Poker Face (2022): One Bad Night, One Billionaire's Endgame
What happens when the richest man at the table has already decided how the game ends? Russell Crowe steps behind the camera and in front of it for Poker Face, a slick, secret-soaked thriller that turns a friendly card night into a reckoning nobody saw coming. Here's everything you need to know before you sit down to watch — no spoilers, promise.
📋 Quick Facts
Release year: 2022 | Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama
Director: Russell Crowe (his second film after The Water Diviner) | Writers: Russell Crowe & Stephen M. Coates
Countries: Australia, United States | Runtime: 95 minutes
Starring: Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, RZA, Elsa Pataky, Brooke Satchwell, Aden Young, Jacqueline McKenzie
Where to watch: Digital/VOD and Blu-ray/DVD (theatrical run was limited)
🧩 Story: Secrets Are the Real Buy-In
Every year, tech billionaire Jake Foley (Russell Crowe) invites the same circle of childhood friends to his lavish estate for a high-stakes poker night. This year, though, Jake isn't just playing for money — he's got a very personal agenda, and the buy-in for staying at the table is a lot more than anyone bargained for.
As the cards are dealt and old grudges surface, a second, far more dangerous threat closes in on the mansion from the outside. Without spoiling how it unfolds, expect the night to shift from tense small talk to genuine survival — the kind of shift where loyalty, guilt, and self-preservation all get tested at once.
🎭 The Cast
Russell Crowe anchors the film as Jake Foley, bringing his usual commanding screen presence to a man who has clearly stopped playing nice. Liam Hemsworth and RZA round out the poker circle, alongside Brooke Satchwell, Aden Young, Steve Bastoni, and Daniel MacPherson. Elsa Pataky and Jack Thompson also appear in supporting roles.
🎬 Official Trailer
Screen Media Films released this official trailer ahead of the film's limited theatrical run on November 16, 2022, followed by its on-demand release on November 22, 2022.
⭐ Our Take
Poker Face works best when it leans into its B-movie instincts: sharp suits, a gorgeous mansion, and Crowe clearly enjoying himself as a man three steps ahead of everyone at the table. As a triple threat here — star, director, and co-writer — Crowe gives the film a confident, unhurried tone that carries the first half nicely.
Where it stumbles is in the writing: some of the big reveals land softer than the setup promises, and a few supporting characters feel more like plot devices than people you actually root for. It's a film that's easy to watch in the moment but doesn't leave much behind once the credits roll.
Verdict: If you want a glossy, twisty one-location thriller for a lazy evening — and you're not expecting the tightest script of the year — Poker Face is a solid, forgettable good time. Go in for the atmosphere and Crowe's performance, not for airtight plotting.
Rating: 6/10 — Style over substance, but stylish enough to be worth the deal-in.