Wild Card

Nick Wild, portrayed by Jason Statham, is a former gambling addict who survives by taking on various odd jobs in Las Vegas, referring to his role as a “chaperone”—his personal interpretation of a bodyguard. In a twist of fate, after helping a client impress a woman, Sofía Vergara, he finds himself approached by a young man named Cyrus Kinnick, played by Michael Angarano. Cyrus seeks Nick’s guidance in exploring Vegas and demands his protection while he indulges in gambling.

During a meal at a diner, Nick receives an urgent message from his waitress friend Roxy, cherished for her friendship. She relays a request from Holly, portrayed by Dominik García-Lorido, who urgently wants Nick to visit her. Holly, a professional escort, shares a harrowing tale of being assaulted by three men in a hotel room after a date at the Golden Nugget. Desperate for closure, she implores Nick to uncover the identities of her attackers so she can pursue legal action.

In his investigation, Nick discovers that the vile perpetrator behind Holly’s ordeal is Danny DeMarco, depicted by Milo Ventimiglia, a notorious gangster. DeMarco callously discarded Holly after the attack in a hospital parking lot. Nick devises a plan; he confronts DeMarco at the hotel, disguising himself as an envoy for another criminal. A volatile confrontation ensues, but Nick skillfully defends himself, overpowering DeMarco and his henchmen. As Nick contacts Holly, she wrestles with the thought of punishing DeMarco, who grovels for her forgiveness. Ultimately, Holly opts to leave the chaos behind, taking $50,000 from DeMarco’s desk as she departs Las Vegas.

Cyrus then invites Nick to a casino, where, alongside a dealer friend, Hope Davis, he experiences an exhilarating winning streak, racking up over half a million dollars. Caught off guard by a sudden anxiety attack at the cashier, Nick unwisely resolves to continue gambling, only to end up losing everything, including his original stake of $25,000, on a single bet.

The next morning, Cyrus, revealed to be a self-made millionaire, seeks Nick’s mentorship in building courage, but Nick gently declines the offer. Tension builds when DeMarco’s men confront Nick at a bar, yet he skillfully battles them off. Nick later meets Baby, a mafia boss portrayed by Stanley Tucci, who is displeased by DeMarco’s complaint against Nick, alleging he broke into DeMarco’s room, assaulting him and killing his men, all in a bid to fuel his gambling addiction.

In a tense confrontation, Baby takes Nick to face DeMarco directly. Nick presents his side of the encounter, explaining that DeMarco was responsible for the murders of his own men and humorously points out DeMarco’s embarrassing injury. When DeMarco refuses to strip down to validate Nick’s claims, he storms out in a huff.

At the diner, Cyrus surprises Nick with a check for $500,000 and a plane ticket to Corsica, expressing gratitude for his guidance. Just as they settle in, DeMarco and his goons appear, but Cyrus, blossoming in newfound bravery, distracts them with an impromptu performance. This allows Nick to escape and settle his score with DeMarco and his thugs using whatever utensils he can grab.

In the aftermath, despite resisting the temptation of riches, Cyrus insists Nick accepts the generous check and ticket. Nick, now contemplating a life beyond the glitz and chaos of Vegas, drives away, pondering his future on the open water.

Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 17:26