Croupier (1998)
Directed by Mike Hodges
Jack Manfred is an aspiring writer who to make ends meet, takes a job as a croupier. Jack remains an observer, knowing that everything in life is a gamble and that gamblers are born to lose. Inevitably, he gets sucked into the world of the casino which takes its toll on his relationships and the novel he is writing.
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With a splendid and largely British cast headed up by Michael Gambon, Alan Bates, Derek Jacobi, and Jeremy Northam (as Novello), it's hard to single out any one individual performance but Maggie Smith (as the sniping Countess of Trentham), "Croupier"'s Clive Owen (as a manservant with a difficult past), Helen Mirren (as Mrs. Wilson the head housekeeper), and Ryan Philippe (sporting a convincing Scottish brogue) are all worthy of attention.
As Lady Sylvia takes lascivious interest in visiting valet Denton, staid Mrs. Wilson makes note of withdrawn visiting valet Parks (Clive Owen, "Croupier") and Sir William dips into his own household staff, the household bustles and snobbery reigns.
Owen is a fine, subtle actor (see "Croupier" or "Gosford Park" for a better demonstration of his cool appeal) but he's a bit lost here in a film that places action and noise above character.
Clive Owen (Croupier ) stars as the wizened Arthur, a Roman officer who has been charged with leading a group of Sarmatian horsemen in defending the Roman Empire's claim to the land of England.
As played by Clive Owen ("Croupier," "Beyond Borders"), Arthur is a leader in battle, a believer in freedom and equality and the kind of man who hates to see a starving peasant tied to a stake.
After two decades serving Rome, Arthur (Clive Owen, "Croupier," "Beyond Borders") brings his men to be released from their servitude by Bishop Germanius (Ivano Marescotti), but the wily cleric gives Arthur a terrible burden - he must inform Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd, "Titanic"), Bors (Ray Winstone, "Sexy Beast"), Gawain (Joel Edgerton, "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones"), Tristan (Mads Mikkelsen, "Open Hearts"), Dagonet (Ray Stevenson) and Galahad (Hugh Dancy, "Ella Enchanted") that they will not receive their release documents unless they rescue a Roman family north of Hadrian's Wall.
People may have the same reaction to Clive here, those who didn't seem him in Croupier or his other smaller parts.
Hear ye, hear ye: Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) hath directed for your entertainment a bold reimagining of Camelot starring His Handsomeness Clive Owen (Croupier, Gosford Park, I�ll Sleep When I�m Dead) as Arthur, here a half-Roman Christian warrior circa AD 500.