"Croupier" stars Clive Owen as a writer looking for inspiration by becoming a casino dealer. (Courtesy photo)

'CROUPIER' (***)

Owen carries cryptic film in star's breakout role

With heist movies, plot mechanics are usually of the utmost importance. In the best ones — from "Rififi" to "Ocean's Eleven" — characterizations take a back seat to the twists and turns of the storyline. Not so with "Croupier," a little-seen caper from 2000 that spawned the career of a suave, fresh-faced chap by the name of Clive Owen. Here, the plot is almost secondary. Owen commands the screen with such an intensity that the viewer couldn't care less what's going on, just so long as he is center stage.

Owen plays Jack Manfred, a struggling novelist who takes a job as a croupier (or casino dealer) as a way to make ends meet, and perhaps find some inspiration in the process. Although he may deal the cards, Jack is clear about one thing: He's not a gambler. After all, no intelligent person is. Why get yourself into a situation where you are destined to lose? The smart money is on the house, and Jack fancies himself to be very smart indeed. Yet Jack's fictional alter-ego, Jake, is a risk-taking gambler. That side of Jack starts to come out as he gets involved with a femme fatale who seduces him into taking the biggest risk of all: ripping off a casino.

Even after two viewings, I'm not sure I understand everything that goes on in "Croupier." As is often the case with this kind of movie, not everything — or everyone — is as it seems. Loyalties are reversed, motivations are turned upside-down, and by the end, the viewer is left questioning everything they've seen. When handled with great skill, this kind of labyrinthine plot can work wonders, and leave the viewer absolutely enthralled. Yet when the screenplay gets clumsy, everything spirals out of control. And while "Croupier" doesn't quite careen into oblivion, the screenplay does at times come across as needlessly cryptic, and the overall effect of the con is diminished.

Yet as I said, the film's appeal doesn't lie with the plotting, but with its star. As Jack, Owen epitomizes cool (it's easy to see why he was pegged as an early contender for the James Bond crown) while at the same time lending his character a distant sense of vulnerability. It's a prime example of how a great performance can salvage an otherwise mediocre effort, and the film is worth checking out if you want to see the breakthrough of a bona fide star.

"Croupier" is rated R for violence, profanity, sex and nudity.

Jason Wallis is a News-Sentinel copy editor. He can be reached at jwallis@runbox.com.