The Winner (1997)

Some things I liked some I did not.

Excellent but underrated film

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Okay, Now it makes some sort of Sense. After Seeing this Movie with a Cast of Quirky Stars and Cult Director Alex Cox, You might Scratch Your Head Raw Wondering, What the? But the Back(stabbing) Story is that the Director was Ambushed by the Producers. It Seems that They took the Finished Film, Re Edited, Added a Different Soundtrack and Released this Bomb to Non-Existent Audiences, Furious Critics, and Disappointment Everywhere. So Alex Cox Disowned the Film and Tried to have His Named Removed.Is the Abomination that was Released Worth a Watch? The Shortest Answer is...NO. That's a No with a Shout. Because it is Embarrassing. Nothing Seems to Work. The Usual Reliable Cast of Usually Interesting Actors All are Either Miscast or Appear to be Lost in this Muddle and Don't Know the Ending or Their Next Lines.The Few Standout Visuals are So Few that the Drudgery of Sitting Through the Odd Pacing and Unfunny Stuff is Not Worth the Effort. Like the Director, it is Best to not Acknowledge this Films Existence for the Sake of Everyone Involved.

This movie should be a about a guy who wins at the casinos all the time, which sound interesting, BUT: it isn't really bout that! OK, there is a guy in it who "they say" wins all the time, but its actually just about lot of people who have no real background, characteristic or what so ever, who want that guys money. The camera sucks big time, I had the feeling the whole movie was shot in totals, no close ups at all. Michael Madsen and the female leading role's t&a are the only things worth mentioning in this movie. oh well, she had great legs too! And Billy Bob Thornton, i actually didn't recognize him anywhere in the movie, might be someone with the same name (kidding, but I really didn't recognize him...awkward!). I'd love to write some more on this one, but it's just that there isn't anything left to...well, just the summary: AVOID IT!

There are two versions of "The Winner", the studio version released in the States and the Director version released in Japan only. I've seen the latter in Tokyo a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed it (great actors, great unreal atmosphere and very good story), but it looks like other User Comments (pretty negative) are based on the former. I hope that the DVD release will be based on the Director Version only, in order to give to this very good movie what it deserves.

What could the concept have been for this muddled, laughable "thriller?" Oceans 11 meets Pulp Fiction? Ouch! What a misfire. I kept wondering what ARE all those crazies doing up there on my screen?