cv621_14368.txt

ever_RB
wonder_VB
what_WDT
happened_VBD
to_IN
gabe_???
kaplan_JJ
?_?
you_PP
remember_VB
,_,
he_PP
was_BEDZ
the_DT
title_NN
character_NN
in_IN
that_DT
70_CD
's_BEZ
sitcom_NN
,_,
"_"
welcome_VB
back_RP
kotter_NN
._.
"_"
always_RB
trying_VBG
to_IN
help_NN
out_RP
the_DT
sweathogs_NNS
,_,
frequently_RB
trying_VBG
to_IN
dodge_NN
mr_NN
._.
woodman_NN
,_,
ever_RB
wary_JJ
of_IN
his_PP$
wife_NN
's_POS
tuna_???
casserole_FW
._.
"_"
so_RB
,_,
"_"
you_PP
ask_VB
,_,
"_"
where_CS
is_BEZ
he_PP
now_RB
?_?
"_"
mr_NN
._.
kaplan_NP
actually_RB
spends_VBZ
much_DT
of_IN
his_PP$
time_NN
these_DT
days_NNS
playing_VBG
professional_JJ
high-stakes_NNS
poker_NN
._.
that_CS
's_BEZ
right_JJ
._.
i'm_???
not_XNOT
sure_JJ
if_CS
it_PP
's_BEZ
his_PP$
main_JJ
source_NN
of_IN
income_NN
,_,
but_CC
from_IN
what_WDT
i've_???
heard_VBD
,_,
the_DT
guy_NN
occasionally_RB
comes_VBZ
away_RB
with_IN
$_???
000_CD
,_,
000_CD
at_IN
a_DT
time_NN
._.
and_CC
there_EX
you_PP
were_BED
,_,
thinking_NN
i_PP
was_BEDZ
going_VBG
to_IN
tell_VB
you_PP
he_PP
was_BEDZ
doing_DOG
off-broadway_JJ
theater_NN
._.
you_PP
silly_JJ
goose_NN
._.
well_RB
,_,
gabe_???
kaplan_NP
isn't_BEZ
in_IN
the_DT
movie_NN
rounders_NN
,_,
nor_CC
is_BEZ
the_DT
film_NN
about_IN
the_DT
actor_NN
come_VB
gambler_NN
's_POS
life_NN
._.
but_CC
rounders_NN
is_BEZ
about_IN
poker_NN
,_,
and_CC
gabe_???
plays_VBZ
poker_NN
,_,
and_CC
i_PP
thought_VBD
that_CS
was_BEDZ
kind_JJ
of_IN
a_DT
neat_JJ
connection_NN
._.
sorry_JJ
about_IN
the_DT
segue_NN
,_,
or_CC
lack_NN
thereof_RB
._.
matt_NP
damon_NP
plays_VBZ
mike_NP
mcdermott_NP
,_,
a_DT
law_NN
student_NN
who_WP
also_RB
has_HVZ
a_DT
singular_JJ
talent_NN
for_IN
the_DT
game_NN
of_IN
poker_NN
._.
he_PP
's_BEZ
been_BEN
playing_JJ
for_IN
a_DT
while_NN
,_,
and_CC
more_DT
than_CS
being_BEG
proficient_JJ
,_,
he_PP
has_HVZ
caught_VBN
the_DT
bug_NN
._.
he_PP
goes_VBZ
to_IN
all_PDT
the_DT
underground_JJ
games_NNS
in_IN
new_JJ
york_NP
city_NN
,_,
knows_VBZ
the_DT
regulars_NNS
,_,
and_CC
knows_VBZ
how_WRB
to_TO
win_VB
._.
in_IN
the_DT
beginning_NN
of_IN
the_DT
film_NN
,_,
he_PP
's_BEZ
built_VBN
up_RP
a_DT
nice_JJ
thirty_CD
grand_JJ
nest_NN
egg_NN
,_,
which_WDT
he_PP
takes_VBZ
to_IN
the_DT
speakeasy-type_NN
gaming_VBG
parlor_NN
where_CS
the_DT
big_JJ
boys_NNS
play_VB
._.
mike_NP
is_BEZ
there_RB
to_IN
make_NN
his_PP$
bid_NN
into_IN
the_DT
upper_JJ
echelon_NN
by_IN
staking_VBG
it_PP
all_PDT
against_IN
teddy_NP
kgb_NP
(_(
john_NP
malkovich_NP
)_)
,_,
an_DT
oreo-munching_NN
cardshark_NN
with_IN
ties_NNS
to_IN
the_DT
russian_JJ
mafia_NN
._.
mike_NP
has_HVZ
the_DT
potential_JJ
to_IN
take_VB
a_NP
large_JJ
pot_NN
and_CC
go_VB
to_IN
vegas_NP
and_CC
buy_VB
into_IN
the_DT
world_NN
series_NN
of_IN
poker_NN
,_,
but_CC
instead_RB
he_PP
loses_VBZ
it_PP
all_PDT
in_IN
a_DT
single_JJ
hand_NN
._.
months_NNS
later_RBR
,_,
he_PP
's_BEZ
paying_VBG
his_PP$
way_NN
through_IN
law_NN
school_NN
by_IN
driving_VBG
a_DT
delivery_NN
truck_NN
._.
when_CS
mike_NP
's_POS
best_JJS
friend_NN
and_CC
poker_NN
buddy_JJ
worm_NN
(_(
edward_NP
norton_NP
)_)
finishes_NNS
his_PP$
jail_NN
term_NN
for_IN
hustling_VBG
some_DT
students_NNS
,_,
he_PP
wants_VBZ
to_IN
pick_NP
up_RP
right_JJ
were_BED
they_PP
left_VBN
off_IN
,_,
working_VBG
as_IN
a_DT
team_NN
to_IN
part_NN
others_NNS
with_IN
their_PP$
betting_NN
cash_NN
._.
although_CS
mike_NP
has_HVZ
stopped_VBN
playing_VBG
cards_NNS
as_IN
a_DT
promise_NN
to_IN
his_PP$
girlfriend_NN
and_CC
fellow_NN
law_NN
student_NN
,_,
jo_NP
(_(
gretchen_NN
mol_???
)_(
,_,
worm_NN
connives_VBZ
mike_NP
into_IN
playing_VBG
once_RB
more_DT
,_,
and_CC
mike_NP
,_,
bitten_VBN
again_RB
by_IN
the_DT
bug_NN
,_,
slides_NNS
down_RP
that_CS
slippery_JJ
slope_NN
,_,
risking_VBG
his_PP$
relationship_NN
,_,
education_NN
,_,
and_CC
reputation_NN
as_IN
playing_VBG
poker_NN
again_RB
becomes_VBZ
the_DT
focus_NN
of_IN
his_PP$
life_NN
._.
to_IN
make_NN
a_DT
film_NN
about_IN
gambling_NN
,_,
a_DT
filmmaker_NN
will_MD
usually_RB
have_HV
to_TO
play_VB
up_RP
the_DT
glamorous_JJ
side_NN
to_IN
get_VB
the_DT
audience_NN
behind_IN
the_DT
characters_NNS
._.
this_DT
is_BEZ
because_CS
few_DT
moviegoers_NNS
will_MD
care_VB
a_DT
whole_JJ
lot_NN
about_IN
some_DT
guy_NN
in_IN
a_DT
leisure_NN
suit_NN
or_CC
terry_NP
cloth_NN
shirt_NN
sitting_VBG
at_IN
a_DT
folding_JJ
card_NN
table_NN
with_IN
a_DT
stogie_NN
in_IN
his_PP$
mouth_NN
._.
rounders_NN
,_,
however_RB
,_,
seems_VBZ
to_IN
go_NN
more_DT
for_IN
the_DT
latter_DT
than_CS
the_DT
former_DT
._.
the_DT
card_NN
clubs_NNS
mike_NP
and_CC
worm_NN
frequent_JJ
aren't_BER
very_RB
glamorous_JJ
at_IN
all_PDT
._.
there_EX
's_BEZ
a_DT
basement_NN
,_,
a_DT
lodge_NN
with_IN
elk_???
heads_NNS
on_IN
the_DT
wall_NN
,_,
a_DT
goulash_NP
joint_JJ
-_-
these_DT
are_BER
the_DT
kinds_NNS
of_IN
locales_NNS
in_IN
which_WDT
director_NN
john_NP
dahl_???
sets_NNS
his_PP$
shots_NNS
._.
except_CS
for_IN
one_CD
brief_JJ
instance_NN
when_CS
the_DT
two_CD
players_NNS
visit_NN
atlantic_NP
city_NN
,_,
the_DT
film_NN
is_BEZ
bereft_JJ
of_IN
the_DT
flashing_VBG
lights_NNS
of_IN
the_DT
casinos_NNS
or_CC
the_DT
pleasant_JJ
color_NN
of_IN
the_DT
green_JJ
felt_VBD
table_NN
._.
the_DT
reason_NN
rounders_NN
still_RB
captures_NNS
our_PP$
attention_NN
is_BEZ
because_CS
it_PP
is_BEZ
less_DT
about_IN
the_DT
game_NN
of_IN
poker_NN
than_CS
it_PP
is_BEZ
about_IN
the_DT
personalities_NNS
which_WDT
enjoy_VB
and_CC
are_BER
slaves_NNS
to_IN
it_PP
._.
we're_???
given_VBN
a_DT
nice_JJ
set_NN
of_IN
interesting_JJ
characters_NNS
with_IN
clear_JJ
motivations_NNS
,_,
and_CC
good_JJ
actors_NNS
to_IN
play_NN
them_PP
._.
matt_NP
damon_NP
is_BEZ
very_RB
natural_JJ
as_CS
mike_NP
,_,
who_WP
struggles_VBZ
between_IN
his_PP$
desire_NN
to_IN
play_NN
the_DT
straight_JJ
and_CC
narrow_JJ
by_IN
finishing_JJ
law_NN
school_NN
,_,
and_CC
answering_JJ
what_WDT
may_MD
be_BE
his_PP$
true_JJ
calling_NN
,_,
playing_VBG
professional_JJ
poker_NN
._.
ed_NN
norton_NP
's_POS
worm_NN
is_BEZ
truly_RB
a_DT
worm_NN
,_,
always_RB
looking_VBG
for_IN
the_DT
angle_NN
and_CC
playing_VBG
everyone_PN
for_IN
what_WDT
they're_???
worth_IN
._.
john_NP
turturro_NP
,_,
who_WP
amazes_VBZ
me_PP
with_IN
his_PP$
acting_JJ
range_NN
,_,
tones_NNS
it_PP
down_NN
in_IN
this_DT
film_NN
by_IN
playing_VBG
joey_NP
knish_JJ
,_,
a_DT
virtual_JJ
poker_NN
prodigy_NN
in_IN
his_PP$
time_NN
who_WP
now_RB
plays_VBZ
the_DT
underground_JJ
games_NNS
to_IN
make_NN
rent_NN
and_CC
child_NN
support_NN
payments_NNS
._.
he_PP
's_BEZ
both_RB
a_DT
friend_NN
and_CC
mentor_NN
to_IN
mike_NP
,_,
and_CC
turturro_NP
's_POS
low-key_JJ
performance_NN
is_BEZ
totally_RB
convincing_JJ
,_,
just_RB
as_CS
john_NP
malkovich_NP
's_POS
heavily-accented_JJ
teddy_NN
kgb_NP
is_BEZ
imposing_VBG
as_IN
an_DT
adversarial_JJ
dragon_NN
mike_NP
must_MD
slay_???
to_TO
prove_VB
himself_PPX
._.
martin_NP
landau_NP
is_BEZ
also_RB
thrown_VBN
into_IN
the_DT
mix_NN
as_IN
one_CD
of_IN
mike_NP
's_POS
law_NN
professors_NNS
,_,
abe_???
petrovsky_NN
._.
while_CS
landau_NP
slips_VBZ
well_RB
into_IN
the_DT
role_NN
,_,
his_PP$
character_NN
,_,
spitting_VBG
out_RP
personal_JJ
anecdotes_NNS
about_IN
staying_VBG
true_JJ
to_IN
one_CD
's_POS
self_NN
,_,
facilitates_VBZ
the_DT
channeling_NN
of_IN
the_DT
storyline_JJ
toward_IN
a_DT
predictable_JJ
ending_NN
._.
perhaps_RB
the_DT
weak_JJ
link_NN
in_IN
the_DT
otherwise_RB
formidable_JJ
line-up_NN
of_IN
acting_VBG
talent_NN
,_,
however_RB
,_,
is_BEZ
gretchen_NN
mol_???
who_NP
just_JJ
didn't_DOD
seem_VB
to_TO
have_HV
much_DT
presence_NN
on_IN
screen_NN
._.
she_PP
's_BEZ
a_DT
genuine_JJ
peach_NN
to_IN
look_NN
at_IN
,_,
kind_NN
of_IN
a_DT
cross_NN
between_IN
actress_NN
renee_NN
zellweger_NN
and_CC
singer_NN
jewel_NN
(_(
and_CC
i_PP
wouldn't_MD
be_BE
surprised_JJ
if_CS
the_DT
three_CD
of_IN
them_PP
formed_VBD
some_DT
kind_NN
of_IN
blond-haired_JJ
triumvirate_NN
and_CC
attempted_VBD
to_TO
take_VB
over_IN
the_DT
world_NN
)_)
,_,
but_CC
her_PP$
delivered_VBD
lines_NNS
seemed_VBD
very_RB
flat_JJ
,_,
and_CC
i_PP
found_VBD
myself_PPX
looking_VBG
for_IN
matt_NP
damon_NP
's_POS
reactions_NNS
instead_RB
._.
a_DT
good_JJ
thing_NN
about_IN
rounders_NN
is_BEZ
that_CS
it_PP
doesn't_DOZ
get_VB
bogged_VBN
down_RP
in_IN
the_DT
character_NN
development_NN
and_CC
statement_NN
making_VBG
so_RB
much_DT
that_CS
it_PP
can't_MD
find_VB
time_NN
for_IN
humor_NN
._.
the_DT
film_NN
is_BEZ
peppered_VBN
nicely_RB
with_IN
scenes_NNS
that_CS
both_RB
make_VB
you_PP
laugh_VB
and_CC
keep_VB
the_DT
pacing_VBG
going_VBG
,_,
such_DT
as_IN
a_DT
sequence_NN
where_CS
mike_NP
and_CC
worm_NN
move_NN
rapidly_RB
around_IN
new_JJ
york_NP
from_IN
one_CD
game_NN
to_IN
the_DT
next_OD
,_,
in_IN
widely_RB
different_JJ
locales_NNS
._.
one_CD
game_NN
in_IN
a_DT
cigar_NN
club_NN
had_HVD
me_PP
in_IN
stitches_NNS
._.
"_"
i_PP
love_VB
the_DT
sweetness_NN
of_IN
this_DT
dark_JJ
maduro_NN
wrapper_NN
,_,
"_"
says_VBZ
one_CD
of_IN
the_DT
players_NNS
,_,
clearly_RB
more_DT
interested_JJ
in_IN
displaying_VBG
his_PP$
pretentiousness_NN
over_IN
the_DT
cigar_NN
in_IN
one_CD
hand_NN
than_CS
in_IN
the_DT
cards_NNS
in_IN
his_PP$
other_JJ
._.
i_PP
was_BEDZ
hoping_VBG
mike_NP
and_CC
worm_NN
would_MD
really_RB
take_VB
these_DT
guys_NNS
._.
with_IN
all_PDT
the_DT
poker_NN
being_BEG
played_VBN
,_,
rounders_NN
had_HVD
the_DT
potential_JJ
to_IN
be_BE
very_JJ
confusing_JJ
._.
you_PP
might_MD
think_VB
you_PP
know_VB
a_DT
lot_NN
about_IN
poker_NN
,_,
but_CC
think_VB
again_RB
._.
luckily_RB
,_,
we're_???
given_JJ
a_NN
narration_NP
by_IN
damon_NP
during_IN
the_DT
more_DT
intricate_JJ
moments_NNS
to_IN
explain_VB
what_WDT
's_BEZ
going_VBG
on_IN
._.
the_DT
narrations_NNS
are_BER
more_DT
informative_JJ
than_CS
intrusive_JJ
,_,
and_CC
apprise_VB
us_PP
of_IN
what_WDT
the_DT
stakes_NNS
are_BER
and_VB
why_WRB
certain_JJ
players_NNS
want_VB
to_IN
do_DO
the_DT
things_NNS
they_PP
do_DO
._.
it_PP
's_BEZ
nice_JJ
that_CS
as_CS
the_DT
characters_NNS
develop_VB
,_,
so_RB
does_DOZ
our_PP$
comprehension_NN
of_IN
their_PP$
world_NN
._.
as_CS
a_DT
film_NN
about_IN
success_NN
and_CC
survival_NN
in_IN
the_DT
realm_NN
of_IN
underground_JJ
poker_NN
,_,
rounders_NN
delivers_VBZ
in_IN
spades_NNS
._.
wait_VB
!_!
as_CS
a_DT
film_NN
about_IN
the_DT
culture_NN
of_IN
cards_NNS
,_,
rounders_NN
is_BEZ
an_DT
ace_NN
._.
hang_VB
on_IN
!_!
packed_JJ
with_IN
great_JJ
acting_JJ
and_CC
great_JJ
characters_NNS
,_,
rounders_NN
is_BEZ
a_DT
full_JJ
house_NN
._.
okay_RB
,_,
i_PP
guess_VB
that_CS
's_NNS
enough_RB
._.
oh_UH
,_,
by_IN
the_DT
way_NN
,_,
if_CS
you_PP
ever_RB
want_VB
to_IN
get_VB
into_IN
a_DT
game_NN
with_IN
ol_???
'_"
gabe_???
kaplan_JJ
,_,
be_BE
sure_JJ
to_TO
bring_VB
a_DT
note_NN
from_IN
epstein_NP
's_POS
mother_NN
._.