If you haven't seen the 2003 film "Owning Mahowny", put it on your "Must Watch" list if you have Amazon Prime. If you don't have Amazon Prime, consider purchasing the DVD (it has not available on Blu-ray). I was unaware of the movie but in browsing through Prime's seemingly endless selection of streaming choices, I was drawn to it by the fact that Philip Seymour Hoffman has the starring role. Hoffman, who tragically passed away in 2014, was one of the best actors of his generation and this film offers him an impressive showcase for his estimable talents. The Canadian production is based on a true story, though the title character's name, Dan Mahowny, was amended from the real-life counterpart, Brian Molony. Why? Supposedly because the real guy's name was too similar to the incumbent prime minister at the time, Brian Mulroney. The movie is set in the early 1980s when the actual events occurred. Hoffman's Mahowny is a nondescript, affable schlep who wears ill-fitting suits and drives a clunker of a car. He's a dedicated mid-management type who loyally works at a prestigious bank in Toronto that has some extremely wealthy clients. In recognition of his work ethic and loyalty, he has recently been promoted to Vice-President, which gives him access to and responsibility for overseeing the accounts of the bank's most important customers. Mahowny also has a nice fiancee, Belinda (Minnie Driver) who sees his promotion as a stepping stone for getting married and buying a place of their own.
Despite his seemingly ordinary life, Mahowny is hiding a secret: he's got a gambling addiction, though like most people plagued with this affliction, he feels he has control over this aspect of his life. He primarily does his betting through his sleazy bookie, the uncouth Frank Perlin (Maury Chakin). With his new promotion and higher salary, Mahowny is now betting recklessly, primarily on sports. He also makes periodic flights from Toronto to Atlantic City to gamble at the casinos.(Legalized gambling was new novelty in New Jersey at the time.) Mahowny disguises these trips with various excuses to Belinda that they are work related. She sympathizes with him and considers him to be a workaholic when, in fact, these trips and nocturnal activities are purely related to gambling. Mahowny is gambling so much that even Perlin wants to cut him off, but Mahowny insists on taking larger and larger advances from the bookie. He's gambling so much that it attracts the attention of Atlantic City casino boss Victor Foss (John Hurt), who views Mahowny as a very desirable client and monitors his gambling sessions via closed circuit T.V. As Mahowny's gambling debts grow, he borrows more money and draws crowds at the casino. Sometimes he wins big but ultimately it all goes back to the casino. Foss has his fish on the line and caters to Mahowny with spacious suites and offers of endless booze and fine dining, all being comped, of course. Mahowny accepts the room but turns down all the other free temptations including a gorgeous hooker sent to his room. All he requests is a meal consisting of ribs with no sauce and a Coke. Foss observes with relish that Mahowny shows no interest in booze, drugs or sex and labels him a "thoroughbred" in that he wants nothing other than the action of gambling.
Mahowny's troubles start to mount when Belinda begins to suspect his addiction. A romantic visit to Las Vegas ends in disaster when Mahowny opts to desert her in favor of the gambling tables. Meanwhile, he continues to manipulate funds at the bank and enact coverups. He crosses the line when his "borrowings" go from thousands of dollars to millions. As the pressure builds, an internal bank audit adds to his worries, leading to some genuine tension in the film, which is very ably directed by Richard Kwietniowski, working with a screenplay by Maurice Chauvet (based on a book by Gary Stephen Ross). Additionally, U.S. law enforcement is secretly monitoring him in conjunction with Canadian law enforcement in the belief that he might be a drug dealer. All of the performances are excellent with John Hurt particularly good as the superficially friendly casino boss who employees ruthless tactics to both woo and destroy his customers. Minnie Driver is also very good as the ever-patient and somewhat naive girlfriend who is in danger of being eclipsed by her finance's love of gambling. The most impressive aspect of the film, however, is the brilliant performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman, which ranks among his best. He's understated throughout, even as the pressures build on his character, whose career and personal life fall further into jeopardy.
"Owning Mahowny" is probably unknown to most movie fans but it was enthusiastically acclaimed by critics and was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor at Canada's Genie Awards. It's engrossing throughout and the film proves that when you have a lot of talent involved, you don't always need an expensive budget. Give it a try. Will you like this suspense drama about addictive gambling? You bet!
(The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Click here to order the DVD from Amazon.)
