Matt Damon plays Mike McDermott, an incredibly smart law student and an astoundingly talented cardshark. After losing his entire savings in a game of poker to the current top player, Teddy KGB (Malkovich), using some weird-ass attempted Russian accent, he promises his girl-friend Jo (Gretchen Mol) that he will give up gambling. About this time his best friend, Lester 'Worm' Murphy (Norton), is released from prison and is looking to make some easy money. Lester eventually drags Mike back into the life of high-stakes poker. Jo leaves Mike in disgust, and he finds himself sliding into debt and the gambling world, due to the lying and cheating of his loser friend. All this leads to the inevitable showdown against the top player with all or nothing riding on the turn of a card; much like this movie.

In a lot of ways this movie is like Good Will Hunting; with Damon playing essentially the same, although more deeply flawed, character. Neither the movie nor the role stretch his or Norton's abilities, though I think Norton has the better character and does a good job of making the audience wonder why Damon hangs with him. Rounders is a well-made movie, with nice subtext on loyalty and friendship and the need for both in any kind of relationship. If you haven't seen this movie go see it.