The Poker House
The film follows Agnes and her two sisters as they struggle through a day in a home where her mother is strung out on drugs, her home has been overrun by degenerates, and her only father figure is a pimp.
30 June 1956, Detroit, Michigan, USA
2 May 1956, Chicago, Illinois, USA
23 January 1956, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
8 February 1930, Chicago, Illinois, USA
7 April 1952, New York City, New York, USA
15 August 1990, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
November 17, 2014
Overall, the pacing feels languid to the point of meandering, relying too heavily on old soul records (and a final eight-track sing-along) for momentum and energy.
December 12, 2009
One of those autobiographical films... like Running With Scissors... that shows how children can survive and even prosper emotionally, spiritually (eventually) despite a ghastly childhood
August 19, 2009
...the acting is so good and the girls' struggle to rise above their oppression is so affecting, it's hard to knock the film's intentions.
November 17, 2014
While the film has strong moments and performances, it illustrates the dangers of overly personal filmmaking.
July 20, 2009
Regardless of whether the film is all fiction or all true or a mix, it has a ring of truth about it strong enough to sustain a defy-all-odds finish.
March 02, 2011
The movie seemed to point a finger at its own audience and scold it for its ignorance of this problem and apparent unwillingness to help.
July 16, 2009
The Poker House is one of the most personal, wounded films in years. That it is also one of the most confused reflects how deeply it springs from the psyche of its director.
