Film Review: Intriguing Doc ‘Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians’

Submitted by mattmovieman on March 6, 2012 - 9:08am

CHICAGO – One of the best things that can be said about Bryan Storkel’s documentary, “Holy Rollers,” is that it features Christians who don’t fit the profile of religious stereotypes. Their morally questionable line of work does raise some provocative questions, but Storkel resists any opportunity to condescend to his human subjects. His evenhanded approach results in a picture that could be interpreted by some as a recruitment video and by others as a cautionary tale.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Not to be confused with Kevin Asch’s 2010 crime drama of the same name (about an Orthodox Jewish youth-turned-ecstasy dealer), this film centers on the real-life escapades of an all-Christian blackjack team that took millions of dollars from casinos throughout North America. These players voice their hatred of casinos and yet they choose a career devoted to high-stakes gambling. Their victory is ultimately a hollow one since it amounts to little more than personal gain, but the group (dubbed “the Church Team”) insists that their work is indeed righteous.

Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians” in our reviews section.

With the exception of co-founders Ben Crawford and Colin Jones (who also serve as the film’s co-producers), team members are credited only by their first names. It’s a testament to Michael Weinreich and Bryan and Amy Storkel’s editing that the characters’ individual personalties don’t exist in a vacuum. One of the most compelling people in the film is Mark, a card counter who regards casinos as “a black hole,” and ends up wrestling with feelings of emptiness after spending so much time within their gaudy walls. On the flip side is the charismatic Crawford, who cites David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth’s book, “How to Make $100,000 a Year Gambling For a Living” as his chief inspiration. There are some terrific animated breakdowns detailing the actual process of “card counting” and how money is dispersed between the managers, investors and players. Cinematographer Brian Liepe mixes an abundance of talking heads with slickly photographed imagery of the gamblers’ glittering environment, as well as some candid hidden camera footage of the games as they unfold. The audience is invited to share in the excitement of the bankroll dinners that are held after $100,000 has been acquired, and the disappointment that occurs after a team member is identified and booted out by casino security.

‘Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians’ features Ben Crawford and Colin Jones. It was directed by Bryan Storkel. It was released March 6 on Video On Demand. It is not rated. For more information, visit www.holyrollersthemovie.com

Continue reading for Matt Fagerholm’s full “Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians” review.