In 2011, actor Christian Slater will star in a movie entitled “Guns, Girls and Gambling” that is, in part, about a game of poker gone wrong. According to the Internet Movie Database, or IMDB, “The story throws Elvis impersonators, Indians, modern cowboys, a six-foot-tall blond assassin, a frat boy, a corrupt sheriff and a prostitute into a chase for a priceless American Indian artifact stolen during a poker game at an Indian casino.”
Slater stars as the slyly-named John Smith, with Megan Park taking on the role of Cindy. Park is best known for her portrayal of Grace in the ABC Family original series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” She has also appeared on shows like “Entourage” and “Ace Lightning.”
Gary Oldman, whose credits include “Harry Potter,” “The Dark Knight,” and 1997’s “Air Force One,” will also step onto the silver screen for “Guns, Girls and Gambling” next year. Oldman plays Elvis in the movie, which will be part of a busy 2011 for the actor. The year includes the seventh installment of “Harry Potter,” “Red Riding Hood,” “Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom,” and the next cycle of “Batman.” Oldman won a People’s Choice Award for Best Cast as part of his involvement with “The Dark Night” in 2009.
Helena Mattsson takes on the role of “The Blonde” in “Guns, Girls and Gambling.” Mattsson has appeared on a bevy of brand name television shows including “Desperate Housewives,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Two and a Half Men,” “CSI: Miami,” and “Cold Case.” Mattsson is Swedish, as her name may suggest, and she was born in 1986.
Rounding out the upcoming movie’s cast is comedian Dane Cook. The funny man has graced the silver screen in a wide variety of projects including Steve Carell’s “Dan in Real Life,” Dax Shepard and Jessica Simpson’s “Employee of the Month,” and the late Bernie Mac’s “Mr. 3000.” Cook plays a sheriff in “Guns, Girls and Gambling” in what is sure to be a memorable role.
The flick is written and directed by Michael Winnick, whose resume includes 2007’s “Shadow Puppets” and 2001’s “Deuces.” Poker fans recently got a dose of the game on the big screen in 2006, when the James Bond film “Casino Royale” was released. The movie marked the first for Daniel Craig as the title character, who battled Le Chiffre on and off the felts.
Poker also took on a feature role in 2007’s “Lucky You,” a movie filled with sappy clichés pumped out by Drew Barrymore and Eric Bana. Despite its lackluster reception and poorly written script, “Lucky You” featured appearances by high-profile poker pros like Sammy Farha, Chau Giang, Barry Greenstein, Ted Forrest, Erick Lindgren, and Daniel Negreanu. Speaking of Negreanu, the Canadian also appeared in “X Men Origins: Wolverine,” playing in a poker game against Gambit.
In 2007, “The Grand” brought poker to life with actors including Woody Harrelson, Chris Parnell, Jason Alexander, and Ray Romano. Pros like Phil Gordon, Phil Laak, Doyle Brunson, and Antonio Esfandiari also appeared in “The Grand.” Last year, the poker documentary “All In” was released, featuring appearances by a “who’s who” of the industry.
Not optimistic about the upcoming gambling movie was one poster in the IMDB forums, who pondered, “Didn’t anyone watch ‘Shadow Puppets’ before agreeing to this? This film could kill a few careers of some unlucky producers before it is done. But I feel really sorry for Oldman and Slater, who are about to learn a lesson in total shame.”