Hot Docs is excited to introduce a fun and captivating addition to this year’s Festival lineup, taking place from April 25 to May 5, 2024 in Toronto. The new program, Festival Favourites, is a specially curated selection of feature-length documentaries that have made their mark on the festival circuit, proving their mettle with festival audiences and critics alike. It will spotlight some of the most timely, topical and well-crafted docs from fellow global documentary film festivals. In Festival Favourites, Toronto audiences will be able to immerse themselves in these moving and raw cinematic experiences, connecting with important issues and unforgettable stories.

Festival Favourites International premieres include Daughter of Genghis, chronicling seven years in the life of Gerel, a violent neo-nationalist struggling with motherhood and her role leading a gang of women in the underworld of Mongolia’s capital city, and Daughters (Winner, Sundance Festival 2024 Audience Award in Documentary Competition), capturing the first physical touch four young girls will have with their incarcerated fathers as part of a special Daddy-Daughter Dance in a Washington, D.C. prison.

North American premieres include Son of the Mullah, the story of a journalist risking life and limb in his reporting on Iran in order to expose corruption in the Islamic Regime, and This Is Going to Be Big, a peek behind the curtain as a cast of neurodivergent teens prepare to hit the stage in their school’s time-travelling, John Farnham–themed musical.

Canadian premieres include A Band of Dreamers and a Judge, in which gangs of prospectors scale the mountains of northern Iran in search of buried treasure while a determined judge seeks to end their gold-hunting escapades; Every Little Thing, following a Los Angeles-based woman’s transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, and Intercepted (Winner, CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize 2023), which layers covertly recorded conversations between Russian soldiers with visible evidence of their destruction in Ukraine.

A BAND OF DREAMERS AND A JUDGE
D: Hesam Eslami | P: Etienne De Ricaud, Hesam Eslami | Iran, France | 2023 | 80 min | Canadian Premiere
According to legend, the mountains of northern Iran are full of buried treasure. Gangs of prospectors scale and drill their treacherous slopes in the hopes of discovering ancient gold and pottery, while a local judge is determined to end their illegal looting.

DAUGHTER OF GENGHIS
D: Kristoffer Juel Poulsen, Christian Als | P: Andreas Dalsgaard | Denmark, Sweden, France | 2023 | 85 min | International Premiere
A violent, Mongolian, female nationalist fights for her motherland, conducting sting operations and brothel raids, but in her fight for idealism, she has neglected her son. Can she find redemption by embracing motherhood?

DAUGHTERS
D: Angela Patton, Natalie Rae | P: Lisa Mazzotta, Natalie Rae, Justin Benoliel, Mindy Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi Raycroft, James Cunningham | USA | 2023 | 106 min | International Premiere
Four young girls prepare for a special Daddy-Daughter Dance in a Washington, DC prison. Cameras capture the first physical touch these girls will have with their incarcerated fathers as part of a groundbreaking program in this Sundance Audience Award–winning film.

EVERY LITTLE THING
D: Sally Aitken | P: Bettina Dalton, Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle | Australia | 2024 | 93 min | Canadian Premiere
A woman finds herself on a transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, unravelling a captivating and magical tale of love, fragility and healing amidst the sprawl of Los Angeles.

INTERCEPTED
D: Oksana Karpovych | P: Rocío B. Fuentes, Giacomo Nudi, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Lucie Rego, Darya Bassel, Olha Beskhmelnytsina | Canada, France, Ukraine | 2024 | 93 min | Canadian Premiere
Layered over the visible evidence of their destruction, covertly recorded conversations between Russian soldiers provide a shocking and revealing soundtrack of those who destroy amidst the futility and inhumanity of a prolonged war in Ukraine.
WINNER – CMF-Hot Docs Forum Canadian Pitch Prize 2023

SON OF THE MULLAH
D: Nahid Persson Sarvestani | P: Setareh Lundgren, Monica Hernandez Rejon | Sweden, France | 2023 | 100 min | North American Premiere
Journalist Ruhollah Zam, like many of his colleagues, reports on Iran from abroad. Relying on tips from unreliable and potentially compromised insiders, he risks life and limb to expose the Islamic Regime’s corruption, hypocrisy and money laundering in this all-too-real spy thriller.

THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG
D: Thomas Charles Hyland | P: Josie Mason Campbell, Jim Wright, Catherine Bradbury | Australia | 2023 | 101 min | North American Premiere
Dreams and desires are confronted as a cast of neurodivergent teens prepare to come of age in their school’s time-travelling, John Farnham–themed musical. A funny and heart-warming peek behind the curtain with some banger songs.

hotdocs.ca for more.

Canadian Film Fest (CFF) 2024 kicked off its six-day festival on Monday, March 18 at Scotiabank Theatre with the Toronto debut of Ian Harnarine’s feature film Doubles.

CFF welcomed cast and crew from Doubles as well as the other filmmakers screening their work at this year’s festival.

The Burning Season is set to cap-off the Festival as the Closing Night Gala on March 23, 2024.

CFF was also honoured to welcome Mayor Olivia Chow, who shared remarks prior to the screening. Also in attendance.

Bern Euler, Executive Director/Founder, CFF

Ashleigh Rains, Festival Director, CFF

Jen Pogue, Director of Industry, CFF

Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik

Naomi Snieckus, Actor

Photos below:

The evening concluded with a Q&A with Ian Harnarine hosted by Teri Hart.

Canadian Film Fest continues until March 23, full programme here.

(Photo credit: Brian Simon)

This April, Canadian film buffs can immerse themselves in the brilliance of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, at their local Cineplex theatre. Cineplex will present a special Stanley Kubrick retrospective, bringing all of the legendary director’s feature films back home to the big screen where they first captivated audiences.

A first for Cineplex, this comprehensive series showcases iconic films such as the mind-bending 2001: A Space Odyssey and the chilling masterpiece, The Shining, in full theatrical glory.

Running from March 29 to May 1, 2024, this special programme is part of Cineplex’s year-round Classic Film Series, screening in select theatres across Canada. Highlights include the 60th anniversary of Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and 25th anniversary of Eyes Wide Shut.

See below for a full list of titles, synopses and showtimes. Tickets will be available March 20th on Cineplex.com, Cineplex App or in-theatre.

Fear and Desire (1953)
In this existential drama, four soldiers return to their senses after crash-landing in a forest behind enemy lines. On the verge of freedom, they discover an outpost of enemy officers, and must decide whether to slip silently past or stage a violent confrontation with their doppelgängers.

Showtimes: Friday, March 29 and Saturday, April 13

Killer’s Kiss (1955)
New York City boxer Davey strikes up a romance with nightclub dancer Gloria. Their budding relationship is violently interrupted by Gloria’s boss who has eyes for his employee. When Gloria is abducted, Davey is forced to search for her among the most squalid corners of the city.

Showtimes: Friday, March 29 and Saturday, April 13

The Killing (1956)
Career criminal Johnny Clay recruits a sharpshooter, a crooked police officer, a bartender and a betting teller named George, among others, for one last job before he goes straight and marries his fiancée, Fay. But when George tells his restless wife, Sherry, about the scheme to steal millions from the racetrack where he works, she hatches a plot of her own.

Showtimes: Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 17

Paths of Glory (1957)
Safe in a picturesque chateau behind WWI front lines, the French General Staff passes down a direct order to Colonel Dax take the Ant Hill at any cost. A blatant suicide mission, the attack is doomed to failure. Covering up their fatal blunder, the generals order the arrest of three innocent soldiers, charging them with cowardice and mutiny.

Showtimes: Wednesday, April 3; Sunday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 30

Spartacus (1960)
The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the arena, Spartacus turns on his owners and leads the other slaves in rebellion. As the rebels move from town to town, their numbers swell as escaped slaves join their ranks.

Showtimes: Tuesday, April 23 and Sunday, April 28

Lolita (1962)
Humbert Humbert (James Mason) is a European professor who relocates to an American suburb, renting a room from lonely widow Charlotte Haze (Shelley Winters). Humbert marries Charlotte, but only to nurture his obsession with her comely teenage daughter, Lolita (Sue Lyon). After Charlotte’s sudden death, Humbert has Lolita all to himself — or does he?

Showtimes: Sunday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 18

60th Anniversary – Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
An insane American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.

Showtimes: Monday, April 1; Sunday, April 14 and Friday, April 26

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
After uncovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the Lunar surface, a spacecraft is sent to Jupiter to find its origins: a spacecraft manned by two men and the supercomputer HAL 9000.

Showtimes: Saturday, April 6; Sunday, April 21 and Wednesday, May 1

A Clockwork Orange (1971)
In the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn’t go as planned.

Showtimes: Friday, April 5; Thursday, April 18 and Sunday, April 28

Barry Lyndon (1975)
In the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn’t go as planned.

Showtimes: Sunday, March 31 and Sunday, April 21

The Shining (1980)
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.

Showtimes: Wednesday, April 10; Friday, April 19 and Thursday, April 25

Full Metal Jacket (1987)
A pragmatic U.S. Marine observes the dehumanizing effects the Vietnam War has on his fellow recruits from their brutal boot camp training to the bloody street fighting in Hue.

Showtimes: Thursday, April 11; Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 30

25th anniversary – EYES WIDE SHUT (1999)
A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife’s admission of unfulfilled longing.

Showtimes: Friday, April 12; Saturday, April 20 and Saturday, April 27

Today, Disney+ debuted the first trailer and key art for Lucasfilm’s new, original series “Star Wars: The Acolyte.” The thrilling, live-action series launches on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.

In “Star Wars: The Acolyte,” an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems…

The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

Leslye Headland created the series, based on Star Wars by George Lucas, and serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are the co-executive producers. Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Eileen Shim and Rob Bredow are the producers.

Headland also directed the premiere episodes (Eps. 101 & 102). Directors Kogonada (Eps. 103 & 107), Alex Garcia Lopez (Eps. 104 & 105) and Hanelle Culpepper (Eps. 106 & 108) round out the directing duties on the series.

Award-winning composer Michael Abels, known for his work on “Get Out” and “Us,” scored “Star Wars: The Acolyte.”

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) is pleased to announce the first set of 2024 Special Award recipients, presented to four trailblazing individuals within Canada’s vibrant screen-based industries. All of this year’s Special Award honourees will be recognized for their outstanding contributions and successes during Canadian Screen Week 2024, taking place in Toronto from Sunday, May 26 through to Saturday, June 1.

“A heartfelt congratulations to our first group of Special Award recipients, all of whom have left an indelible mark on the heart of our nation’s film and television industries, enriching our screens with innovation, passion, and unparalleled talent,” said Tammy Frick, CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “As we celebrate their impactful journeys, let us recognize and honour their unwavering commitment to their craft, which not only upholds the spirit of Canadian film and television, but also inspires audiences worldwide.”

“On behalf of the Canadian Academy’s Board of Directors, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to these four outstanding pillars of our industry,” said Thomas Santram, Chair, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “These remarkable individuals embody the term “excellence” with their unwavering dedication, talent, and creativity in everything they do, and we eagerly await the opportunity to honour them during Canadian Screen Week 2024.”

The first group of the Canadian Academy’s 2024 Special Award honourees are:

The Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award, honouring a Canadian individual for their extraordinary impact on the growth of the Canadian media industry, is posthumously presented to Jeff Barnaby, whose uncompromising films paint a stark and scathing portrait of post-colonial Indigenous life and culture. He used magic realism, body horror, and sci-fi to pioneer what’s now known as Indigenous Futurism. A pioneer of contemporary Indigenous cinema, his fearless storytelling and vision continue to inspire a new generation of filmmakers.

The Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award is also being given to John Brunton, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, Executive Producer, at Insight Productions. John has produced thousands of hours of television, much of it sold internationally, including three of Canada’s highest rated shows of all time – The Amazing Race Canada, Big Brother Canada, and The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration, a live concert special watched by one in three Canadians. Over his 45-year career, John has been a tireless advocate for Canadian-centred stories across all genres and for the Canadian production industry at large. His passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and creativity have helped make Insight synonymous with first-rate programming around the world.

The Changemaker Award, which recognizes and honours those in the media community in Canada who are using their voice or platform to call out systemic racism and discrimination, supporting and amplifying the voices of those who are actively engaged in anti-racist work, and seeking structural transformations in media, film, and television in Canada that promote values of equity and inclusion, is presented to award-winning actress, producer and activist, Tonya Williams. Named one of the 2024 100 most influential Black Canadians for three years in a row, Tonya Williams has worked in the screen industry for the last 48 years in Canada and the US. Frustrated by the lack of racial diversity on and behind Canadian screens, Tonya founded Reelworld in 2000, to advance the opportunities for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour, making her instrumental in creating systemic change in the Canadian screen industry.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring a Canadian individual for an exceptional lifetime of work that has had a profound impact on the media industry at home or abroad, is presented to Marilyn Denis. Marilyn’s impressive 40-year career in television began reporting on weather, sports and entertainment. This led her to hosting Cityline for two decades and 13 successful seasons hosting CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show. Marilyn continues to place her fans at the centre of it all, as she provides a unique blend of entertainment and topical lifestyle information to viewers across the country and listeners on CHUM 104.5.

Biographies, quotes, and headshots for each of these Special Award honourees can be viewed here.

Additional 2024 Special Award recipients will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit canadianscreenweek.ca.

Disney+ announced that the highly anticipated six-episode French Original drama series “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” (previously “Kaiser Karl”), produced by Gaumont and Jour Premier, will premiere all episodes on June 7, 2024, exclusively on Disney+.

In 1972, Karl Lagerfeld (Daniel Brühl) is 38 and not yet wearing his iconic hairstyle. He is a ready-to-wear designer, unknown to the general public. While he meets and falls in love with the sultry Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), an ambitious and troubling young dandy, the most mysterious of fashion designers dares to take on his friend (and rival) Yves Saint Laurent (Arnaud Valois), a genius of haute couture backed by the redoubtable businessman Pierre Bergé (Alex Lutz).

“Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” plunges us into the heart of the 70s, in Paris, Monaco and Rome, to follow the formidable blossoming of this complex and iconic personality of Parisian couture, already driven by the ambition to become the Emperor of Fashion. Between glamour and clashes of egos, grandiose parties, and destructive passions, discover the story of Karl before Lagerfeld.

A story told for the first time on screen and adapted from the bestseller “Kaiser Karl” by Raphaëlle Bacqué (published by Albin Michel) that brings together a star-studded cast.

Actor Daniel Brühl (“All Quiet on the Western Front”, “Captain America: Civil War”, “Rush”, “Inglourious Basterds”, “Good Bye, Lenin!”) stars as the couturier, Canada’s Théodore Pellerin (“Continental Draft (South)”, “Solo”, “Franklin”, “Beau is Afraid”) stars as Jacques de Bascher and Arnaud Valois (most talented new actor at Festival Lumière 2018; “120 BPM (Beats per Minute)”, “Good Grief”, “The Girl on the Train”, “My Best Part”, “Spring Blossom”) as Yves Saint Laurent. Alex Lutz (César for Best Actor in 2019; Molière in 2016 and 2020; “Vortex”, “Guy”, “Romantique”, “Baron noir”, “Strangers by Night”) plays Pierre Bergé. Agnès Jaoui (César for Best Supporting Actress in 1998, 2001 and 2016; Honorary César in 2024; “À l’Ombre des filles”, “En Thérapie”, “The Sweet Escape”, “The Taste of Others”) plays Gabrielle Aghion, the founder of the Chloé fashion house who made a major contribution to his fame.

Jérôme Salle (“Kompromat”, “Totems”, “The Odyssey”, “Zulu”, “Anthony Zimmer”) is at the helm of this major series, directing episodes 1, 2 and 6. He shares the role of executive producer with Jour Premier producer Arnaud de Crémiers. Episodes 3, 4 and 5 are directed by Audrey Estrougo (“Everything’s Fine”, “Suprêmes”). Isaure Pisani-Ferry (“Ganglands”, “Vampires”, “Kaboul Kitchen”) is the creator of the series, with Jennifer Have (“Unfaithful”, “The Red Band Society”) and Raphaëlle Bacqué. Isaure Pisani-Ferry is also the series’ lead writer, co-writing all episodes with Dominique Baumard (“Le Jeune imam”, “Ganglands”, “The Bureau”), Jennifer Have and Nathalie Hertzberg (“The Goldman Case”).

The series also highlights the fashion and cultural personalities who rubbed shoulders with Karl Lagerfeld at the time. Jeanne Damas, fashion designer and actress in “La Sincérité” and “Rock’n Roll”, lends her features to Paloma Picasso, and singer-songwriter and model Claire Laffut to those of Loulou de La Falaise. Legendary actress Marlene Dietrich is played by Sunnyi Melles, seen in the 2022 Palme d’Or winner “Triangle of Sadness”. Andy Warhol is played by Paul Spera (“On the Line”, “On the Basis of Sex”, “Marie-Antoinette”). Rounding out the couture cast is German actress Lisa Kreuzer (whose eclectic career includes films by Wim Wenders, Patrice Chéreau, Amos Gitaï and the “Dark” series) as Karl’s mother, Elisabeth Lagerfeld.

Music for the series has been entrusted to Evgueni and Sacha Galperine (“Oussekine”, “By the Grace of God”, “The Undoing”, “Baron noir”, “The Night Doctor”, “Happening”, “Scene from a Marriage”). “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” is born under the impulse of Christophe Riandee, vice CEO, production company led by Sidonie Dumas. The series is produced by Isabelle Degeorges for Gaumont and Arnaud de Crémiers for Jour Premier.

Today, Prime Video announced that Beast Games, from MrBeast, has been ordered to series. Based on his already successful YouTube show, Beast Games is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million dollar cash prize which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming. MrBeast will serve as host and will executive produce. Beast Games will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“MrBeast has captured the attention and imagination of fans of all ages, from all walks of life, and all over the world,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios. “We are excited to work with Jimmy and his talented team to bring his brilliant, high production, and stakes-raising concepts to Beast Games for our global customers to experience.”

“When MrBeast first told us about his concept for the show, we were blown away by his ambition to make Beast Games the biggest reality competition series ever,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “We’d like to thank Aaron DeBevoise, Nic Paul, and the Spotter team for the introduction and kickstarting this journey for us.”

“My goal is to make the greatest show possible and prove YouTubers and creators can succeed on other platforms,” said MrBeast, “Amazon gave me the creative control I need to try and make it happen. I hope to make the YouTube community proud.”

ABOUT MRBEAST

Jimmy Donaldson is a YouTube creator, entrepreneur and philanthropist known as “MrBeast,” who has captured the world’s attention. His content entertains and inspires millions through never-before-seen viral spectacles, highly engaging challenges and massive giveaways, including millions of dollars in food and supplies for those in need. In November 2022, he became the most subscribed YouTube creator worldwide and now has over 244 million subscribers.

Donaldson is also the founder of Feastables, a chocolate and snack brand company. Feastables bars are sold worldwide, and the company is one of the fastest-growing CPG brands in history. He also is the co-creator of #TeamTrees, a fundraiser for the Arbor Day Foundation that has raised nearly $25 million for its campaigns to plant over 24 million trees, and #TeamSeas, a fundraiser for Ocean Conservancy and The Ocean Cleanup, which has raised over $33 million to remove trash out of oceans, rivers and beaches. Donaldson has won the Streamy Awards’ Creator of the Year award four years in a row and back-to-back Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for “Favorite Male Creator.” He has appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, Forbes and most recently, Time Magazine, which also named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2023.

In October 2020, he launched Beast Philanthropy, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that focuses solely on global charity efforts to provide life-changing assistance to individuals in need. To date, it has distributed over 15 million free meals and expanded to projects worldwide, including building freshwater wells in Cameroon, houses for tornado victims in Kentucky, homes for people without housing in Costa Rica, and helping over 2000 amputees walk again. He currently works and resides in Greenville, North Carolina.

Today we get a new Trailer for Zack Snyder‘s REBEL MOON PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER!

SYNOPSIS | Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver continues the epic saga of Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare to sacrifice everything, fighting alongside the brave people of Veldt, to defend a once peaceful village, a newfound homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld. On the eve of their battle the warriors must face the truths of their own pasts, each revealing why they fight. As the full force of the Realm bears down on the burgeoning rebellion, unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge, and legends are made.

DIRECTOR: Zack Snyder
WRITERS: Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Shay Hatten
PRODUCERS: Deborah Snyder, Eric Newman, Zack Snyder, Wesley Coller
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bergen Swanson, Sarah Bowen, Shay Hatten, Kurt Johnstad
KEY CAST: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, and Anthony Hopkins as the voice of ‘Jimmy’. Also starring Staz Nair, Fra Fee, Cleopatra Coleman, Stuart Martin, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Alfonso Herrera, Cary Elwes, Rhian Rees, Elise Duffy, Sky Yang, Charlotte Maggi, Ray Fisher

Netflix release REBEL MOON PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER on April 19, 2024.

VVS Films release THE KING TIDE which has been doing the Festival Circuit and next will be in theatres April 26, 2024.

Synopsis:

After the mayor of an idyllic island village discovers a child with mysterious powers awash on their shores, the once peaceful community is divided by conflict, torn over the belief that the child is the next saviour.

Genre: Thriller

Director: Christian Sparkes

Cast: Alix West Lefler, Clayne Crawford, Frances Fisher, Aden Young, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Michael Greyeyes

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

Hollywood has always been famous for blurring the lines between fact and fiction. This is especially true when it comes to depicting gambling. For instance, even though the main poker scene in Casino Royale is very tense and entertaining, even an amateur poker player would agree that the way it plays out is exceedingly far-fetched. Of course, the casino games that Clark Griswold plays in National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation are intentionally ludicrous. Pick a number? Rock, paper, scissors? It does get the laughs.

On the flip side, some movies depict gambling in a very realistic way. The directors pay attention to the smallest details making the scenes entertaining and believable. Let’s examine the cinematic mastery of three of the most realistic-looking casino movies ever made. It just might inspire you to discover cashback bonuses with BSTCasinos and enjoy a less stressful casino gaming experience than the characters mentioned below.

Owning Mahowny  – Truth

A lot of movies that are based on true stories go a little overboard with artistic license. Owning Mahowny is not one of them. The story revolves around Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Dan Mahowny who embezzles millions of dollars from the bank he works at to fund his high-rolling casino gambling excursions. The movie is rather dark and illustrates one of the worst cases of gambling addiction you will ever see.

However, it isn’t just the realistic depiction of Mahowny’s extreme gambling addiction that hits home. Casino manager Victor Foss, played by John Hurt, does his best to ensure that Mahowny drops every last dime at the tables. Foss serves up the VIP treatment and does everything he can to ensure that Mahowny comes back and drops even more large sums of cash. Who can blame him? After all, it’s his job and he does it well. He can spot a pure degenerate action junkie from a mile away and he doesn’t hesitate to take advantage.

Casino – Truth With a Dash of Fiction

While there were a few creative liberties taken, the movie Casino is pretty spot on. This Martin Scorsese epic focuses on a mobbed-up Ace Rothstein as he operates the fictional Tangiers casino from behind the scenes. Based on the figure of Frank Rosenthal, a professional gambler, Las Vegas casino executive, and organized crime associate, Ace Rothstein made boatloads of money for the mafia. Ace was the ideal guy for the job as very few people have such deep insight into the business side of gambling as he did. Not even Jack Hamilton from https://bstcasinos.com/author/jack-hamilton, and he’s very knowledgeable.

One particular storyline in the film has high-rolling Japanese tycoon K.K. Ichikawa fly to Vegas on the casino’s dime. He proceeds to lay a beating on the house to the tune of about $2 million. When it comes time for Ichikawa to leave on the casino’s private jet, Rothstein instructs the pilot to tell him that there’s a problem with the jet and it can’t fly. This results in the whale returning to the casino where he proceeds to lose his winnings and a substantial amount more. K.K. Ichikawa is based on a real person named Akio Kashiwagi.

While this particular story didn’t play out exactly as the movie has it, the point was that high rollers like Kashiwagi make casino operators very nervous. He nearly put an Australian casino out of business in 1990. He then visited two of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City casinos which rightfully had the Don on edge. Kashiwagi, playing $250,000 baccarat hands, took the two casinos for a total of $6.2 million which caused Trump great financial harm. Looking to recover those hefty losses, Trump talked Kashiwagi into a deal in which Kashiwagi would return and only leave if he doubled his money or lost it all. Well, the math and Kashiwagi’s luck finally balanced out as the Japanese whale lost $10 million in 6 days. Few modern casinos would accept that type of action these days.

The Cooler – Fiction

The Cooler serves up an interesting plot. However, the idea of a casino bringing in a cooler to reverse the fortunes of hot players is entirely fictional. In reality, casino operators already have a couple of coolers. They are called the law of large numbers and the house edge. Casinos understand that some players will go on hot streaks, but they also know that the odds are always in their favor and that those hot streaks eventually devolve into losing streaks. Still, it’s a fun story with some wonderful casino scenes.

Conclusion

Hollywood will always add fictional elements to its films even if the movies are so-called true stories. It makes things more exciting. However, some films do better than others when it comes to credibility and believability. Then again, it’s not like the above-mentioned cinematic masterpieces were documentaries.