Review of Owning Mahowny (2003) by Alex M — 12 Jan 2004

[size=3]Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the premier character actors of his generation, is given a rare chance at a lead role, and comes through brilliantly. Hoffman plays Toronto banker Dan Mahoney, a squirrelish, quiet man who is able to hide the fact that he is an obsessive gambling addict. To pay off a bookie, Mahoney begins cheating his bank clients out of thousands of dollars. Like a true addict, Mahoney does not know when to stop, and eventually he is in the hole for millions. Hoffman brings this sad man to life (although there's very little life in him), and it's a performance of quiet intensity and tremendous reserved energy. There is never a moment when Hoffman lets his emotions lose...he's like an expert poker player concealing the tragedy of his existence close to his chest. John Hurt is also memorable in a supporting role as the head of a casino who becomes fascinated with Mahoney's self-destructive tendencies. Minnie Driver is solid in an underwritten role as Mahoney's fiancee, but her character is one of the flaws in the film. Other elements of the film just don't work, such as the police investigation into Mahoney's scams. The film isn't worthy of Hoffman's performance, but the performance alone, and the tragic title character, make [i]Owning Mahoney [/i]an interesting film even if it isn't entirely successful.[/size].

[size=3](BASIC)[/size].