This week on Forgotten Cinema, the Mikes sit down at the table with "Rounders", the cult favorite poker drama starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton.

Despite its reputation, both Mike Butler and Mike Field come away less than impressed. The biggest issue lies with Damon’s character, Mike, who spends the entire film acting like a degenerate gambler fueled by bluster and misplaced bravado. Time and again he makes terrible decisions, particularly when it comes to helping his unreliable friend Worm, played effectively by Edward Norton. Their relationship never quite makes sense, and the film asks the audience to invest in choices that feel increasingly frustrating.

The movie also leans heavily on poker terminology and insider lingo, often assuming the audience understands the details of the game. Instead of pulling viewers deeper into the world of high-stakes poker, it creates distance from the central premise.

By the time the story wraps up, Mike’s journey feels hollow. His reckless behavior ultimately leads to a lucky break rather than meaningful growth, leaving the Mikes with little to latch onto emotionally or thematically.

While "Rounders" has its fans, this rewatch leaves Butler and Field wondering if the film’s cult status has more to do with the poker boom that followed than the strength of the movie itself.

What are some of your favorite card game based films? Let us know in the comments!

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0:00 - Introduction

2:43 - Film Facts

8:43 - Film Discussion

35:13 - Reviews

38:10 - Who Would You Recommend This To?

39:33 - Why Is This Forgotten?

41:26 - Plugs

#ForgottenCinema #Rounders #MattDamon #EdwardNorton #JohnDahl #JohnMalcovich #MartinLandau #Poker #Drama #90s #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #UnderratedMovies #ClassicFilms