It’s a simple and obvious concept but the characters in a movie really can be the difference between it being an Oscar nominated masterpiece and an embarrassing flop. Getting somebody believable to play the main part can grip the audience and keep them on the edge of their seat, get this wrong and people will be heading for the aisle before the grand finale. What can turn a performance from mediocre to amazing may depend on the era of the film and how that influences a characters behaviour.
One of the most common scenes to be depicted in cinema is the casino scene. Many characters have tried in the past to make us feel on edge as we watch them play for high stakes, but only a few manage it.
To celebrate some of the best casino performances from the past few years, Ladbrokes Casino have put together a quiz for you to see which era you are best suited to. Are you the smooth bachelor like Phil Wenneck portrayed by Bradley Cooper in The Hangover, over a cowboy like Van Morgan?
To show how some of these characters have been depicted through various eras, here are a few iconic characters to compare yourself to:
The Cowboy – Captain James T. West (Wild Wild West, 1999)
James T. West takes on the characteristics all Cowboys – not being scared to take anyone on in a brawl and what’s to oust the corrupt. Played by Will Smith, the character is a lovable member of the police who won’t put up with any nonsense when it comes to criminals. During the Western era, if a card player accused of cheating and found out, the consequences were unimaginable – with many cases resulting in death. Although Jim West might not have gone that far, he still wanted to crush all of the corruption out of the South.
The Swinger – Austin Powers (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, 1997)
Created to mock the stereotypical secret agent model, Austin Powers has become a cult figure amongst many film buffs due to his comical whip and party mentality. Powers is frozen back in the swinging 60’s, only to be brought back to civilisation in 1997 to stop Dr Evil. We see Powers at his best during his visit to the casino, where he meets the villainous Number Two. Despite only having a hand of 5 in a game of blackjack, the secret agent sees it fit that he sticks, much to the dismay of the dealer. The comedy value is added when he stares his opponent in the eye and says “I also like to live dangerously” when sticking with his terrible hand and, of course, goes on to lose his money.
The Player – James Bond (Casino Royale, 2006)
Is there a cooler movie character out there than 007 himself? Since he first hit our screens back in 1962’s Dr No, Bond has become an iconic figure in history of cinema and is the epitome of the Player character. In Daniel Craig’s first outing as the secret agent, he finds himself facing off against the man he is trying to bring down, Le Chiffre in a poker tournament. Bond, with the beautiful Vesper on his arm, takes the terrorist all the way and eventually claims victory, winning the contents of the substantial pot.