Tilt - Season One (2005)

If you like poker, especially Texas Hold 'em, you'll love "Tilt", starring Michael Madsen of "Reservoir Dogs." This three-disc, nine-episode dramatic series takes a wide-camera look at the world of tournament poker while introducing several story arcs, including the efforts of various upstart players and the FBI to take down fictional poker legend Don "The Matador" Everest (Madsen) toward an inevitable showdown at a dramatically heightened but credibly staged World Series of Poker. Created and produced by Brian Koppleman and David Levien who wrote and produced "Rounders," "Tilt" gives its audience an exciting look at the Vegas lifestyle through a gambling pro's point-of-view.

Fantastic Fiction

I've been playing poker since I was a kid in a caddyshack in 1993. I've been an avid fan of excellent writing and film shortly thereafter. This is an excellent combination of the two. Koppleman and Levine revive the spirit of Rounders in Tilt, more or less a near extension of the spirit of the film. It's greatly appreciated by this viewer how the hands aren't over the top, more people win with straights and boats than the over-dramatized and rarely dealt four of a kind or the hallowed royal straight flush. The characters are varied, and have strong personal development without the necessity of going too far or too heavily into the background except when it's necessary as a device to tell the story. The pace of the story is excellent with solid forward momentum, along with creative cinematography that enhances rather than over-does; a smashing choice of casting effective actors who aren't huge ego-maniacal celebrities, and most appreciated were some of the unique poker personalities who make guest appearances throughout the episodes. Some of Madsen's performances were a bit thin, but overall this is an excellent series which should have been carried on to another season, possibly with different characters, and even (dare I say it) another choice of game. May 26, 2008

Superb TV show! Should have gotten a second season.

I can't figure out why this show got cancelled after it's 9 episode first season. My best guess is that ESPN is not where people will turn to for dramatic television, no matter how fantastic it is. Tilt may have done better on another channel. Regardless, this is a great show, and a great DVD set to own. The story is fast paced. By that I mean as much happens in these nine episodes as you would find in another show's regular twenty plus episode season. The cast is nice all around, but it is undeniably Michael Madsen's performance as the show's "villian" that steals the show. If you like well written drama, or if you've been in any way caught up in the poker craze that's caught on these past few years, you won't want to miss this DVD set. May 8, 2007

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