Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader's THE CARD COUNTER. Told with Schrader's trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past.
"The Card Counter" (1984) tells the story of a former military interrogator, played by Oscar Isaac, seeking redemption through professional poker. Haunted by his past, he mentors a young player while pursuing a passionate romance with a woman who shares a turbulent history.
The film challenges conventional narratives, continuously disrupting the characters' quest for control and order in the face of their inner demons and life's unpredictability. Themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the inescapability of one's past underlie the narrative, offering a complex exploration of human nature. In a world where poker mirrors the chaos of existence, the movie delves into the enduring struggle for inner peace.