Is high-stakes poker a metaphor for the
American Dream? A bi-coastal couple,
Susan and Tim, carry their independent film company and four-year-old son on
an eight month ride through the world of tournament poker.
Their plan: Play in six high-stakes poker
tournaments. Win some money. Document
their journey. Save their company. Business and formerly romantic partners,
Susan
and Tim often disagree. Susan is a self-directed, high energy gambler who has
won
poker tournaments before.
Tim is her sensible but anxious mate and often
her unwanted conscience. No Limit
takes us through the highs and lows of their quest. Along the way, we get to
meet
the peculiar players from around the globe who populate the poker world and hear
their thoughts on poker's connection to the American dream. They are, by turns,
passionate, overwrought, insightful and absurd. None are boring, and many have
become superstars in their sport. Primarily, they speak to the virtues of both
risk
taking and a psychological understanding of other people. As Mirage Resorts'
CEO Bobby Baldwin states, "you can't play business defensively; you can't have a
relationship defensively. It's about offense." None of the players are very
offensive,
rather they're a surprisingly articulate, multi-ethnic set of individuals,
admirably
determined to follow their own path. At the same time, they follow strict,
sometimes
amusing poker social conventions. Their colorful interviews are the heart of the
movie.
As Susan struggles to scoop a jackpot, we also
see the effect the poker tour is having
on her relationships, both with Tim and their son. Clearly, poker moms are not
like
soccer moms. While exploring themes of greed, addiction, individualism, talent
and freedom,
Tim and Susan have made an entertaining documentary, guiding us through an
offbeat
world few of us will enter. Is there a happy ending? This is about the American
Dream, after all...