Aggressive, desperate, and quick-tongued, Mark Wahlberg’s titular character in Rupert Wyatt’s The Gambler is a captivating figure as he leads a downward spiral. For all its absurd comedy, palpable tension, great music, and fantastic acting from an ensemble cast (John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Brie Larson), the film is still a character study through and through.
Wyatt, who found great success in his reboot of a famed franchise with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, now retells another story in his own unique way. As he told us during a stop in Toronto to promote the film, his version of The Gambler is decidedly different than the 1974 film starring James Caan on which it is based.
Speaking to what makes the film modern and poignant, Wyatt details Walhberg’s dedication and the reasons why he wanted to tell a story with a mix of humour and horror.
Check out what the director had to say to us in the video above and be sure to catch The Gambler when it hits theatres on December 25th, 2014.
