Owning Mahowny: The Most Accurate Film About Gambling Addiction?

[pentazepam]

This lesser-known movie is based on the true story of Brian Molony, a Canadian bank employee who embezzled over $10 million to fuel his gambling addiction in the 1980s. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays him in a way that many experts say is one of the most realistic portrayals of gambling addiction ever put on screen - quiet, obsessive, and destructive, without the usual Hollywood glamour.

Unlike other casino movies, Owning Mahowny doesn’t show big wins or flashy heists. It shows the compulsive side of gambling and the devastation it can cause.

Questions for the forum:

Have you seen Owning Mahowny? Do you think it’s an accurate look at addiction?

Do movies like this discourage people from gambling, or do they still attract viewers to the casino world?



Here is the (full?) movie on YouTube:

Wikipedia:

Owning Mahowny - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Brian Molony - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TeUnit]

Thanks, they really cast it well.

I think it was a very realistic portrayal of a gambling addict.


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[KrazyKoo]

I saw it few times in a row just after finding out about the movie like month ago.

I liked it, casting is excellent and shows compulsiveness of gambling addict with no pattern to playing. Just the desire to play and keep playing, chasing to try recover the losses but nothing is enough. Great portrayal.

 

[armoko]

Haven't seen this movie, will check it out. I know other very old movie Casino with Robert De Niro, always like to rewatch it from time to time

 

[najisami]

Here is the (full?) movie on YouTube:

Thank you man. I love it when I stumble on a good old movie that I have missed.
Just downloaded it, I'll be back here as soon as I watch it.

 

[TeUnit]

It was crazy how much he won playing bad though.

I also didnt like it when he bet on every home team, that seemed over the top even for an addict.