The Music of Chance Movie Review 1993

Convoluted story about a smalltime gambler (Spader) and a drifter (Patinkin) who wind up involved in a bizarre high stakes poker game with a Laurel and Hardyish pair (Durning and Grey) who live in an isolated mansion. When Spader and Patinkin lose, their debt forces them into an indentured servitude where they must construct a brick wall around their new masters' estate. Bloated with symbolism, this adaptation from cult fave novelist Auster (who has a small part), loses its eclectic significance in the translation to the big screen. Nonetheless, valiant effort by rookie director Haas.

Distribution

Baker & Taylor Inc., 2709 Water Ridge Pkwy., Ste. 500, Charlotte, NC 28217, Phone: (704)357-3500, Toll-free: 800-775-1800, Email: btinfo@btol.com, URL: http://www.btol.com

Available on VHS
Running time 98 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Poker, Road Trip, Contemporary Noir

Screenplay

Philip Haas, Belinda Haas

Cast

James Spader, Mandy Patinkin, Joel Grey, Charles Durning, M. Emmet Walsh, Samantha Mathis, Christopher Penn, Pearl Jones, Paul Auster

Cinematography

Bernard Zitzermann

Director

Philip Haas

Music

Philip Johnston

Producer

Frederick Zollo, Dylan Sellers, III Miles A. Copeland, Paul Colichman, Lindsay Law, I.R.S. Releasing, Trans Atlantic Entertainment