Film Review: The Last Gamble
The Last Gamble is a semi autobiographical film about Joe E. Goodavage, the man who also wrote, produced and directed the film, and is a heartfelt look into the life of addiction.
A three in one storyline – the gambler, the psychiatrist and the cop. Each having made choices that they were paying for in some way.
The gambler Joe, played by Steven Bauer, is deep in the throws of his addiction. Having been an addict since the age of 8, Joe is a man living in New York with his mother Stella, played by Sally Kirkland. Thousands of dollars in debt with bookies and loan sharks, Joe just can’t seem to manage to get out of his living hell.
Missing his GA meetings and still trying to beg, borrow and steal to gamble his way out of debt, it seems that there is no way to get his head above water, but is his therapist the light at the end of the tunnel, and can she be his saviour or will he lose everything and everyone he loves?
There is a brief cameo in the beginning of the film where the real Joe E. Goodavage walks away from a poker game, touches the character Joe on the shoulder and says “Get away from this” then goes into the the bathroom and commits suicide. A poignant moment which is only realised when Joe has a flashback at the end of the film.
Joe’s psychiatrist, Elizabeth played by Tanya Clarke, also has her own problems. With her husband being quite distant and always working late, cracks begin to appear in their marriage.
Elizabeth’s husband takes her on one of his work trips, for her to find that their marital problems follow them there, and in a moment of foolish temptation she makes a choice that will follow her back to NYC and ruin not only her life, but the lives of those around her.
The cop who is tasked with helping Elizabeth after her problem comes knocking, Detective Maritzsa played by Katherine Narducci,is a gritty cop who has turned to drugs to numb the death and horrors that she has had to deal with everyday. Although there cannot be a good end for a cop with an addiction, the question is what help can she be on the job, and if the police cannot help, who will help Elizabeth?
So it’s time to cut the crap. This film was a low budget film, which has, with a great script, managed to pull in a stellar cast. The downside is, it is still a straight to TV film.
With seasoned actors like Steven Bauer better known for Scarface, Ray Donovan and Primal Fear. The still beautiful and talented award winning actress Sally Kirkland from JFK, Bruce Almighty and cinema classic Vally of The Dolls. Tanya Clarke from A Beautiful Mind and Repo Men, John Savage from The Godfather and A Thin Red Line this film is not short of talent. From the main characters to the supporting cast, I don’t know many low budget films that have such an impressive cast, which I would say is due to the script and the importance of the story itself.
It is well written, which should be expected considering how close to the heart the story is to the writer, but it has its moments and some scenes that distract from the continuity of viewing.
However there is an upside. This film is deep. This little thing of beauty is relevant to all of us. It is an emotional rollercoaster that genuinely will have you weeping when you see the vulnerabilities and hardships faced by the characters.
It shows how when we allow our addictions to take over, no matter what they are – drugs, gambling, shopping, work, food or sex – we open ourselves up to three things, being taken advantage of, a hopelessness and loss of control that will drag you down and suffocate you where you stand and the risk that you will push away and hurt those that love you, leaving one isolated and alone.
I would love to say that there is a happy ending, but its a truthful ending.
So would I tell you to go and watch this film? Well if you only like big blockbusters with the might of Hollywood behind them, then no, its not for you.
But if like me you’re a true film geek then you will love this film. It has everything that makes a film great – not money, but heart. It is an honest look at addiction which I believe should be shown to addicts across the world, in every AA, GA, DA, SA meeting and even in schools as a deterrent.
As honest as I can be for ratings, this film gets a 4/5. There are some slow going moments, but the story, the acting and directing deserves recognition.
I know this film has received 4 awards including Best Actor twice for Steven Bauer, Best Feature Joe E. Goodavage, and Best Original Score for composer Ralph Rieckermann, which were wholeheartedly deserved. I look forward to the next film from Joe E. Goodavage. It has been too long coming.
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