I was completely hooked. For a series known for its slow contemplations on grief and guilt, this entry was surprisingly engaging. The Abu Ghraib sequences were unexpected, yet they created a far more compelling narrative than the title suggests. While not for the squeamish, it has certainly added a few more titles to my watchlist.