Tiffany, Charlie and Vernon are con artists looking to up the ante from their typical scams. They figure a good way of doing this is taking down Dean "The Dean" Stevens, a well-known cardsharp, in a rigged game. However, they first need enough money to enter a game with Stevens, so they decide to strike a deal with fellow crook Larry Jennings to scam a local gangster -- which turns out to be a bad idea.
Acting
Stallone's surprisingly restrained card shark.
Cinematography
Shadow-drenched LA underground that breathes.
Editing
Card mechanics cut like fight choreography.
Director
Damian Nieman
Stuart Townsend
Vernon
Sylvester Stallone
Dean 'The Dean' Stevens
Jamie Foxx
Larry Jennings
Gabriel Byrne
Charlie Miller
Thandiwe Newton
Tiffany
Melanie Griffith
Eve
Hal Holbrook
The Professor
Roger Guenveur Smith
Marlo
Bo Hopkins
Lieutenant Scarne
Dina Merrill
Dina
Patrick Bauchau
Malini
B-Real
Nate
Mark Boone Junior
Leipzig
Joe Nicolo
Ritchie
Carl Mazzocone Sr.
Older Wiseguy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Real card mechanics consulted; every shuffle and false cut is technically possible. Stallone trained for months to look authentic.
The 2003 release bombed—director Damian Nieman never made another feature, despite this being a clear love letter to The Sting and House of Games.
US
