Editor's pick

No Limit Poker Documentary

Review

"Man needs his foolish dreams perhaps more than he needs anything else. He must forget the hardship and pain of life. It can be argued that man's instinct to gamble is the only reason he is still not a monkey up in the trees."

With these words, Mario Puzo starts No Limit: A Search for the American Dream on the Tournament Poker Trail. It's an opening line that, as good as any, describes what the film is all about.

With the poker phenomenon about to explode, two single parents living on opposite sides of the country decide to gamble on themselves. Leaving behind their families and loved ones, they go in search of the American dream - in the form of life as a professional poker player.

With only a camera and the four-year-old son of one of them as luggage, they set off on an eight-month journey, hitting the tournament trail in search of enough money to keep their independent production company alive and make a film about poker.

The idea originates with Susan Gerard and Tim Rhys, co-owners of a small production company, watching Chris Moneymaker achieve worldwide fame by winning the World Series of Poker Main Event after qualifying for it in a $40 satellite at Poker Stars.

After mulling it over, they conclude that with online poker exploding, one means of keeping their production company afloat could be to hit the tournament trail and make money, while at the same time documenting the world of poker on film.

With Susan having previously won poker tournaments, they think that their chances of making money on the circuit are good.

No Limit is the resulting documentary, depicting hustlers, risk-takers, poker pros and players from around the globe in their hunt for fortune and fame on the tournament circuit.

Even though the inspiration for the film was for Susan and Tim to make money playing tournaments and document the poker world, the documentary turns into more of a personality gallery and a look at the hardships of poker players.

Large parts of the film are quite interesting. Many great poker players give their opinion on risk-taking, the poker world, their own personalities and more.

If you're truly interested in poker and the tournament trail, and can see past Susan's sometimes annoying play-by-play, this film may be for you.

Details:

• $25