Contemporary 2021 Selection: The Card Counter (2021)

 Paul Schrader's "The Card Counter"


2021's "The Card Counter" seesm to fit very much in the style of Paul Schrader's other films. With films like "Taxi Driver," "First Reformed," and now this film, we have a protagnoist dealing with psychological issues expressing themselves to the viewer through frequent journaling. The journaling is usually accompanied by a voiceover. With this narration, the viewer is able to understand the character's unwell mental states. 

"The Card Counter"'s protagonist, William, is a man of extreme disicpline. He is an ex-soldier who travels accross the country playing in poker tournaments. He stays at local motels and wraps every item of the motel in white sheets. Will plays poker and adheres to his extreme conduct because he is trying to hold himself together. Will was expelled from the military for extreme tortue methods used on captors after the 9/11 attacks. However, Will finds some respite from his 'holding it together' in La La Linda and Cirk. La La Linda is a fellow poker traveller who is presented as a romantic companion to Will. Cirk is a jaded youth who is presented as sort of a son figure. Cirk wants to seek revenge on the colonel who instructed his dad (and Will) to commit those hainus acts against imprisoned captors. Will tries to protect Cirk from this revenge scheme. However, Cirk becomes so determined that Will takes it into his own hands and does the job himself to protect Cirk from punishment. 

The way the film progesses has an air of intensity. This intensity is assisted by the flashbacks of Will in the prison camp he was assigned. The scenes of the prison camp are shot with butterfly lenses to create an environment that is visually off kilter in a very extreme way. These scenes carry over the present day events, creating a vibe that one could call 'hand-clenching.' It's almost as if something could go terribly wrong at any moment. The film itself seems to be clenching its teeth to keep from screaming. This feeling is derived by the careful execution of Schrader's quiet yet intense ambiance. The purpose is to create in the viewer the same seething internal intensity that Will feels. 

The film seems to represent a culture with a sinful past while trying hard to make it out a better person. The exploration of trauma, anger, and resentment is all bubbling under the suface. However, the film offers some hope to this pain through the supporting character's assistance to Will and his assistance to them as well.



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