Documentary
Looks at Poker World
Ever wonder what happened
to the professional poker player that won $1 million
in the World Series of Poker but never showed up
on television again? In reality, the penniless pros
far outnumber the glitzy television regulars. Why?
Because professional poker is like the French Foreign
Legion: nobody cares about your past, and you have
no future.
"Poker Bustouts," a new 60-minute
documentary from Willis Entertainment exposes the
truth about the professional poker circuit as seen
through the eyes of the hard-luck characters that
play the game, risking it all, and reaping little
reward. "Poker Bustouts" makes a stand
against the glamour of televised poker with its
hard-nosed and comedic commentary.
Vegas stand-up Vinny Favorito, headliner at Binion's
Horseshoe, shines with outrageously funny bits on
the life, hold'em, poker less-fortunates, and the
WSOP. It's not all fun and games, even though it
sometimes seems that way. "Poker Bustouts"
also shows the depth of the poker hierarchy, from
big- time tournament players, such as Tomer Benvenisti
and Ted Lawson, to the short money low-limit experts
like Mike "The Bum" Tullis and "Cowboy"
Paul Margaritis.
There exists a common thread that binds professional
poker players despite the sometimes drastic differences
in finances. They all have the desire to beat work.
To achieve this goal of goals, certain circumstances
dictate this desire. Some win but many lose, giving
into their appetite for action and green. However,
the dream doesn't end when the bankroll disappears.
The hustler inside takes over and many players
take to the rail, sometimes roaming the streets,
sleeping in cars, and rehearsing their latest hard-luck
story. Affectionately known as "railbirds,"
these poker room fixtures have been panhandling
and running errands for players since the dawn of
the game. They need to get back into a game, any
game. The poker community keeps them alive because
of their uncommon generosity with disposable cash.
"Poker Bustouts" craftily displays the
full spectrum of the rail, from homeless to poker
millionaire railbird. The brutal honesty of the
film is complemented by bad beat horror stories
and dealer-induced diatribes, not to mention the
views of ever-opinionated dealers themselves. This
side of poker is not visible to the innocent casino
bystander. "Poker Bustouts" will have
you running bad in no time.
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