The new poker film Dead Money is heading to theaters in September and some buzz has developed among poker players looking forward to the premier.
Emile Hirsch and India Eisley star in the film produced by Samuel Goldwyn Films. The company described Dead Money this way:
“When a home poker game is robbed by armed men, pro poker player Andy (Hirsch) and his girlfriend Chloe (Eisley) get caught in the middle. Now, Andy must play the best poker of his life at the biggest game in town to save his and Chloe's lives.”
Bringing Realism to the Tables
Hirsch and screenwriter Josh Wilcox recently offered insight into how producers aimed for poker realism. Hirsch, known for films like Into the Wild and Lone Survivor, visited Las Vegas cash games and spoke with high-stakes regulars like Alan Keating, Nik Airball, and RyanFeldman.
“It was an incredible experience diving into the world of poker and gambling,” he noted on Twitter. “I got so obsessed with the game that I regularly found myself googling ‘gambling addiction.’ I've partaken in many vices in my day – and that one has easily the strongest pull!”
Wilcox appeared on the Crush Live Poker podcast this week and has been a regular on the Los Angeles poker scene for several years. He tried to bring a real love for the game into the film, including aspects of the home game scene he’d experienced over the years. Wilcox also served as poker consultant to make sure the on-screen action looked like it would in a real game.
“I was involved in the preproduction and postproduction, so I was guiding the tables they used, the cards they used, and the chips they used,” he said.
“It was good to be there everyday and checking in with the art department, and checking in with wardrobe and everything else, and just making sure everything was exactly as I would expect it to be during a home game.”
Dead Money hits theaters and video on demand platforms on Sept. 13.
** Photo courtesy Samuel Goldwyn Films
