Owning Mahowny: The Most Accurate Film About Gambling Addiction?

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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:

en.wikipedia.org

Owning Mahowny - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Brian Molony - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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Thanks, they really cast it well.

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


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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.
 
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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
 
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pentazepam said:
Here is the (full?) movie on YouTube:
Click to expand...
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.
 
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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.
 
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I have watched this movie almost dozen times within a year and I have to say - it's excellently layered. I think film also highlights Toronto film scene really well... they heavily use Toronto based cast outside the main cast.

The sportsbetting scenes are definitely bit over the top in my opinion too
 
KrazyKoo said:
I have watched this movie almost dozen times within a year and I have to say - it's excellently layered. I think film also highlights Toronto film scene really well... they heavily use Toronto based cast outside the main cast.

The sportsbetting scenes are definitely bit over the top in my opinion too
Click to expand...
Nice bump, u commemted already on this movie last year. Must be a really good movie then and i might going to watch it sooner or later.
 
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I guess I should watch this movie some day .I know P S Hoffman is a talented actor . Maybe I will learn something about my own personality .
 
Speaking of realistic depictions of gambling addicts, anyone recognize these walls? 1000010011
 
pentazepam said:
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:

en.wikipedia.org

Owning Mahowny - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Brian Molony - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...
I hope they have this in Netflix.
 
I haven’t watched Owning Mahowny yet, but the way people describe it has definitely got me curious. I like that it shows the darker side of gambling instead of making it look glamorous.
 
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