Stephenm Coates News Today

We review the new heist drama Poker Face, written and directed by star Russell Crowe with Liam Hemsworth and RZA

It’s a half-baked story, despite the star’s commanding presence and solid directorial skills.

The writer-director-star falls short in characterization, tension, drama, action -- even cards

Even if you can sense the fun Crowe is having with the camera setups in certain scenes, the movie is simultaneously a lot and not all that much.

Russell Crowe, girlfriend Britney Theriot make red carpet debut. Russell Crowe and his girlfriend, Britney Theriot, are making their red carpet debut as a couple.

Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, RZA, and Elsa Pataky play a dangerous game of survival in the new Poker Face trailer

Exclusive: See a new look at Russell Crowe in upcoming thriller Poker Face

Given the title of Poker Face, you might suspect that a new Russell Crowe film could be ripped from recent headlines and chronicle the shock kidnapping (and swift return) of Lady Gagas prized pooches. Instead, its planned as a twisty thriller with Gary Fleder in the directors chair. Stephen M. Coates wrote the script, which will see Crowe as Jake, a tech billionaire who summons his childhood friends to his sprawling Miami estate for what he claims is a high stakes poker game. But its much mor...

Russell Crowes New Movie Involves A Very, Very High Stakes Game Of Poker Crowe plays a tech billionaire who invites friends over for a game of poker, but its a lot more than that. Gary Fleder is signed on to direct from a screenplay by Stephen M. Coates. In the movie, Jake brings together his childhood friends at his Miami mansion under the guise of a high stakes game of poker--but its a lot more than that. "Those friends have a love hate relationship with the host, a master game-player/plann...