The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
10-29-19, 09:40 AM
#1
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The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Oscar Isaac will lead the cast of Paul Schrader’s revenge thriller The Card Counter, which HanWay Films will launch sales on at AFM.
Based on an original screenplay by Schrader, pic sees Isaac star as William Tell, a gambler and former serviceman who sets out to reform a young man seeking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past.
Braxton Pope, who previously worked with Schrader on The Canyons, is producing the film with Lauren Mann. William Olsson and David Wulf will executive produce.
Shoot is set for early 2020.
Based on an original screenplay by Schrader, pic sees Isaac star as William Tell, a gambler and former serviceman who sets out to reform a young man seeking revenge on a mutual enemy from their past.
Braxton Pope, who previously worked with Schrader on The Canyons, is producing the film with Lauren Mann. William Olsson and David Wulf will executive produce.
Shoot is set for early 2020.
01-07-20, 10:22 PM
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re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Schrader:
Every film I’ve written or directed circles around the drain of suicide. I believe I have another film in me. It’s called “The Card Counter.” With Oscar Issac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe.
02-22-20, 06:03 PM
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re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Martin Scorsese also joined the project as an executive producer. It’s the fifth collaboration between Schrader and Scorsese, who previously worked together on “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “Bringing Out the Dead.”
In “The Card Counter,” Isaac portrays a card player on the casino trail who sees a chance at redemption when he’s approached by a young man (Sheridan), seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel (Dafoe.) With backing from a mysterious gambling financier (Haddish), the duo go from casino to casino and set their sights on winning a World Series of poker tournament.
“Scorsese and I liked the symmetry of it, the reflection of a long association and mutual love of hand made films,” Schrader said in a statement.
HanWay Films is handling international sales and distribution with David Gonzales of Northside Services and Endeavor Content overseeing the U.S. sale. Braxton Pope, Lauren Mann (“Swiss Army Man”) and David Wulf are producing, while William Olsson will executive produce. “The Card Counter” also re-teams Schrader with cinematographer Alexander Dynan and editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr., who worked together on 2017’s “First Reformed.”
In “The Card Counter,” Isaac portrays a card player on the casino trail who sees a chance at redemption when he’s approached by a young man (Sheridan), seeking help to execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel (Dafoe.) With backing from a mysterious gambling financier (Haddish), the duo go from casino to casino and set their sights on winning a World Series of poker tournament.
“Scorsese and I liked the symmetry of it, the reflection of a long association and mutual love of hand made films,” Schrader said in a statement.
HanWay Films is handling international sales and distribution with David Gonzales of Northside Services and Endeavor Content overseeing the U.S. sale. Braxton Pope, Lauren Mann (“Swiss Army Man”) and David Wulf are producing, while William Olsson will executive produce. “The Card Counter” also re-teams Schrader with cinematographer Alexander Dynan and editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr., who worked together on 2017’s “First Reformed.”
07-27-21, 10:22 AM
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re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Only In Theaters September 10
Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader’s THE CARD COUNTER. Told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions, and features riveting performances from stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe.
Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader’s THE CARD COUNTER. Told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions, and features riveting performances from stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe.
08-09-21, 04:56 AM
#6
re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
This looks excellent. Paul Schrader has been so hit or miss over the past 20 years but First Reformed was great even though it was super bleak. This looks bleak too, but set in a world that is anything but mundane.
09-02-21, 04:11 PM
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re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Reviews from Venice: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the...ounter/reviews
Very positive.
Very positive.
09-09-21, 12:12 PM
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Screenings start tonight.
09-09-21, 11:58 PM
#10
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Going to catch a matinee for this Friday afternoon.
Currently at 90% on RT
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_card_counter
However, Isaac and Haddish are a weird pairing as a romantic on screen couple IMO just based on the trailers. Maybe I'll feel differently tomorrow.
Currently at 90% on RT
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_card_counter
However, Isaac and Haddish are a weird pairing as a romantic on screen couple IMO just based on the trailers. Maybe I'll feel differently tomorrow.
09-10-21, 04:03 PM
#11
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Coming off of First Reformed, which was one of my top movies of that year (and one of Schrader's absolute best), this was one of my most anticipated movies of the year. This was a great follow-up. Not as good as First Reformed, but still a great, slow burn. More of a redemption film.
Oscar Isaac is on top of his game here. Haddish did well in her role.
There is some great camera work here. That lens effect in the prison Abu Ghraib flashback was crazy... it almost made me nauseous.
Oscar Isaac is on top of his game here. Haddish did well in her role.
There is some great camera work here. That lens effect in the prison Abu Ghraib flashback was crazy... it almost made me nauseous.
09-10-21, 08:56 PM
#12
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Alright I just got out of seeing it. Honestly I'm not a big follower or fan of Schrader's work. I was more interested in this for Isaac. This was a mixed bag for me. The gambling storyline didn't work for me at all. I did find the flashbacks to Isaac's character's past compelling and borderline creepy. As of right now I'd probably give this a C or C-. I unfortunately found some of this kind of boring. Maybe Schrader is not my cup of tea. They also shot the flashback sequence with what looked like a 360 degree camera that some people use on YouTube. I don't know. It looked really bizarre.
I saw on RT the audience score for this sank to 26%. Ouch.
I saw on RT the audience score for this sank to 26%. Ouch.
Last edited by DJariya; 09-10-21 at 10:24 PM.
09-12-21, 05:07 PM
#13
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Saw this today. Liked it except was very confused by that end scene with Dafoe and Issac.
Spoiler:
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inri222 (01-01-22)
12-21-21, 04:56 PM
#15
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
12-22-21, 06:15 PM
#16
12-25-21, 05:09 AM
#17
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Spoiler:
It was not bad and maybe Oscar gets a Oscar nomination
I thought it was going to go down the drain when Haddish came and would do her usual unfunny shtick but that did not happen.
What was the deal with all the white towels or rags on the hotel furniture and I think Dafoe's character did it too?
Was it a OCD thing or something to prevent fingerpints or evidence on furniture?
12-27-21, 10:50 AM
#18
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
I assumed it was to minimize the visual distractions, since Isaac was used to being in prison which is just bland and indistinct. I mostly liked the movie. Going into it without any prior knowledge, it didn't go where I thought it would.
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Why So Blu? (01-02-22)
01-12-22, 08:18 PM
#20
Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
I love Schrader but this didn't totally work for me. I appreciate he prefers Bresson-esque unpolished non actorly performances but Haddish just feels like she showed up and read her lines with zero prep or insight into character. Tye Sheridan is unmemorable as well.
And you need to feel something especially in that relationship if main character is handing him 180k out of the goodness of his heart. None of the relationships are well drawn. I think the world of gambling/degeneracy/addiction is interesting enough and needed to be fleshed out more.
The military torture backstory felt movie-ish. Schrader wanted a trauma behind Isaac's character but I would've just had an older gambler befriending a younger one and taking him under his wing. Younger one could've had an insurmountable debt to a backer (use Dafoe in this role instead of the wasted one in the movie). Isaac covers his debt, but Sheridan blows the money like a degenerate and Dafoe kills him. Isaac exacts revenge. Way tighter scripting was needed here. Didn't care one iota about Sheridan's death (shown off screen), didn't care about Isaac revenge killing Dafoe .. basically didn't care about anything.
And you need to feel something especially in that relationship if main character is handing him 180k out of the goodness of his heart. None of the relationships are well drawn. I think the world of gambling/degeneracy/addiction is interesting enough and needed to be fleshed out more.
The military torture backstory felt movie-ish. Schrader wanted a trauma behind Isaac's character but I would've just had an older gambler befriending a younger one and taking him under his wing. Younger one could've had an insurmountable debt to a backer (use Dafoe in this role instead of the wasted one in the movie). Isaac covers his debt, but Sheridan blows the money like a degenerate and Dafoe kills him. Isaac exacts revenge. Way tighter scripting was needed here. Didn't care one iota about Sheridan's death (shown off screen), didn't care about Isaac revenge killing Dafoe .. basically didn't care about anything.
Last edited by Finisher; 01-13-22 at 01:41 PM.
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Jason Bovberg (01-13-22)
01-13-22, 04:30 AM
#21
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
I love Schrader but this didn't totally work for me. I appreciate he prefers Bresson-esque unpolished non actorly performances but Haddish just feels like she showed up and read her lines with zero prep or insight into character. Tye Sheridan is unmemorable as well.
And you need to feel something especially in that relationship if main character is handing him 180k out of the goodness of his heart. None of the relationships are well drawn. I think the world of gambling/degeneracy/addiction is interesting enough and needed to be fleshed out more.
The military torture backstory felt movie-ish. Schrader wanted a trauma behind Isaac's character but I would've just had an older gambler befriending a younger one and taking him under his wing. Younger one could've had an insurmountable debt to a backer (use Dafoe in this role instead of the wasted one in the movie).
Isaac covers his debt, but Sheridan blows the money like a degenerate and Dafoe kills him. Isaac exacts revenge. Way tighter scripting was needed here. Didn't care one iota about Sheridan's death (shown off screen), didn't care about Isaac revenge killing Dafeo .. basically didn't care about anything here.
And you need to feel something especially in that relationship if main character is handing him 180k out of the goodness of his heart. None of the relationships are well drawn. I think the world of gambling/degeneracy/addiction is interesting enough and needed to be fleshed out more.
The military torture backstory felt movie-ish. Schrader wanted a trauma behind Isaac's character but I would've just had an older gambler befriending a younger one and taking him under his wing. Younger one could've had an insurmountable debt to a backer (use Dafoe in this role instead of the wasted one in the movie).
Isaac covers his debt, but Sheridan blows the money like a degenerate and Dafoe kills him. Isaac exacts revenge. Way tighter scripting was needed here. Didn't care one iota about Sheridan's death (shown off screen), didn't care about Isaac revenge killing Dafeo .. basically didn't care about anything here.
03-30-22, 12:08 PM
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Re: The Card Counter (2021, W/D: Schrader) S: Isaac, Dafoe, Sheridan, Haddish
Yeah, I thought some of the gambling stuff was interesting, but I really didn’t get invested in the characters. I didn’t feel the supposed electricity in the romance either.
