I watched Argento's
The Card Player for the first time a month or so ago. I had heard almost nothing but bad things about it, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As a huge Argento fan, I was prepared for another big letdown in the vein of
Phantom of the Opera or, to a lesser extent,
Trauma. When all was said and done though, and the credits were rolling, I was very pleased.
It is definitely a major change from Argento's prior films, but I'm not one to fear change, especially not when said change brings about such an interesting film. This isn't a generic mystery thriller that seems like something out of Hollywood. I've heard it described as such on numerous occasions, but I beg to differ. The film's mystery is quite intriguing, and all of the scenes of police work and puzzle solving always maintain interest. The card duels, while perhaps a silly sounding idea on paper, work very well in keeping up the tension levels. It also helps that Argento has the victims on screen via webcam every time there's a duel. It gives the scenes more weight when you actually see what you're playing for. The first actual duel makes for a painfully grim scene, as the police lose every single round. There's not an ounce of hope.
The two leads give excellent performances. Stefania Rocca and Liam Cunningham have good chemistry, and they make for two of Argento's most likeable leads. They're relationship never feels forced either. It feels quite natural, and this is obviously a good thing, especially though since it pays off later in the film. Many of the supporting characters are dubbed rather poorly, but it didn't really distract me. It was great to see Fiore Argento on screen again too.
The lack of gore doesn't hurt the film even the slightest bit. Argento may be known for inventive, gruesome murder scenes, but the lack of gore here actually adds to the impact. When we see these women being killed on the computer screen, we don't actually see them being killed in the literal sense because the killer's damage is being done offscreen. This makes the scenes more compelling, at least to me anyway. The examinations of the bodies are about as gory as this film gets, and that's just fine.
Another complaint I've seen thrown around is that this looks like a TV movie. I disagree with this completely. The camerawork is often stunning, and it reminded me of some of the most beautiful giallos of the 70s with its wonderful shots of the surrounding environment. Argento also makes wonderful use of colors and shadows to further flesh out his story. One of the scenes that is simply classic Argento is when
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)Anna is riding with the killer and she realizes he's the Card Player when she sees all the little plant seeds flying everywhere.
It makes for a beautiful scene, and its just the type of thing you'd expect from Argento.
There are many other standout scenes as well.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)The sequence where Anna is attacked by the killer in her home is really well done, and very creepy too. The way Argento has her discover the killer's presence by seeing his reflection in the vase is both a clever use of the surroundings and very unnerving. John's discovery of the killer's hideout is also wonderful. His unexpected demise is one of the film's few gruesome moments, and since he is such a likeable character, it is also a hard hitting development. Then there's the final sequence on the train tracks. Some people hate this ending, but I think its unique and fun.
Anyway, after viewing this, I really don't understand its bad reputation. I loved it, and I think after a few more viewings, it could actually become one of my favorite Argento films. It is certainly nowhere near the bottom tier.
