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- The Card Player - US Theatrical Release - 

While it seems a lot of directors lose their edge as they get older, sixty-something 
Dario Argento is hitting a stride. Case in point, "The Card Player" is one of his best 
films in the last fifteen years.
'Anna' (Stefania Rocca) is a serious police officer who even works on her birthday. 
On this day, she receives a disturbing email with a photo of a recently abducted tourist 
from England. The correspondence has invited her to a game of internet poker. After 
the police commissioner refuses to let her play, the tourist is brutally killed as 
'Anna' watches via a webcam. 
'John Brennan' (Liam Cunningham), a cop with a chip on his shoulder arrives to begrudgingly 
aid the police and only 'Anna' seems taken with his gruff charm. 
Another girl goes missing and another email arrives. This time the police play but 
are unsuccessful. Every time they lose a hand, the victim loses a hand - literally.  
Eventually she’s murdered in front of the shocked Poliza’s eyes and her body found 
soon after. 
In desperation, 'Anna' and 'John' enlist the help of an underage poker phenomenon 
and go toe to toe with the mysterious killer. Can this rag tag team of poker players 
and rogue cops catch and unmask the killer before he gets too close to 'Anna?'
The filming of "The Card Player" was plagued with problems from the onset - Dario’s 
daughter, Asia, walked off the set after a heated argument (though his older daughter, 
Fiore, puts in a nice turn as a kidnapped girl). It was also sadly greeted with a mixed 
response from fans and critics alike as well as suffering from a mediocre box office 
in his home country. Too many thought this police procedural was a far cry from Argento’s 
typically flashier work. But while some consider it a departure, I found him returning 
to his roots where black gloved killers stalk their victims and kill them in decidedly 
interesting ways. Unlike most of Argento’s films however, much of the bloodletting is 
off screen though a realistic looking corpse here and there keep things gruesome.  
Between this and "Nohosonno," Argento is finally beginning to show a real knack for 
characters as he spends time developing them instead of using them to move the plot 
forward. 'Anna' and 'John' are refreshingly charismatic, much like Sydow in "Nohosonno"
or David Hemmings in "Profondo Rosso," and you find yourself drawn into their routine.  
Unfortunately, except for the two leads, who dubbed their own voices, the rest of the 
actors are outdone by eager dubbers and the translation doesn’t always come across.
Opting against Argento’s signature lavish locales, "The Card Player" is one cold-looking 
film. From the filthy streets of Rome to the smoky underground casinos, the locations
are as much of a character as any actor in the film. Cinematographer Benoit Debie still 
does some impressive stuff and by keeping the look grim, he manages to coolly reflect 
how heartless our killer is. 
Am I saying this is Argento’s best film?  
No, but it is one of the more entertaining attempts at bringing "CSI" to the big screen.  
Too bad Goblin couldn’t have reformed to score the film, but ex-member Claudio Simonetti 
delivers a beautifully rhythmic and memorable soundtrack. Highly recommended.

Reviewed By Amanda By Night

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