Owning Mahowny

Starring: Minnie Driver, Philip Seymour Hoffman Director: Richard Kwietniowski Original UK Premiere: 2003 Dvd Release: 23rd February, 2004 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: PAL, Region 2 Encoding

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Like William H. Macy, Philip Seymour Hoffman might not fit the usual preconception of cinematic Leading Man. Yet, in 2003, both have the lead in movies about gambling or the gambling industry. For Macy, it was THE COOLER, for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination. For Hoffman, it was OWNING MAHOWNY. In their respective films, the character portrayed by each loses his job because hes either embraced or shunned by Lady Luck.

In OWNING MAHOWNY, based on a true story, Hoffman is cast in the title role as the high ranking executive in charge of loans for a Toronto bank. Mahowny also has a gambling addiction, & is indebted to his bookie for slightly over ten grand. To cover his marker, Mahowny creates a fictional loan account, & draws cash from it. Going a step further, he approves cash loans to an existing but unsuspecting customer with a large credit limit, & takes the money on weekend trips to Atlantic City, where he consistently loses at dice, cards, & roulette. By the time hes found out, Mahowny has embezzled over $10 million.

The creators of this film made no attempt whatsoever to render the Mahowny persona attractive to the audience, & its a wonder he even has a fiancee, Lisa . Indeed, Mahowny is so focused on gambling that when the casino manager, Mr. Foss , sends to his suite a complimentary courtesan, who sheds her fur coat to reveal not inconsiderable charms, Mahowny only tells her Youve made a mistake. And he really means it; he only courts Lady Luck. Our hero is so indifferent to anything other than playing the odds that he isnt even somebody with whom youd consider having a friendly beer. Hes single-minded to the point of boorishness.

One cant help but make the comparison between Foss & Shelly Kaplow, the manager of the Shangri-La Casino in THE COOLER. Alec Baldwin received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the latter role, & should have been, I think, the rightful winner of the award. Both Foss & Kaplow are control freaks. But, while Foss is almost coldly clinical in his manipulation of the high rollers that keep his house profitable, Kaplow is a tempestuous character capable of deep emotions, including a volcanic anger that can erupt into shocking violence. Compared to Kaplow, Foss is almost prissy. Baldwin had the meatier & more complex role, though Hurts performance is excellent.

Films about the sickness of obsessive gambling are few & far between. I havent seen one as effective as OWNING MAHOWNY since the 1974 movie THE GAMBLER starring James Caan. Though OWNING MAHOWNY is perhaps an art house film not likely to appeal to a wide audience, it gets its message across superbly. Now, how do I tell the wife that I lost the kitchen remodel fund at the track?

Minnie Driver is a British actress, born in London. She first came to broad public attention when she played the lead role in Circle of Friends. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. Prior to her success as an actress, Driver was a member of a band called Puff, Rocks & Brown; the band was signed to a development deal with Island Records, which ended without a release. She began a low-profile return to music in 2000 ; in 2004 she signed recording contracts with EMI & Rounder Records & performed at SXSW. The contract led to the release of Everything Ive Got in My Pocket, an album backed by a group that includes members of the Wallflowers & Pete Yorn ’s band. Driver wrote ten of the eleven songs on the album & also covered Hungry Heart from Bruce Springsteen s The River. She has been linked romantically with several of her films costars, including Matt Damon, John Cusack & Josh Brolin.   on W*USA 9 - Washington, DC website.   on Internet Movie Database website. Posters Of Minnie Driver

Editors Choice: Ella Enchanted, Owning Mahowny, High Heels And Low Lifes, Circle Of Friends, An Ideal Husband, Higher Love, The Governess, Grosse Pointe Blank, View DVDology

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