Owning Mahowny

views updated

Owning Mahowny ★★½ 2003 (R)

Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) is a vice president at a Toronto bank. He is also a compulsive gambler and in order to clear his gambling debts, he embezzles (millions of dollars as it turns out). Even Dan's fiancee Belinda (Driver) can't pull him away from the casino tables when they are supposed to be on a romantic getaway (why she's so loyal is something of a mystery). Hoffman excels as an everyday schlub who's completely absorbed in his addiction and Hurt is fascinatingly reptilian as the Atlantic City casino boss who is happy to enable Mahowny's addiction. Based on a true story; adapted from the book “Stung: The Incredible Obsession of Brian Molony” by Gary Ross. 107m/C VHS, DVD . CA GB Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Maury Chaykin, John Hurt, Sonja Smits, Ian Tracey, Roger Dunn, Jason Blicker, Chris Collins; D: Richard Kwietniowski; W: Richard Kwietniowski, Maurice Chauvet; C: Oliver Curtis; M: Richard Grassby-Lewis.