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The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

Play trailer Poster for The Killing of a Chinese Bookie R 1976 2h 15m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Cosmo Vittelli (Ben Gazzara), the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort (Seymour Cassel), he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.

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The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

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Critics Consensus

Ben Gazzarra gives a grand performance as a hard-pressed debtor with delusions of grandeur in this naturalistic and tense thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting The genre elements are mostly subterfuge because otherwise [Cassavetes would] basically be bleeding on the screen. Rated: 3.5/5 Mar 16, 2019 Full Review Jay Cocks TIME Magazine When Cassavetes is really cooking, even the moments that are awkward and forced can become electric. May 3, 2013 Full Review Empire Magazine With a heavily improvised script Cassavetes gets the most from his actors, each giving emotive performances. Rated: 4/5 May 3, 2013 Full Review Jacoba Atlas Los Angeles Free Press [John Cassavetes] undercuts his own abilities with a passionate belief in non-structured cinema, meandering story lines, poor camerawork and overindulgent acting styles. Nov 18, 2019 Full Review Sean Burns WBUR’s Arts & Culture It's a movie about a testy, outsider artist and his gang of misfit collaborators, the John Cassavetes biopic once removed. Apr 4, 2019 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Gazzara exudes cool and calm while also stinking of panic. Rated: 3/4 Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (296) audience reviews
Scott M Ben Gazzara is one of my favorite actors. Never got his recognition. Great performance. Wonderfully told movie about a strip club owner forced by the mob to commit a murder. Really well made. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/16/24 Full Review Tony S A very slow and lingering movie, with very loose editing. That tries on the surface to be a character study. In reality, it's an "accidental" metaphor for John Cassavetes's career. Or rather, how he sees and projects himself after a lengthy experience in show business. Mighty be stretching it. But when you consider Cosmo and Mr. Sophistication as yin and yang of the director's personality the metaphor comes full circle. Since they have to counter balance the desire to give people something beautiful and artistic, yet entertaining in their sleazy act. And at the same time not be crashed by the ruthless people trying squash their dreams for the club in the first place. The result is ambiguous to say the least, even more so when you consider that this entire situation was just Cosmo's own undoing. It's is much more entreating to see this film with this frame of mind, that looking at mobsters setting up their 23k debtor for a certain doom, and then acting surprised when he doesn't die or fail. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/22/21 Full Review Audience Member What a unique character and what a performance by Gazzara Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review craig m The audition scene was everything. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review william d Cassavetes always brought out the best in Gazzara, and he really shines here. However, the story meanders a bit. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review jon c Hated it Nothing in this keeps you invested It's boring Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

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Movie Info

Synopsis Cosmo Vittelli (Ben Gazzara), the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort (Seymour Cassel), he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.
Director
John Cassavetes
Producer
Al Ruban
Screenwriter
John Cassavetes
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 18, 2016
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
Surround
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