Louis Milstein

Saw the 1974 film with James Caan. It was actually much more realistic than the 'remake'. Good acting (especially Brie Larson), John Goodman is subperb. but the story line is 'gambling flawed' for many reasons: 1. No one would loan that kind of $$$ in that situation 2. The gambling on the basketball game is flawed: Asked to 'shave points on "Michigan' at home with an eight (8) point spread. Michigan are the 'Wolverines' not the 'Bulldogs' 3. Bets the that would move the line 'big time'. 4. But the BIGGEST flaw is that at the end of the game, NO player would take a shot at the buzzer 'up by seven (7)'. He would just 'dribble it out' and it would not be questioned by anyone. I know it was done for intrigue, but any true gambler knows it's totally unrealistic. Still, an entertaining movie with a far more 'uplifting' ending at the end. The problem with gambling,/sports (especially horseracing) movies is that technical advisors are out of touch with the 'real world'. Could have been a good movie. If I were technical advisor, at the end of the basketball game, they guy doesn't take a shot up by seven (7). He's fouled with two (2) seconds left in the game and in order to not cover the spread, he has to miss both free throws. You then cut away right after he releases the ball for the first free throw so the audience doesn't know if he made it, or the next one until the next where it's obvious they didn't cover the spread. VERY easy to do....