A young woman named Holly, who lives at the same Vegas motel, arranges for Beth to meet Dink Heimowitz, a professional gambler who follows the fast-changing odds on sporting events and employs assistants at Dink, Inc., to lay big-money bets for him. Raymer takes the readers behind the scenes of sports betting. Its title not only a gambling reference but a cheeky sexual reference, “ Lay the Favorite ” finds Dink struggling to avoid doing just that, and he winds up firing Beth on Tulip’s orders. Parents need to know that Lay the Favorite is an uneven, unappealing comedy based on a memoir about a woman who moves from stripping to working in the sports betting industry. Vince Vaughn Rosie. Cast and crew. From "Dexter" to The Suicide Squad, here are our picks for the reboots and remakes we're most excited for in 2021 and beyond. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Beth Raymer's new memoir, Lay the Favorite, is about guys sitting in front of computer screens, placing bets, playing the odds and living it up. A Los Angeles detective seeks out the ruthless gang that stole his dog. 2,722 likes. The rich characters are drawn in depth, yet simply and honestly.”— Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. It holds an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 51 reviews. But his new comedy, “Lay the Favorite,” is beyond the pale. Lay the Favorite opened last November in limited release, but despite boasting an impressive cast and an Oscar nominated director, it never found an audience in theaters. Lay the Favorite Lay the Favorite (promoted as Lay the Favourite in the UK) is a 2012 American comedy-drama film starring Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joshua Jackson. A young journalist from New York, Jeremy, meets Beth in the casino and they immediately hit it off and she makes plans to move back to New York with him, having nothing left in Las Vegas to keep her there. Beth is becoming bored with her life in Florida, doing stripteases and lap dances for private customers. I'm generally a fan of comedies, and tend to prefer intelligent comedies to most dramas. The film was directed by Stephen Frears. Whenever Dink's losing streak continues even with Beth's return, he has a meltdown and fires everyone in his office. The team wins in the last second by one point and everyone clears their gambling debts. Share. From the iconic to the eclectic, relive the most memorable moments from the Oscars red carpet. Lay the Favorite (promoted as Lay the Favourite in the UK) is a 2012 American comedy-drama film starring Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joshua Jackson. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Additional information. Lay the Favorite is the story of Beth Raymer’s years in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of sports betting—a period that saw the fall of the local bookie and the rise of the freewheeling, unregulated offshore sports book, and with it the elevation of sports betting in popular culture. Directors Stephen Frears . View production, box office, & company info. Sparks fly as she proves to be something of a gambling prodigy--much to … [citation needed] Shooting also took place in New Orleans, and New York City. Language is the strongest issue, with very frequent use of "f--k," "s--t," and other words. [2] Wild Bunch was the film's international sales company. What LAY THE FAVORITE does have in its corner is a talented and game cast led by an engaged Rebecca Hall as Raymer. The repercussions of his choice play out with a heavy gambler who has a parole officer, a cheesy bookmaker in Curaçao, Beth's desire to keep a friend out of prison, and help from an unlikely source. Stephen Frears Director. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. They strong arm Greenberg and he gives them a hot tip on a New Jersey basketball team. Parents need to know that Lay the Favorite is an uneven, unappealing comedy based on a memoir about a woman who moves from stripping to working in the sports betting industry. Rated R for language throughout, some sexual content, brief drug use, and nudity, HBO Max Movies and TV Shows Streaming in February 2021, Bruce Willis Sports-Betting Flop 'Lay the Favorite' Sparks Lawsuit Over Map, Everything Coming to HBO Max in February 2021. Stephen Frears Lay the Favorite is the story of Beth’s years in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of sports betting—a period that saw the fall of the local bookie and the birth of the freewheeling, unregulated offshore sports book, and with it the elevation of sports betting in popular culture. Lay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling - Kindle edition by Raymer, Beth. Ex-private dancer Beth aspires to be a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, when she falls in with Dink, a sports gambler. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a game of online cat-and-mouse. Lay the Favorite is the story of Beth’s years in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of sports betting—a period that saw the fall of the local bookie and the birth of the freewheeling, unregulated offshore sports book, and with it the elevation of sports betting in popular culture. The repercussions of his choice play out with a heavy gambler who has a parole officer, a cheesy bookmaker in Curaçao, Beth's desire to keep a friend out of prison, and help from an unlikely source. Sparks fly as she proves to be something of a gambling prodigy--much to the ire of Dink's wife, Tulip. She reveals all the dirty secrets and truth behind the money and glamour of the gambling world without holding anything back. He hires her - she's good with numbers - and she promptly falls for him, even though he's married to a woman who seems to do nothing but spend his money. Based on Beth Raymer's memoir of the same title, the film follows a young, free-spirited woman as she journeys through the legal and illegal world of sports gambling. "Lay the Favourite" is one of those fluff movies that in 5 years, you'll watch pieces of on USA network. Written by Directed by Stephen Frears. Rosie then sets up a legal operation based in Curaçao and Beth goes down to help run the betting. Lay The Favorite is a band consisting of the members SubFreqs & Christopher Clipp. Shop Lay the Favorite [DVD] [2012] at Best Buy. It's mildly entertaining, has good stars, but overall just isn't very good. Lay The Favorite Synopsis: Beth, who lap dances to make ends meet, leaves Florida for Las Vegas hoping to be a cocktail waitress. Lay the Favorite is similar to these films: The Terminal, The Rebound, Fire with Fire (2012 film) and more. Movie: Lay the Favorite (2012) info with movie soundtracks, credited songs, film score albums, reviews, news, and more. If the movie was allowed to be slightly slower or if they allowed the movie to be slightly longer it might have been able to gain footing but in it's current state by the time you've figured out why someone is doing something they're already four moves ahead of that. Years after he left Damascus under suspicious circumstances, Adib Abdel Kareem must confront what he left behind when his daughter goes missing. [3], While the film was received poorly at the box office, it was picked up for streaming by Netflix and Amazon Video. [4], "Top 20 Movies That Lead to Lawsuits", WatchMojo.Com, available on, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "How Publishers Bolster Their Bottom Line by Retaining Film Rights", https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lay_the_favorite, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc8qsZnlTHo, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lay_the_Favorite&oldid=1014922935, Articles needing additional references from June 2019, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 29 March 2021, at 19:38. Lay The Favorite. Was this review helpful to you? In the achingly inessential Lay The Favorite, Rebecca Hall plays a directionless sexpot so ditsy, she seems incapable of reading a book, let alone writing the memoir on which the film is based. The film was directed by Stephen Frears. (2012). She meets two women who introduce her to Dink, a gambler with a system. Topic. Beth tries to entice Dink whose wife, Tulip, tells him to choose; he does and promptly goes on a losing streak. In New York City, a single mom captivates her new neighbor, a much younger man. Lay The Favorite wasn't funny, it wasn't entertaining and it felt so scattered that it was hard to follow any of the character's motivations. At a Catholic high school, a sophomore newspaper reporter investigates a case of stolen SAT exams. 3 women are sent to intercept a major drug deal at a diner at 3 AM and get the money. Beth, who lap dances to make ends meet, leaves Florida for Las Vegas hoping to be a cocktail waitress. It is, in essence, a coming-of … When their computer hacker friend accidentally channels a mysterious wireless signal, a group of co-eds rally to stop a terrifying evil from taking over the world. Bruce Willis Dink. Lay the Favorite is the story of Beth Raymer's years in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of sports betting--a period that saw the fall of the local bookie and the rise of the freewheeling, unregulated offshore sports book, and with it the elevation of sports betting in popular culture. The movie is a true story based on Beth Raymer's memoir who in real life goes to college and becomes a writer. Based on a true story, LAY THE FAVORITE is a heartfelt comedy of finding friendship in the least likely places. A hotshot poker player tries to win a tournament in Vegas, but is fighting a losing battle with his personal problems. Beth tries to entice Dink whose wife, Tulip, tells him to choose; he does and promptly goes on a losing streak. Lay the Favorite is the story of Beth’s years in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of sports betting—a period that saw the fall of the local bookie and the birth of the freewheeling, unregulated offshore sports book, and with it the elevation of sports betting in popular culture. Dink and his wife Tulip come to New York to help out Beth and Jeremy. Based on the true story of an illegal bookmaker (Rebecca Hall) and her close call with the law after a series of bets go bad. The enduring friendship between the Walling and Ostroff families is tested when Nina, the prodigal Ostroff daughter, returns home for the holidays after a five-year absence and enters into an affair with David, head of the Walling family. Mar 5, 2013 Lay The Favorite is not a great movie but certainly deserves 6 stars because of the sweet hint of spicy romance which you don't see in Bruce Willis Movies. Directed by Stephen Frears. Lay the Favorite is a coming-of-age saga like no other you’re ever likely to read.” –Samuel G. Freedman, author of Letters to a Young Journalist Lay the Favorite reads more like a novel than a memoir. She is hooked on the excitement and income that gambling provides and backs out suddenly whenever Dink, facing a heavy losing streak without his lucky charm, asks her to come back to work for him. Beth, who lap dances to make ends meet, leaves Florida for Las Vegas hoping to be a cocktail waitress. More. Catherine Zeta-Jones Tulip. She meets two women who introduce her to Dink, a gambler with a system. Simple - save for Murphy's law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. A journalist goes undercover to ferret out businessman Harrison Hill as her childhood friend's killer. Currently, we're in the studio working on our first album. Lay the Favorite | 2012 | R | - 6.3.8. If you just want to see southern women depicted as ditsy sex objects and older men that wear Hawaiian shirts and gamble then this movie is for you. Lay the Favorite Favorite Movie Button Overview; Movie Times + Tickets; Synopsis; Movie Reviews; More. Lay the Favorite was a fast, fun, and thrilling read. Random House Films took the gambling memoir to Likely Story and Emmett/Furla Films to adapt the film. A New York gambler, Dave Greenberg, is in debt for sixty-thousand dollars and may be working for the Feds. She meets two women who introduce her to Dink, a gambler with a system. Advertisement If you’re not a betting man or woman, the title might lead you to believe the movie is about bedding the right one. Lay the Favorite (2012) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 2012 American comedy-drama film starring Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joshua Jackson. When Beth begins expressing a more personal interest in her much-older mentor, Dink's sharp-tongued wife, Tulip, lets it be known in no uncertain terms that she wants Beth out of her husband's life. When talk radio host Emma Lloyd advises one of her listeners to break up with her boyfriend, the jilted ex sets about getting his revenge. Beth is intrigued and it turns out she has a good mind for numbers, easily grasping Dink's system and becoming his protégée and he views her as his lucky charm. Gambling is illegal in New York and Dink worries about Beth. Joshua Jackson Jeremy. “Lay the Favorite” tries a different tack, choosing the sweet over the sour and emphasizing Beth’s pluck and innocence. Based on Beth Raymer's memoir of the same title, the film follows a young, free-spirited woman as she journeys through the legal and illegal world of sports gambling. Unfortunately, the laughs are few, the mechanics of gambling are not conveyed well, and the film has no momentum; the climax seems much more inevitable than exciting. [1], The film received negative reviews from critics. Rosie and his men are more interested in drugs and hookers and Beth wants out. . Lay the Favorite An ex-stripper with a knack for numbers goes to Vegas and is taken under the wing of a professional gambler in this sly caper. As a result of this, mapmaker Victor Baker sued Warner Bros. as the film, which is set in the country of Curaçao, used one of Baker's antique-style watercolor maps of the country as part of the set decorations. Search for "Lay the Favorite" on Amazon.com, Title: As a result, from pressure from his wife, Dink lets Beth go. Rebecca Hall Beth. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Lay the Favorite. Having enough, Beth goes to New York to be with Jeremy but accepts a similar job for a rival bookie called Rosie. Lay the Favorite, however, shows a lack of attention to performances, an inexact eye and an inability to rectify a disjointed, unfocused script. Ben and Alan, two misfit best friends incapable of growing up, find direction for their lives by taking in an abandoned child and creating the family they've always needed. Price Match Guarantee. Featured DVD / Blu-ray Review: Lay the Favorite. [2] Her dad, Jerry, tells her to follow her dream of moving to Las Vegas, where she seeks honest work as a cocktail waitress. Directors. Lay the Favorite is the story of Beth’s years in the high-stakes, high-anxiety world of sports betting—a period that saw the fall of the local bookie and the birth of the freewheeling, unregulated offshore sports book, and with it the elevation of sports betting in popular culture. Use the HTML below. 0 0 6 Filming began in April 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He thinks he's nailed the suspect and managed to get the popular girl when he realises a larger conspiracy is afoot. The Tulip and his wife Jill (Amanda Peet) spring into action. It was also playing in Video on Demand, which usually kills a film's box office chances. Starring: Bruce Willis Rebecca Hall Catherine Zeta-Jones Vince Vaughn Joshua Jackson He hires her - she's good with numbers - and she promptly falls for him, even though he's married to a woman who seems to do nothing but spend his money. His lawsuit demanded either statutory damages or fair market value of the licensing fee for use of the map. March 2nd, 2013. At best, Lay The Favorite registers as cartoon sociology, but the film's featherweight charms dissipate whenever it moves away from the world of gambling and devotes time to go-nowhere subplots involving Hall's bland romance with Jackson, or Willis' troubled but fundamentally healthy marriage to … [citation needed] The Weinstein Company purchased distribution rights at Sundance Film Festival for a fall 2012 release. 68 of 95 people found this review helpful. Jimmy the Tulip's (Bruce Willis) quiet new life is shaken up by his old pal Oz (Matthew Perry), whose wife (Natasha Henstridge) has been kidnapped by a Hungarian mob. But hey, Frears has been in this business a long time. This felt like one of those movies where they just wanted to have a bunch of named stars so they could have fun on set. Ex-private dancer Beth aspires to be a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, when she falls in with Dink, a sports gambler. 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