Any film where the premise is that Steve McQueen faces off against Edward G. Robinson doesn't have to try very hard to be gripping, but this one does. It's a sports movie and so the usual love interest/bad kid made good stuff is included, but it is peripheral.
The direction and cinematography of the movie (both excellent for me) are focused solely on the poker game conclusion. All else is background. Just as the players push everything else out of their mind, during the game so does the director. And what a finale- McQueen's ice-cube cool and Robinson's world-weary confidence are staged against a Greek chorus of watchers "he has the jack!", "no way does he have the jack".
The only way you can be the man is to beat the man, and beat him fair and square. The support players (Malden, Rip Torn and Ann-Margret) are all pushing for the kid to cheat, but he takes the only honourable path and faces him fairly.
This is a superior level of sports drama between two absolute masters. Great stuff 8/10.
