He may have led one of the most mindless films of the year with the latest Transformers, but we’ll give Mark Wahlberg the benefit of the doubt if he balances it out with something a bit more enjoyable. That looks to be the case with Rupert Wyatt‘s remake of the James Caan-led drama The Gambler, which sees hims returning to the world of humans after Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Based on the 1974 film, The Gambler follows Wahlberg’s character as he gets in deep debt due to his titular addiction and the effects are felt by those closest to him, including his mother (Jessica Lange) and significant other (Brie Larson). A new full-length trailer has landed, which reveals much more than our first snappy tease, hinting at just how much in debt (and trouble) Wahlberg’s character faces. Also featuring John Goodman and Michael K. Williams, check out the new trailer below for the film written by The Departed‘s William Monahan.
Jim Bennett (Academy Award®-nominee Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award®-winner Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance…
The Gambler opens on December 19th and expands on January 2nd.