Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Release Date: 09/07/2004
SubTitles: French
Dubbed: English/Espanol
Sound: DDS
Run Time: 90 Minutes
Distributor/Studio: MGM
The sophomore outing for
Mark Illsley, the writer and director of 1999's
Happy Texas,
Bookies is a return to the
crime comedy genre of the filmmaker's first project. Starring
Nick Stahl,
Lukas Haas, and
Johnny Galecki as college buddies
Toby,
Casey, and
Jude, the film begins with the trio upset over a substantial gambling loss. After paying up, they decide that they are on the wrong side of the transaction and concoct a plan to become bookies themselves. Working in the shadows so as not to let on that they are anything but professionals, the young entrepreneurs devise a system that involves leaving money in unpopular books at the library where
Jude works. Before they know it, the guys are rolling in the dough.
Casey buys a bunch of computer equipment,
Jude gets himself a drug habit, and
Toby uses his newfound wealth to impress
Hunter, a fellow student played by
Rachael Leigh Cook. But just as fast as things started to go well, they take an unexpected turn. The boys are making so much money that they're cutting into the business of the local mafia. As one might expect, the thugs don't take too kindly to competition. Also starring
John Diehl and
David Proval,
Bookies premiered at the
2003 Sundance Film Festival.
~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
