The best blackjack moments in pop culture are not limited to just the big movie stars. From Rain Man to Croupier to Austin Powers, there are plenty of examples of characters who’ve won on the tables and gotten away with it.
Austin Powers
The Austin Powers series of films is a comedy parody of James Bond knockoffs. Tom Cruise stars as the title character, while Danny DeVito plays his sidekick, Mini-Me. The series is produced by Mike Myers and distributed by New Line Cinema.
In the first film, Austin Powers is a British secret agent who works as a fashion photographer. He meets different people, including a number of mooks, and gets into various situations.
The second film, Goldmember, is a parody of several “James Bond” movies. It stars a sexy Fembot, which is a robotic woman with breast cannons.
There is a lot of henchmen in this film, too. They include Ivana Humpalot, an opportunistic Russian henchwoman who wants to kill Austin. Her plan almost works, but she is foiled when he does an exaggerated striptease.
Croupier
If you haven’t seen Croupier you might be forgiven for thinking you are watching the film on TV. Aside from being an engaging and thought provoking movie it was also the first movie to feature Jack Nicholson, who went on to star in many more acclaimed films. Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games, and is often associated with a certain class of player. So, the blackjack table has become a staple of many a movie set.
Although there have been a number of blackjack related movies on the big screen, the most notable among them is The Hangover. One of the more memorable moments of the movie is when Jack and his buddies get up to the blackjack table and start playing. This scene encapsulates the highs and lows of a night in a posh Las Vegas hotel.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The 1975 film adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is considered one of the greatest films of all time. It won all five major Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor in a Lead Role (Kirk Douglas), Actress in a Lead Role (Louise Fletcher), Best Director, and Screenplay.
Based on a 1962 novel by Oregon writer Ken Kesey, the film is set in 1963 at a mental hospital in Salem, Oregon. Randle Patrick McMurphy feigns insanity to get out of prison. Afterwards, he is sent to the mental institution, where he becomes the rebellious leader of the patients.
Although the film is generally regarded as a comedy, it’s also very serious and harrowing. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest explores the social, political, and institutional processes of a mental health facility.
The Hangover
If you’ve ever watched The Hangover, you probably know one of the most memorable blackjack moments in pop culture. It’s a clever and witty scene.
In it, Zach Galifianakis’ character, Alan, makes a surprisingly clever bet that counts cards. As a result, he and his friends win a large sum of money in a blackjack game. This is not a trick that many people can pull off. However, the technique does have its merits, as it demonstrates that casinos can be funny and entertaining.
In the film, Alan and his friends go to a casino to try their hand at counting cards. They use a book titled the “World’s Greatest Blackjack Book”.
It’s not easy to count cards without the help of the right book. Fortunately, it’s not as hard as it sounds.
Rain Man
The Rain Man blackjack scene is one of the most iconic moments in pop culture. It’s an example of the drama that makes the movie such a favorite.
Tom Cruise plays the role of Charlie Babbitt, a young car salesman. He discovers that he is the product of a complicated family history. This leads to an emotional and dramatic trip to Las Vegas with his brother Raymond.
Aside from the blackjack, there’s more to this movie than meets the eye. The film has an intriguing story that moves viewers of all ages.
As the story unfolds, it’s revealed that Raymond was actually a comforting figure. When he was a child, he lived with his family. But when he was sent to a mental institution, the blame fell on his older brother.
The Hot Shoe
The Hot Shoe in Blackjack is a documentary that combines a mix of history, math, and a bit of high-octane action. Its stars include MIT, gambling enthusiasts, and a few casino employees. In short, this is an entertaining ride that’s as much about the people who make the decisions as it is about the card counters who do the actual work.
It is an informative and amusing film that is sure to keep you occupied for hours. From the MIT blackjack team’s nifty-looking sock to the wacky ways the big boys go about putting together the requisite deck, the movie’s got it all.
With a nod to the scientific and mathematical achievements of the past, the movie also pays homage to the future by presenting the next generation of casino players with a new challenge: card counting. Using the latest in state-of-the-art technology, the MIT team uses a combination of mathematical and statistical wizardry to create a program that uses the cards at your disposal to generate a mathematically perfect count.