Burt Reynolds will star in a new poker movie called "Deal" along with Bret Harrison, who's playing the lead in Fox's new midseason comedy "The Loop". The film is written and directed by Gil Cates Jr., the son of the well-known Oscar producer Cates Sr.
Burt Reynolds plays the part of an ex-gambler who teaches a college student the ins and outs of real poker. Amarillo Slim is quoted in saying: "Poker is a game of people... It's not the hand I hold, it's the people that I play with." And that's just what Reynolds tries to convey to his student: "play the player not the cards."
The student and the teacher have a fall-out somewhere along the line and end up battling against each other at the World Poker Tour Championships.
It's difficult to rate a movie that has yet to be made (shooting of the movie starts on April 3rd in New Orleans), but but the script doesn't exactly get me excited. In fact it sounds like someone did a copy and paste job on the script of Rounders or The Cincinnati Kid (more info on poker movies).
To end with a positive note, "Deal" will feature real-life professional poker players, including Phil "The Unabomber" Laak and Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari. Actress Shannon Elizabeth and World Poker Tour co-host Vince van Patten will also make an appearance in the movie.