Review of Owning Mahowny (2003) by Stuart K — 06 Feb 2015

Directed by Richard Kwietniowski, (Love and Death on Long Island (1997)), this true life drama was based on the 1987 book Stung: The Incredible Obsession of Brian Molony by Gary Stephen Ross. Which told of one man's addiction and how he was lucky at first not to get caught, but it soon caught up with him.

Which this film is ever so loosely based on that, it's well made despite being made on a shoestring. It begins in 1980, when Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a small time bank employee in Toronto is made Assistant Branch Manager of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

While his peers look upon him as a trusted man, in reality, Mahowny has a massive gambling addiction, and he owes money to bookie Frank Perlin (Maury Chaykin). Mahowny comes up with a plan, stealing from the bank under fake accounts to go to Atlantic City, where he's always greeted by casino boss Victor Foss (John Hurt), but this lifestyle alienates him from his wife Belinda (Minnie Driver).

After an audit, it all starts to come out, and the Toronto police investigate further. It's a well made film, and you can't go wrong with Hoffman, as he plays the nerdish but conniving gambler.

It's an old fashioned film where one man thinks he can get away with crime, but knowing he won't get away with it forever. The film plays on what we wish we could get away with if we could, but knowing we can't in reality.