Based on the true story of a Canadian bank executive who defrauded millions from his bank through fake loans and cheating clients, 'Owning Mahoney' spins a fascinating portrait of a man smart enough to get ahead in life but constricted by a gambling addiction. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is stunning to watch as the hapless protagonist, so high on the thrill of betting that whenever he has a win, all he wants to do is gamble it away. Even more impressive is John Hurt as unscrupulous Atlantic City casino manager, torn between pitying Hoffman's addiction and admiring his tenacity. While some of the actions that Hurt takes to ensure that Hoffman keeps gambling at his establishment are unethical, Hurt often hesitates, pauses and considers; like Hoffman, he is addicted, only his addiction is to pocketing Hoffman's winnings, and Hurt gives us enough of a glimpse beneath his exterior to show that he has qualms about exploiting Hoffman's endless funds. Some of the technical details here are a little hard to keep track of and Minnie Driver has a very underwritten character as Hoffman's girlfriend who sticks by him thick and thin despite him never once acting romantic; generally speaking though, this is a pretty compelling film when one considers how obvious the film's messages are about the futility of gambling ('house always wins') and the dangers of fraud.
Review of Owning Mahowny
