William “Tell” Tillich (Oscar Isaac) learned how to count cards whilst in prison. Now he is a gambler who knows to keep his winnings modest in order to stop being barred from the minor casinos he visits as he travels the country. When he decides to visit a convention on security techniques he meets two men from his past that will change his life. 

Cirk (Tye Sheridan) is the son of a serviceman that William once served with. He has ambitions to kidnap, torture and murder the man that trained both his father and William in “advanced interrogation” techniques. Whilst William spent years in prison for his appearance in a photograph torturing prisoners, his trainer Major John Gordo (Willem Defoe) faced no punishment for his part. Instead of seeking vengeance, William takes Cirk on the road with him. Offering him a non-violent way out. William even signs up to a stable of gamblers via handler La Linda (Tiffany Haddish) in order to earn more money for them. 

The Card Counter is a film written and directed by Paul Schrader with an executive producer credit from Martin Scorsese. Schrader is perhaps most famous for writing Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Raging Bull creating morally ambiguous, violent loner leading protagonists. The Card Counter delivers on this front with gusto. 

Oscar Isaac delivers a magnetic performance as the titular card counter. A man who wraps every item in his hotel room in white blankets, hand writes a journal of his thoughts and gambles anonymously despite his skills. It is clear he sees some sort of redemption in his relationship with Cirk and to some extent La Linda as well. 

Unfortunately though I was less than enthralled with our other leading characters. Tye Sheridan fails to give Cirk anything other than a distracted teenager vibe whilst Tiffany Haddish and Isaac have barely any chemistry to suggest that they could offer each other hope. 

The slow build pace interspersed with some horrific flashbacks to William’s previous life make it an uneasy watch building to the sort of ending you anticipate but will not to happen. But there is a slight tinge of hope. 

This honestly could have been something special if it was not laid entirely on Isaac’s shoulders. As it stands it is a film I can admire but not want to return to.