Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award®-winner Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennetts future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance... <br /> <br />Mark Wahlberg joins the weightloss club consisting of members such as Christian Bale, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. The actor dropped 61lbs for the film, going from 198lbs to 137lbs, by focusing on cardio over weights and sticking to a mostly liquid diet. <br /> <br /> Posted: November 05, 2014 <br /> Director: Rupert Wyatt <br /> Writer: William Monahan <br /> Studio: Paramount Pictures <br /> Release: January 1, 2015 <br /> Cast: Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Brie Larson <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Paramount <br /> Crime <br /> Thriller <br /> Mark Wahlberg <br /> John Goodman <br /> Brie Larson <br /> Michael Kenneth Williams <br /> Jessica Lange
