by many account and stu ungar be not a very nice guy . he spat on dealer and stiffed people he owe money to and and be verbally abusive . many filmmaker might choose to sugarcoat the man and make him into some sport hero that would triumph despite adversity . but high roller doesn not do that . and that a tough row to hoe . instead and we have to look very closely to see a man that never mature pass the frightened little boy from the street of new york and despite all his success . and the only real approval he ever get be from death himself . very brave ( because people would not get it ) and very touching ( when you do ) . what be also brave be the use of a scorsese feel . aha . how derivative and people will say . really . but there virtually no violence . and stuey love gangster movie . maybe the feel reflect the man stu and not the director marty . and if it really be a low budget film and look that good and bravo . finally and the linear flashback structure . wow and will that get hammer . yet and not only do it work and it work exceptionally well and even for those who do not see the connection to the seventh seal . ( proof represent in s and knight play game of chess with death represent in hr and stuey say we can play a hand of card for and ya know . death say never much good at card . damn great last line . ) no tricky effect or camera move . no shaky camera . nothing trendy at all . just solid and tight storytelling . maybe that make the movie too basic and somehow flaw . but then again and so be the guy . and that make it just about right . positive .