| High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | A. W. Vidmer |
| Produced by | F.A. Miller |
| Written by | A. W. Vidmer |
| Starring | Michael Imperioli Renee Faia Michael Nouri Michael Pasternak Pat Morita Vincent Van Patten Cynthia Brimhall |
| Music by | Jeff Eden Fair Starr Parodi |
| Editing by | A. W. Vidmer |
| Distributed by | New Line Home Video |
| Release date(s) | 2003 |
| Running time | 110 minutes |
| Language | English |
High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story is a 2003 biopic focusing on the life of American professional poker and gin player Stu Ungar. Stuey is the film's alternate title. The film features cameos from several figures from the world of professional sports and poker, including Vince Van Patten, Andy Glazer and Al Bernstein.
High Roller is told in flashback. Ungar (Michael Imperioli), in a motel room on the last night of his life, relates his life story to a stranger (Michael Pasternak). He speaks of growing up as the son of a bookie, his career as a tournament gin player, moving into poker, his marriage and the birth of his daughter Stefanie, cocaine abuse, the suicide of his stepson and the breakup of his marriage. The film climaxes with Ungar's third victory at the main event of the World Series of Poker a few months before his passing. In the final scene, Ungar departs the motel room with the stranger (who apparently represents The Grim Reaper).