My Rating: 3.82/4 (aka A throwback must watch)

One line summary: A law student goes deep into the world of high-stakes poker.

The Deets: Yes I know, you’re also shocked that I hadn’t seen this one until recently, the perfect star-maker for Damon (coming off “Good Will Hunting”) and Ed Norton. I still love going back to the movies of the 90s, largely pre-internet, pre-cellphone, and paced to enjoy and take our time with them. Of course this could be shorter, but part of the fun is getting into these extra long scenes with some of the greats in Martin Landau, John Malkovich, and Turturro (who’s always excellent) – the movie doesn’t work without them. The Gretchen Mol relationship feels half-baked and that’s because it kind of is, and this is a man movie – the code, the choices, the underworld. You don’t need to like poker to get into this one, but it helps. And don’t forget to bet big.

Perfect for: If you’re in the mood for a classic 90s character drama centered on playing poker, and if you enjoy some early Matt Damon work – as usual, he’s in nearly every scene.

Where to watch: You can stream it pretty much everywhere except for Netflix.

Food pairing: Big bowl of pretzels, or maybe fries; beverage of your choice.