Name: Poker Face
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Released: 2022-11-16T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, RZA, Brooke Satchwell, Aden Young

The first shot of Poker Face lingers on a deck of cards being shuffled, the sound of each shuffle amplified to create an almost hypnotic rhythm. It’s a deceptively simple opening for a film that promises high stakes and higher tension. Directed by and starring Russell Crowe, this 2022 thriller crams a revenge plot, a heist gone wrong, and a reunion of childhood friends into a single night of chaos. The result is a film that’s as messy as it is entertaining, a potluck dinner of genres that doesn’t always cohere but delivers enough flavor to keep the audience engaged.

Crowe’s direction is confident, particularly in his use of space. The mansion where the film’s central poker game takes place becomes a character unto itself, its opulent rooms and hidden passages reflecting the layers of deception at play. The camera lingers on doorways and staircases, framing characters in doorways or half-hidden by furniture, emphasizing the sense of being watched, of secrets lurking just out of sight. This visual motif is one of the film’s strongest elements, creating a palpable atmosphere of unease.

The performances are where Poker Face truly shines. Crowe, playing Jake Foley, the de facto leader of the group of childhood friends, brings a gruff charisma to the role that grounds some of the more outlandish moments. His Australian accent wavers at times, but his physicality and vocal inflections sell the character’s weary determination. Liam Hemsworth, as Michael Nankervis, is equally compelling, bringing a quiet intensity to his role as the group’s moral compass.

RZA, as Andrew Johnson, steals several scenes with his understated charisma. His performance is a masterclass in subtlety, conveying volumes with a raised eyebrow or a slight shift in posture. Brooke Satchwell and Elsa Pataky, playing Nicole Foley and Penelope respectively, add depth to their relatively minor roles, their performances hinting at backstories and motivations that the film doesn’t have time to explore.

However, the film’s attempts at originality are inconsistent. The revenge plot is twisty and engaging, but the thieves’ subplot feels tacked on, as if Crowe couldn’t decide whether he wanted to make a psychological thriller or an action-heavy heist movie. This tonal whiplash is never more evident than in the film’s third act, which juggles too many balls without ever landing a clean catch.

The pacing is another issue. Poker Face rushes through its setup, leaving little time for the audience to invest in the relationships between the friends. As a result, when the betrayals and revelations come, they lack the emotional weight they need to resonate. Additionally, some of the action sequences feel rushed and under-choreographed, particularly a late-game shootout that relies too heavily on shaky cam to convey chaos.

The film’s themes are equally muddled. On one hand, Poker Face is a revenge story, exploring the corrosive effects of betrayal and the lengths to which people will go to settle scores. On the other, it’s a heist movie, with the friends banding together to outwit both their host and the thieves. These themes are interesting on their own, but they clash in Poker Face, leaving the audience unsure of what kind of story they’re watching.

That said, Poker Face has moments of genuine brilliance. A scene where Jake confronts his former friend, Alex Harris (Aden Young), is a standout, with Crowe and Young trading barbs like poker chips, their words as carefully calculated as any bet. The dialogue sparkles in these moments, crackling with tension and subtext.

The film also excels in its use of sound. The score is minimal but effective, underscoring the mounting tension without ever overpowering the dialogue. The sound design is equally impressive, using silence and ambient noise to create a sense of unease. A particularly effective moment sees the camera linger on a ticking clock, the sound of its hands moving amplified to an almost deafening level.

Poker Face is a film that’s hard to categorize. It’s not quite a psychological thriller, not quite a heist movie, and not quite a revenge drama. Instead, it’s a hybrid creature, borrowing elements from each genre and blending them into something that’s both familiar and fresh. This refusal to fit neatly into a single category is one of the film’s strengths, but it’s also its downfall.

The film’s target audience is equally unclear. Fans of psychological thrillers might find the action sequences too bombastic, while fans of heist movies might find the character development too sparse. Those looking for a straightforward revenge drama will be left scratching their heads at the thieves’ subplot.

Ultimately, Poker Face is a film that’s as messy as it is entertaining. It’s a potluck dinner of genres that doesn’t always cohere but delivers enough flavor to keep the audience engaged.