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Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Maury Chaykin, John Hurt, Sonja Smits ... see more see more... , Ian Tracey , Roger Dunn , Jason Blicker , Chris Collins , Matthew Ferguson

A seemingly ordinary bank employee develops an obsession that could destroy his life and that of those around him in this drama. Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a quiet, unassuming employee of... read more read more... a bank in Toronto; he lives modestly, drives a used car, and is dating one of the bank's tellers, a sweet but mousy girl named Belinda (Minnie Driver). What no one knows is that Dan has a secret life -- Dan is a compulsive gambler, and after running up massive debts with his bookie Frank Perlin (Maury Chaykin), he begins making regular visits to Atlantic City in the United States, where he often bets (and loses) far beyond his means. Dan's expertise at the bank is rewarded with a promotion to assistant manager; his new responsibilities include approving loans, which gives him the authority to transfer funds in and out of the bank. Needing to cover his debts, Dan starts approving loans to non-existent clients and adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to other accounts, and Victor Fox) (John Hurt), manager of Dan's favorite Atlantic City casino, is more than happy to "help" Dan, comping him to luxury suites and all the attendant amenities and working with him to transfer bank funds into his casino account. As Dan's debts begin to grow into the seven figure range, his dealings become harder to hide, both from the authorities and from Belinda, who has become aware of Dan's addiction to gambling but doesn't know just how far it's grown. Based on a true story, Owning Mahowny was directed by Richard Kwietniowski, who previously worked with John Hurt in the acclaimed Love and Death on Long Island. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

5,989 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

93 critics

R, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Richard Kwietniowski

Release Date: May 2, 2003

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DVD Release Date: October 14, 2003

Stats: 352 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (352)

  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 30, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Philip Seymour Hoffman is great as the gambling-obsessed Bank Manager. It's really suspenseful and fascinating watching his gambling getting waaay out of control.
  • DrZeek
    June 11, 2006
    DrZeek
    Hoffman is perfect.
  • michaelneumann
    February 24, 2004
    michaelneumann
    I'm laughing so hard after reading the following "What do you think?" from The Onion.

    [font=Courier New][color=red]WARNING! CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK! HUMOR IS HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE, AND WON'T BE FUNNY FOR SOME![/color][/font]
    [url="http://www.theonion.com/wdyt.php?i=1"]Colorado ... read moreFootball Under Fire[/url]

    [url="http://www.theonion.com/"]www.theonion.com[/url]

    Hilarious, yet oh so wrong. And it's even about my alma mater's school scandal.



    So I'm gonna watch 'The Passion Of The Christ' tomorrow night. I really can't wait, even after reading all these negative reviews. If anything, they're only further increasing my confidence in this film's power.



    In other news, I'm really craving donuts right now. Damn.
  • canadagraphs
    October 14, 2007
    canadagraphs
    for low budget Canadian films, this is one of the better ones I have seen.
  • KLFilmmaker
    August 18, 2006
    KLFilmmaker
    Great performances from the cast. Based on a true story.
  • txrangersfan72
    April 26, 2012
    txrangersfan72
    Philip Seymour Hoffman and Minnie Driver give painfully depressing, but outstanding, performances in this gritty film based on a true story of a banking executive, responsible and reliable in every way...except for a debilitating gambling problem. Dan Mahowny (Hoffman) uses his ... read moreclout and trust to manipulate the system to keep his addiction going. The movie is hard to watch as the situations are very tense. The performances and direction are superb, though, engaging the viewer in the first few minutes of the opening scene.
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    January 3, 2012
    PinkMinkPrincess
    Phillip Seymour Hoffman is one of my favorite actors, mainly because he wears these degenerate roles so deliciously, that you can't help but think he'd be just as disgusting a person in real life.This role fits his talents perfectly, a banker with a secret Gambling addiction, whi... read morech results in embezzling from his own Bank under non -existent accounts.Juicy take on a True Story
  • fb100000503802030
    November 20, 2011
    fb100000503802030
    Based on true story about Canadian banker who gets addicted to gambling in Vegas and Atlantic City and starts stealing from his own bank creating huge debts....
  • ristrawn
    October 18, 2009
    ristrawn
    good & real about gambling addiction & getting caught... enjoy true events type movies... Philip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic...
  • AndySitzerFan
    June 8, 2008
    AndySitzerFan
    Another brilliant PSH performance. I don't understand how he does it time and time again. He must be horribly boring and uninteresting in person.
    This movie delves into the psyche of a gambling addict. And it is a very accurate depiction. Excellent movie.

View All Owning Mahowny Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar
September 12, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Whether or not you think of gambling as a vice, you can bet on Owning Mahowny.

Joe Baltake
September 5, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Hoffman makes it impossible for us not to watch and not to enjoy it all on some subliminal level. Full Review

Steven Rea
July 22, 2003
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Owning Mahowny is an unflashy but fascinating meditation on addiction and greed.

James Berardinelli
July 22, 2003
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

A motion picture that never ceases to be worthwhile. Full Review

July 5, 2003
Houston Chronicle

This is a small story, as quiet and unassuming as its main character. And, like Mahowny, it makes few wrong moves and quite a few right ones. Full Review

Randy Cordova
July 4, 2003
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic

Despite its intelligence, it's dreary and uninvolving, more an exercise in style than an act of love.

Geoff Pevere
June 27, 2003
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Works so well both as social satire and outlaw character study. Full Review

Tom Long
June 20, 2003
Tom Long, Detroit News

The film doesn't really offer much behind its story.

Terry Lawson
June 20, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Hoffman plays it so close to his chest we can't help but be amused by a hubris that resembles self-hypnosis. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
June 19, 2003
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

Owning Mahowny confirms Philip Seymour Hoffman's reputation as one of the screen's consummate actors. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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