The Odds (2012)

Once I had the pleasure of speaking to a gentleman who taught young people circus skills, especially with regard to the trapeze. He mentioned that there was a certain stage in the training when all pupils needed extra support and supervision. Asked why, he replied : "That's when people know enough to get themselves in really deep, dangerous trouble, but not enough to extract themselves from that trouble". Now this remark applies also, in a more general sense, to a phase in human life, let us say late adolescence and early adulthood."The odds" is a mystery (and a good, nicely unpredictable mystery at that) but it is also a psychological portrait of a group of adolescents helplessly adrift in a sea of trouble, most of it of their own making. It also illustrates, masterfully, how people in difficulty have a sad habit of spreading their problems around ; it is a phenomenon often seen in addiction and crime, where drug users become drug sellers and prostitutes become madams. "Misery loves company" - indeed."The odds" boasts excellent performances, most notably from protagonist Tyler Johnston, who is wonderfully convincing as a messed-up ball of insecurity, resolve, dishonesty and remorse.This, for clarity's sake, is not a happy and jolly viewing experience. But it is a very rewarding one.

Desson and Barry are best friends who intend to move in together after they graduate from high school. Knowing he will be alone after Desson's mother has apparently died, Desson's loser of a father is planning to sell their house.Desson and Barry attend a high school wrestling match. Barry is constantly texting Paul on his cell phone. When Barry believes Sam took a dive, Barry confronts Sam in the locker room and they get in a fight. Desson convinces the coach that Barry and Sam were fighting over a girl, but the coach sentences both Desson and Barry to detention. Barry doesn't show, but Desson meets the beautiful Colleen, who he invites to Paul's basement in a nice upper-middle-class house. Young people come there and gamble and drink alcohol secretly. Paul's mother doesn't really seem to approve but allows the activity as long as she doesn't get in trouble; Paul's father has left. Barry and Desson both owe Paul lots of money, and Paul is getting very demanding. One day Desson goes over to Barry's house, and Desson and Barry's sister Heather make a terrible discovery. Barry has apparently hanged himself. Desson believes his friend was murdered and is determined to find out why. A phone message suggests a local Chinese restaurant may have a connection to Desson's death. Benson, one of the high school students who gambles at Paul's place, reluctantly admits to going to this restaurant but says it must be kept secret. It is also possible that Paul is in debt to someone there. And we may find out what Sam was doing.It's a somewhat interesting mystery. Nothing outstanding or above the level of a TV-movie, but still enjoyable. There is occasional humor, much of it provided by Hrothgar Mathews as the sarcastic Coach Fortier.And among actors with more lines than the coach had, to me, Julia Maxwell stands out from the rest of the cast. She's not only great looking but has a nice if edgy personality and brains.Tyler Johnston is pretty good too in the lead role. Other worthwhile performances come from Jaren Brandt Bartlett as the young man who lets people gamble, Robert Moloney as Desson's father (especially when stoned), and Scott Patey and the somewhat nerdy Benson who likes to take risks.The sound went out a lot during this movie. Usually, this was accompanied by a character's mouth being obscured. So if you see this unedited, you have been warned. There is also some violence but not too much.It's a worthwhile effort, just nothing you haven't seen before.

there were high school underground gambling in this film, but what we saw was not quite convincingly realistic enough. what we saw were texting bets, basement gambling scenes, but we never saw any paper money changed hands only chips and betting amount. where was the money? we never saw anything tangible only hollow words and look-like gambling scenes. how that moronic kid would have the credit to lose 2 large? if this kid was always with the main character kid, how come the latter never knew? and how come a high school kid would lose his life over only 2 large gambling debt? this kid was driving a mini cooper, dude? a car at least worth as high as thirty thousand dollars. there's not enough logic to such murder. there were so many unconvincing scenarios and plot twists in this movie that simply won't add up. besides, what a lousy movie could have such a loud sound track music that was so loud that blocked all the dialog? the music was just so stupidly loud and if i were a 'lips reader', i might understood what those characters were talking about, but sadly i am not. what a stupid sound track messed-up during the post production!!!!

"I think Barry went there last night and I think he won some money." When Desson (Johnston - who looks just like a young Tom Cruise) finds his best friend Barry hanging by a rope in his garage he is stunned. Desson remembers debts that Barry owed and begins to think that his friend didn't kill himself but was murdered and has a few suspects in mind. He joins in an underground poker game to try and flush out the murderer. This is a movie that had a really good premise and I had pretty high expectations for it. I know it was another B movie but I was actually interested in seeing how they pulled it off. The first half hour was pretty entertaining but then it slowly started to drag and was hard to stay interested in toward the end. The idea and plot is almost nothing like what I expected. The general idea was there but I was expecting something different then what this was. I know it seems like I'm repeating myself but I was really disappointed by this movie. Overall, it was OK but I was expecting more of a thriller mystery I guess. I give it a B-.