High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story – Movie Review
Under the spotlights today stands one of the most memorable and legendary poker players of the last century. The person is known as a card game genius who gambles for emotion and action. He quickly became an idol and a figure on the professional gambling scene, but all of his bad habits and the constant desire for actions were the beginning of his tragic downfall. Today we will take a closer look at the movie High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story and his rise and fall in general.
The Stu Ungar Story Cast & Background Details
Before you watch High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story, you can get familiar with its cast and background information. The movie was released in 2003, but it was not a big success. Nowadays, the IMDB score of the movie is only 6/10. In general, the production is a low-cost one, and maybe this is one reason why the public never appreciated High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story. In the movie, you will see Al Bernstein and Andrew Glazer playing themselves and Michael Imperioli in the leading role of Stu Ungar himself.
| 🎥 Movie: | High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story |
| 📅 Release Date: | 2003 |
| 🎬 Director: | A. W. Vidmer |
| 🌎 Country: | USA |
| 📽️ Duration: | 110 minutes |
| 🃏 Main Roles: | Al Bernstein, Andrew N.S. Glazer, Michael Imperioli |
| ❓ Based On Real Events: | Yes |
| 🌟 IMDB: | 6/10 |
Disregarding the critics, if you are a gambling/poker fan or simply like card games movies, this is one for you. After all, Stu Ungar is a legend. Some call him the best poker player of all times. You probably won’t even believe it, but other pro players state the same. They called him “poker genius”.
We do recommend you to watch High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story, but if you are currently occupied, you can peek at the short movie review that we have prepared. In case you want to know everything about Stuey, we can take you through the timeline and show you who Stu Ungar really was.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story – Plot
First, you should know that the movie is based on recordings that Stu made before his death with the idea to release a biography, but that never really happened. The High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story is told in flashback, and in the beginning, basically, you see his last moments on earth. He speaks to a stranger (or the Grim Reaper) about how he was raised, the things he has done and the people he loves.
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story shows how Stuey envisioned the world and his passion for gambling. It also shows the sorrow, the pain, the cocaine addiction and the many reckless things Stuey did, how he lost his son, how we went through his divorce and how that pushed him over the edge. It is a sad story about a great man with extraordinary skills and a big heart. You can check the High Roller The Stu Ungar Story trailer below.
Because one movie cannot explain everything, we have prepared some additional materials about his whole life and the things he achieved in his pro-gambling career. We will start with his childhood and his relation with his parents. Maybe the death of his mother made him so impulsive, always craving for risk. Before or after you read this article, you should watch High Roller The Stu Ungar Story!
Stu Ungar Early Life
The things that people don’t know about Stu Ungar’s story is that even as a kid, he was extremely smart. He was born in a Jewish family in 1953 in New York City. His father was a famous bookmaker who owned a bar in the big apple. Raised with tough-love and in an environment full of hardcore criminals and gamblers, he got skills that the world has never seen before.
It is a fact that Stu Ungar was exceptional because, from a young age, he was already taking care of his father’s books. He even skipped 7th grade because he was a fast learner. Unfortunately, Stu dropped out of school in 10th grade. In the recording earlier mentioned, Stu explained how before the legal gambling age, he gave other people money to bet instead of him on horse races. The boy was a hustler from a young age. This is just a fact.
Even when he got older, nobody took him seriously because of his height and his baby face. In fact, thanks to his background and acquaintances in the underground, he was able to preserve himself. Some people describe Stu as a sweetheart, but others may tell stories where he spits on cards and other unspeakable actions. Maybe the death of his mother in 1979 brought him to the dark side and the cocaine addiction.
Stu Ungar Professional Gambler – Achievements & Wins
Growing as the son of a bookmaker gives you a headstart when it comes to games of chance and skill. Many pro players say that he was a natural talent, you can teach him a card game, and he will become better than you in no time. He was also super arrogant and aggressive towards his opponents. This was his unique playing style.
His father’s death made him deal with gambling regularly so he could take care of his sister and his mother. In 1976 he was already a local legend in New York. Then he moved to Miami, and shortly after, he went to Las Vegas. In no time, Stu made his way to the high rollers, only at the age of 26.
In 1980 he won his first WSOP championship, and he did it tremendously. The audience and all poker fans around the world were stunned. Stu was confident and cocky as always, but he was looking just like a teenager. This is why they called him the kid. The following year, in 1981, the kid became a champion for the second time in his pro poker career.
| Tournament | Year |
|---|---|
| WSOP Bracelet | 1997 |
| SBOP Champion | 1989 |
| SBOP Champion | 1988 |
| SBOP Champion | 1984 |
| WSOP Bracelet | 1981 |
| WSOP Bracelet | 1980 |
Maybe you don’t know, but Stu Ungar is the only professional poker player who won both the World Series of Poker and Poker Super Bowl three times each! With all the fame and money came the cocaine. Stu was never an alcohol drinker, but cocaine was his devil. Especially after the death of his mother in 1979, Stu started sniffing enormous amounts of drugs.
In 1986 after over five years of heavy drug addiction, his wife filed a divorce. All people around him know Stu Ungar as a good person and a caring friend, but only when sober. Otherwise, he was a rude and impulsive gambler willing to take risks anytime, anywhere. In 1989, his son committed suicide, and this was the thing that changed Stu. Some say he died with his son.
The darkest years of his life are the ones after that. Stuey started sniffing so much cocaine that his nose deformed. He wasted all of his money and was left broke without a cent. However, thanks to his deep love for his daughter, he pulled himself through and went through rehabilitation. In 1997, he borrowed $10k to participate in the WSOP and won it for the third time and last time in his career. One year later, he was found dead in a Las Vegas motel.
Stu Ungar Death
On the 20th of November 1998, the High roller Stu Ungar story ended in a low budget hotel in Las Vegas. He was found dead with a large spectre of drugs in the blood, including prescription drugs from his doctor. The reason for his death appears to be long term drug abuse and the developed weak heart. The saddest facts about his death are the $800 found in his pocket.
For his poker career, he generated over 30 million dollars. But drug abuse changed the course of his life and led him to the fatal end. Hopefully, the Stu Ungar story will help others understand how dangerous cocaine is and how deadly it could be. You must watch High Roller Stu Ungar Story, but you should also check the documentary movie above dedicated to his rise and fall. In case you want to turn more attention to the details of his life, look at the complete biography of Stu Ungar.
It is a fact that Stu Ungar was not a fan of table games like roulette, but if you are, you better check our best online roulette sites. You will be surprised how great it is to play online while sitting in your cosy home.
FAQ
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story is an excellent example of how far a brilliant mind can go and how awful it can slip away. Due to the many facts mentioned today, because we might have additional questions. Therefore, we have gathered the most frequently asked questions about Stu Ungar’s story and life.
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