Review of Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians (2011) by Thomas R — 29 Oct 2014

This movie is about card counters, not about card counting. It chronicles a group young white dudes introduced by their pastor and their troubled rise to card counting glory. With the silent cameraman, some parts of the movie feel like The Office would if it were a serious movie about super Christian card counters.

The most interesting thing about Holy Rollers is how the characters' faith affects the way they run and expand their operation. They almost all Christians who met through the church, and their shared faith forms the basis of them trusting each other with vast amounts of money. They and their families all question whether playing blackjack is really moral. When they fire the only non-believer from the team, we see them struggle to explain, to each other and us, why it's good that they are all white Christian men. The camera doesn't offer any conclusions, you are left to find your own.

Overall, I wasn't bored for a minute of this movie. It's a fascinating look into a really bizarre group of people.