''Poker Face'' is a 2022 Australian-American

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

written by, directed by and starring

Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor and film director. Russell Crowe filmography, His work on screen has earned him List of awards and nominations received by Russell Crowe, various accolades, including an Academy Award, two Gold ...

. It co-stars

Liam Hemsworth Liam Hemsworth (born 13 January 1990) is an Australian actor. He played the roles of Josh Taylor (Neighbours), Josh Taylor in the soap opera ''Neighbours'' and Marcus in the children's television series ''The Elephant Princess''. In American fi ...

and

RZA Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage name RZA ( ) or the RZA, is an American rapper, record producer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is the '' de facto'' leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having pro ...

. The film had a

limited theatrical release __FORCETOC__ Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in a few cinemas across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets. Since 1994, a limited theatrical release in the Unite ...

on November 16, 2022 and was released on demand on November 22, 2022.

Plot

Jake Foley, a tech billionaire, holds a high-stakes poker night with his childhood friends. As the night goes on, it is revealed Foley wants his friends to expose secrets they have held their entire lives. Mikey reveals that his life is miserable and that he brought a gun with which he plans to shoot himself. Alex reveals that he has been sleeping with Jake's wife. Paul reveals that he has been having money problems and has given his brother, Victor, information about Jake's life to settle his debt. Things go awry as Victor tries to rob Jake's house's art, his family arrives unexpectedly, and the friends must band together to survive. Jake eventually tells Victor he has drunk poison in a wine glass from which he drank. Victor, unaware that the dose he drank was not enough to be lethal, succumbs to Jake's ploy to feed him a lethal dose of the poison when Jake tells him he has an antidote.

Cast

as Jake Foley *

as Michael Nankervis *

as Andrew Johnson * Brooke Satchwell as Nicole Foley * Aden Young as Alex Harris * Steve Bastoni as Paul Muccino * Daniel MacPherson as Sam McIntyre * Paul Tassone as Victor * Elsa Pataky as Penelope * Jack Thompson as Shaman Bill (Paje) *

Matt Nable Matthew Nable (born 8 March 1972) is an Australian film and television actor, writer, sports commentator and former professional rugby league player. After playing in the Winfield Cup Premiership during the 1990s for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eag ...

as Billy * Benedict Hardie as Styx *

Jacqueline McKenzie Jacqueline Susan McKenzie (born 24 October 1967) is an Australian film and stage actress. Early life Born in Sydney, New South Wales, McKenzie attended Wenona School in North Sydney, New South Wales, North Sydney until 1983 then moved to Pymb ...

as Doctor * Molly Grace as Rebecca Foley

Release

The film had a

in international markets on November 16, 2022 and was released on VOD in the United States and Canada by Screen Media on November 22, 2022.

Reception

Box office

''Poker Face'' grossed $2.6million at the box office during its limited theatrical release in international markets.

Critical response

Common Sense Media Common Sense Media (CSM) is an American nonprofit organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children.

rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, while Glenn Kenny of '' RogerEbert.com'' gave it 2 stars, saying, "Even if you can sense the fun Crowe is having with the camera setups in certain scenes, 'Poker Face' is simultaneously a lot and not all that much."

References

External links

* {{Stan (streaming service) 2020s American films 2022 crime thriller films Films about poker Films directed by Russell Crowe Stan (service) original films Films scored by Antony Partos American crime thriller films Australian crime thriller films 2020s Australian films