Dead Money, a new poker-themed film directed by Josh Wilcox, is set to be released on September 13. This screenwriter promises to bring an authentic poker experience to the big screen, something we've missed since Molly's Game and Rounders. As most poker players know, the game isn't always shown realistically. It's not that we don't enjoy watching epic coolers, but Hollywood has fallen a little too in love with them.
Poker movies don't hit the big screen often, so a film like Dead Money has a lot riding on it. Until the fabled Rounders 2 is confirmed, this is it folks.
What We Know About Dead Money's Plot
The film follows Andy, a professional poker player portrayed by Emile Hirsch. He's a familiar face for movie watchers who may remember Emile from Into the Wild, Lone Survivor, or Lords of Dogtown alongside Heath Ledger, way back in the day.
In Dead Money, the main character gets into a very tricky spot. With a depleted bankroll, he stumbles across a large amount of cash after a home game is robbed. Then, Andy and his girlfriend Chloe (India Eisley) must handle the criminals after the cash and come out on top.
A poker game robbery is a classic catalyst. The Sopranos used it when Jackie Jr. robbed a connected game. Killing Them Softly is another example. However, in those cases, the solution was either death or violence. In Dead Money, we're led to believe Andy will play his way out of it.
Here's how the production company put it:
“When a home poker game is robbed by armed men, pro poker player Andy (Hirsch) and his girlfriend Chloe (Eisley) get caught in the middle. Now, Andy must play the best poker of his life at the biggest game in town to save his and Chloe’s lives.”
The trailer is dramatic, showing a similar filming style to Molly's Game with the tension arc of Uncut Gems.
Authenticity at the Forefront
Wilcox, a 43-year-old screenwriter from Atlanta, aimed to create a film that resonates with both casual viewers and serious players. On his own website, Josh says that he's been an indie filmmaker and pro poker player for around 15 years, which bodes well for Dead Money's realism.
"I promise, the poker in the movie feels very real," Wilcox assured a poker journalist. "Everyone always talks about how terrible the poker scenes are in movies – myself included – but the producers and I were dedicated to making that part of the world look and feel real".
Indeed, the first words of the official Dead Money trailer are fairly realistic. "Poker is math. The killers at the table, they notice everything else too. Tells, betting patterns."
Wilcox, who served as a poker consultant during filming, drew inspiration from his own experiences in home games and casinos. It appears that there is a Joshua Wilcox on Hendon Mob (also from Atlanta) with around $43,000 in live earnings, most recently from the 2024 WSOP. Emile Hirsch also says that Wilcox played at Hustlers Casino for several years. "I always wanted to capture the feeling of those home games on screen, those crazy characters that I met over the years and to let the audience experience that gambling rush," Wilcox explained.
Emile Hirsch also immersed himself in the poker world, playing cash games in Las Vegas and consulting with high-stakes players to prepare for his role. Reportedly, he got some tips from players like Alan Keating, Nik Airball, and Ryan Feldman. He also watched Daniel Negreanu's "entire MasterClass," which is just under 8 hours in total.
In particular, Keating seems to have left an impression on Dead Money's lead character.
During his film, Wilcox says, "You're going to experience the same ups and downs a gambler would have on their best and worst days at the table".
After September 13th, we'll cover how the film performs at the box office, what critics are saying, and how believable it really is.
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