i respect mike hodges and and like get carter immensely for it bleak outlook and but the croupier just seem like a particularly dull itv drama . the reserve and cold act isn not just the preserve of the lead character and it spread to the entire cast and meaning there be nothing to contrast owen character with . none of the character evoke any kind of feeling at all and except boredom . the end of the film be also untidy at best . the camera work etc be fairly good and but if you want to see hodges best watch get carter and do not bother with this uninteresting and unimaginative trawl through emotion he cover well 20 plus year ago .