Nobody would have bet on this baby. Croupier is a low-budget thriller set in a London casino. The movie, featuring non-star Clive Owen in the title role, was in the can since 1998 while director Mike Hodges, now pushing seventy, searched for a distributor. Croupier finally sneaked out in seventeen cities in May, with expectations of a quick fade. The fade didn't happen. Small, enthusiastic audiences started to gather and talk it up. Over the July 4th weekend, with The Patriot and The Perfect…

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be on the dealing end of a casino table, "Croupier" antes up.

Story

Anti-hero, Jack Manfred (Clive Owen), is a cold-hearted bloke who warms to the thrill of watching the "punters" lose in the London casino where he works. The twist: He really wants to write a novel, and he hopes to use his job to gather material for his book. While most gambling films focus on the bettor, "Croupier" explores the often-overlooked view from the dealer: the house…