High Stakes (1997) (TV)

Director:

Donald Wrye

Writer (WGA):

Marshall Goldberg (written by)

Release Date:

7 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A former news reporter marries and tries to adjust to the life of a house wife and mother. However,...

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Marriage | Compulsive Gambler

Cast

Cynthia Gibb	...	Annie
Robin Thomas	...	Mike
Brendan Fletcher	...	Sean
Jan D'Arcy
Nadia Capone
Tom Butler
Jerry Wasserman
Howard Hesseman	...	Wayne Dreyer
Campbell Lane	...	Tom Wilson
Larry Musser	...	Bob Tompkins
Hrothgar Mathews	...	Corcoran
Andrew Johnston	...	Doctor
Greg Rogers	...	Ted
Susan Bain	...	Dr. Thornton
Stephen E. Miller	...	Larry Henderson

Also Known As:

High Stakes: The Melanie Morgan Story (Australia)

Runtime:

Italy:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Hearst Entertainment Productions

A Powerful Case, Star, and Movie !

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever watched about addiction, and it's about gambling's addiction so it's one of the rarest too.

Although it looks like another TV night movie where the production is very average, the image always in close-ups, the analysis is superficial, and the acting is not well to say the least. But HEY ! Wait a whole big minute !! Not all the TV productions is all the same, and your worst nightmares of whatever hasty, poor or idiot TV movies you've watched before are not here.

(Cynthia Gibb) is at her best, being over the top. Actually (Gibb) is one star who would force you to wonder; where is this good actress anyway ?! At the same time that Hollywood is filled with a lot of overrated fallen stars already ! Despite her golden smile and her charming beauty (Gibb) in (High Stakes) was looking a bit older than her real age, with some sense of weakness or pain which with her meager body made her great for the role and as fragile as that psychologically sick woman, wounded mom, and sad wife. Her performance was real, catchy, and so impressively versed whereas there is no second where you'd think that this is acting. She delivered a very good performance like in the scene of her torturous first night at the sanatorium which was unforgettable and one of her most excellent moments in here.

The elements of this movie were cleverly creative, cooperating to make an effective message about addiction : some fine analysis through one good story ; thanks to the script of (Marshall Goldberg) which presented the psychoanalysis expressly in emotional and brilliant way. The romantic yet doleful pace; for example the softy photo-montages so many times to portray the tragedy of that helpless woman as she isn't the criminal inasmuch as a victim. The bluesy music with a crying sax all the time. And the director (Donald Wrye) who has been nominated for the Oscar (Best Documentary) 2 times before. Here (Wrye) successfully made that passionate spirit, that deplorable warm feeling, in a truthful atmosphere despite that it's in the humble frame of a usual TV movie.

Let me tell you, whoever watches this movie won't forget it, not because the influential melodrama of its complicated situation but for the way of its scrutiny and showing. Sometimes being simple is complicated enough.