The Card Counter

 

The Card Counter

Starring Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sherian, Willem Dafoe

Directed by Paul Schrader

Paul Schrader is one of those directors who write a completely thoughtful script, casts the perfect actors, and allows them to tell his story in a way that's equal parts deep and profound, mixed with a stoic, contemplative feel that makes you feel like you've known these characters all their lives and know the deep turmoil they suffer through. 2017's "First Reformed" earned Schrader his first Oscar nomination, and it was one that was long overdue. He frequently wrote scripts for Martin Scorsese, including the iconic films "Raging Bull," "Taxi Driver," and "The Last Temptation of Christ," and all the main characters are ones you could do studies on if you want to study the fractured psyche of the human mind. "The Card Counter" is one such film, although told with a lesser grandiose than any of Scorsese's work, but nonetheless it's still a compelling, powerful look at one man's quest for redemption and desire to escape the tragic mistakes of his past.

After spending years in prison for being a part of the Abu Ghraib incident, William Tell (Oscar Isaac) became a semi-professional poker player after he learned how to count cards while in prison. He travels from casino to casino, from cheap motel to cheap motel, and bets small and wins modestly in order to not draw attention to his card counting ability. As he travels, he covers everything in his hotel room with white sheets and writes in his journal, but his life remains shrouded in mystery to anyone around him. At one casino he meets La Linda (Tiffany Haddish), who runs a stable - a group of investors who back gamblers for a portion of their winnings. She knows William counts cards, but he refuses because he doesn't want the notoriety and responsibility.

While attending a lecture led by security guru Major John Gordo (Willem Dafoe) - whom Tell worked for in Abu Ghraib and who got away scot-free - he meets Cirk (Tye Sheridan), whose father also worked for Gordo and who killed himself after returning to the States. Cirk holds Gordo responsible and plans his murder, but William takes the kid in and tries to impart other wisdom as they travel from casino to casino. He also accepts La Linda's proposal and raises the ranks of the professional poker players, as well as falling in love with La Linda. As he tries to help those around him, however, he continues to struggle with his past mistakes that threaten to bubble to the surface in very harmful ways.

Schrader is known for his slow-burn tale, allowing the characters to become fully developed before juming into the main action, and while that works in most of his films, it serves as a bit of a detriment here. The last fifteen minutes come at lightning fast pace compared to the slow momentum previously, and hits with a jarring impact that makes it feel almost rushed when it wasn't. Despite that, the story that preceeded it more than holds its own in the end, and the impeccable performances drive home the narrative and leaves a gut punch you never saw coming.

Oscar Isaac dominates the screen as William Tell (an obvious pseudonym, as the name is refence to the classic fable as well as a concept in poker where you show your weakness - or "tell" - that allows the other players to take advantage of the situation), and from the first moment you're immediately drawn to his character. He's equal parts mysterious and sophisticated, a character that is compelling and thoughtful, as he meaners his way through different casinos discussing the importance of counting cards for minimal profit since no one cares if you win little as opposed to winning big. Through it all, he holds a mysterious feel as he covers each hotel room with white sheets everywhere (from the bed to the tables, chairs, and everything in-between) with no real reason why, as he's haunted by the tortures he partook in at Abu Ghraib prison. It seems like he's an aimless man wandering the casino landscape in order to find a new purpose, or redemption, and he finds that in both La Linda and Cirk.

Tiffany Haddish sheds her comedic archtype and solidly lands her dramatic performance as La Linda (while also offering nods to her comedic roots), a woman who's fiercely independent but also falls for William's charm, a woman who's powerful in her thought processes and always thinks two steps ahead. Tye Sheridan (whom Isaac co-starred with in "X-Men: Apocalypse") plays Cirk with a unique blend of intelligence and homicidal rage, as he plots the demise of the man he holds repsonsible for his father's suicide, and you can sense the deep sadness he keeps bottled up inside due to Sheridan's committed performance. For both these characters, Tell finds a "tell" that he uses to try to help them (especially Cirk), as well as helping himself in the process. As the trailer said, "redemption is the long game," and Tell's redemptive arc is powerful and intriguing, brought to life by Isaac's powered performance and the expert scriptwriting and directing of Paul Schrader.

While the ending feels a bit rushed, "The Card Counter" highlights everything that makes Paul Schrader a compelling writer, and gives birth to a wholly original story about one man's quest for redemption for a very troubled past.

The Score: A