Owning Mahowny

I rent Owning Mahowny about a year ago and still often find myself thinking about it. I do not rent or see lots of movies anymore, largely due to the flashy, tabloid-fodder being churned out by Hollywood studios these days (curiously, who are all strangely confused why box office receipts keep dropping year-after-year). I very much like Owning Mahowny, and will be buying a copy. I have a bias towards factual, documentary-style accounts which is part of the reason I like it. But it carries a sober (if unintentional) message to it. I agree with the reviewer who said this should be required viewing before any trip to Vegas. Maybe for stock and options traders too. The setting of the early 80's is quite convincing, and I found it nostalgic to see the hairstyles, the cars, even the CDN $50 and $100 bills being counted in the opening credits. The character Dan Mahowny is indeed an "unexciting guy" who speaks in a monotone...that's part of the character, as Philip Seymour Hoffman faithfully reproduced after speaking for hours with the real Brian Molony, whose name was changed slightly for the movie's title owing to privacy concerns. Therein lies much of the movie's appeal. This is truly an average guy who did something stunning. Combine this with the movie's matter-of-factual attention to small details, and you suddenly feel like you're there, in 1981, watching this man implode before your very eyes. If you prefer an Angelina Jolie bad girl, or Uma Thurman dressed up in a yellow suit with a sword, or Will Smith punching-out an alien from the cockpit of an F-16, you're in luck. Hollywood has made all of those movies, and many, many more just like them. Some gratuitous Hollywood production values can be fun, but the original, riveting story of Owning Mahowny was an entertaining and welcome change for me.

Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers an authentic and complex performance of a man torn between his desire to be a respectable person and an unrelenting gambling addiction. The depiction of the gambling scenes where Hoffman’s character seemingly becomes immune to any logic or decency in service to his addiction. Hoffman seems very natural in this difficult role and I think this may be his most revealing and signature performance.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is proving himself to be one of the best character actors around. In Owning Mahoney, he sheds new light on the intricacies of a gambling addict. The movie is based on a true story; one that is painful to watch. The film is so intelligently written, and acted, and the particulars of Mahoney's character are truly insightful. They help us to see that gamblers are not just whimsical about money; they are indeed obsessed with it. The film is fascinating, and is one that leaves you thinking of red and black wheels far past the credits.

I teach auditing students in an MBA program, and this is a great movie to recommend to them. Auditors need to think in terms of the motivation to steal funds, the opportunity to do it, and the rationalization that the Fraudster tells himself to maintain his view of him/herself. The movie - which is based on a true story has all these elements - in spades! I know other people - such as someone who thinks about the hazards of gambling and gambling addiction - would appreciate the movie as well. Thank you for making it available to us. Carolyn Anderson

And it came in a blockbuster case felt just like 2003 again

Worst picture quality I have ever seen. Clearly some sort of low resolution DVD rip. Came in a broken case, with a very pixelated and blurry cover art, and the disc inside was a blue/purple rewritable disc. Sad that so much knockoff and garbage is overflowing on Amazon. Total junk.

This is a sleeper. No one I have shown it too has heard of it let alone watched it. Based on true events in Toronto in the early eighties, it deals with an upcoming bank accounts manager with a gambling addiction. Hoffman is superb, Minnie Driver has her Canadian accent down pat, and one of my favorite actors, John Hurt, gives a great performance as the casino owner. Maury Chakin is tailor made for his role in this drama too. A great screenplay, brilliantly directed, its one for the collection.

Owning Mahowny is a great movie about gambling and addiction. It makes me want to go to the casino and live his kind of life. Great performances and outstanding story. I highly recommend it.

I SHARED THE VIEWING OF THIS DVD WITH A FELLOW SUFFERER..I APPRECIATE MANY NORMAL NON GAMBLING PEOPLE MAY NOT APPRECIATE THIS GEM..BUT ANYONE WITH A LEANING TOWARDS THAT PARTICULAR VICE WILL BE SQUIRMING IN THEIR SEATS WATCHING THIS....NOT SAYING IT WILL HELP CURE YOU BUT IT IS WORTH THE VIEWING ALL THE SAME

No complaints

Phillip Hoffman, is I'm sure excellent in his potrayal of Dan Mahowny, a 30 something banker with a gambling addiction. There is just one minor problem, as it turns out Dan Mahowny is the most intensely boring man on earth. Why this film was ever made is beyond me. I am one of those people who no matter how boring a film is will always watch to the end. This is the only film (and I say this as a man who has seen a lot of films) that I just couldn't. Its dull. Dan Mahowny is a gambler who shows no emotion other then misery when he wins or loses, his girlfriend shows no emotion whether she knows what he's winning or losing, the script is virtually monosylabic (monasylabic - who knows, who cares), void of humour and should have been burned as soon as it hit the desk of which ever film exec agreed to pump money into this piece of garbage. The last 30 minutes may be great but I'll never know because enduring the first hour was too much for me, I highly recommend this movie if you want to send yourself into a very deep sleep. Incidentely Love Liza also sterring Phillip Hofman is superb, watch that instead if you haven't seen it.

junk it won't play

Who can beat Philip