It's been seven years since Celia Amonte (Sofia Milos) lost her fisherman husband Joseph at sea. She's a Portuguese immigrant in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She and her daughter Vicky (Emmy Rossum) live with her mother-in-law Angelica Amonte (Lupe Ontiveros). Vicky goes out to the casino and encounters professional gambler Charles Beck (Jason Isaacs). He has been brought in by the respectable Vargases (Theresa Russell, Seymour Cassel). Vicky wants to join him as a gambling team. He falls for Celia who is singing in a dinner club. With Vicky's help, he pretends to be a fisherman to woo Celia while he teaches her to count cards.
For symmetry, Vicky needs a young guy to play with. Emmy Rossum was around 15 but she looked 20ish especially dolled up to get into the casino. Rossum has more presence than Milos. This leads to the uncomfortable prospects of pairing her up with Charles. To concentrate on the budding romance with Celia, Charles needs more screen time with her and less with Vicky. The central romance is lacking real heat. This has more in common with an average Lifetime romance except this is supposed to be better. There is a Portuguese aspect to the characters which is not fully exploited. There is food but the movie fails in making food porn. It feels superficial like an ethnic food fair festival. There are ways to make more out of the situation but the movie fails to excel.
For symmetry, Vicky needs a young guy to play with. Emmy Rossum was around 15 but she looked 20ish especially dolled up to get into the casino. Rossum has more presence than Milos. This leads to the uncomfortable prospects of pairing her up with Charles. To concentrate on the budding romance with Celia, Charles needs more screen time with her and less with Vicky. The central romance is lacking real heat. This has more in common with an average Lifetime romance except this is supposed to be better. There is a Portuguese aspect to the characters which is not fully exploited. There is food but the movie fails in making food porn. It feels superficial like an ethnic food fair festival. There are ways to make more out of the situation but the movie fails to excel.