Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game

Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game is a 2017 release, starring veteran actors Martin Landau and Paul Sorvino, with Maria Dizzia in a significant role. It’s a heartwarming dramedy that explores themes of friendship, love, loneliness and unresolved issues in the sunset years of life.

Directed and written by Howard L. Weiner, better known for his career as a neurologist than as a filmmaker, the movie makes a poignant statement about the evolution of life. It shines a light on aspects of senior citizenship typically hidden in shadows – the struggle of maintaining dignity while grappling with physical deterioration, longing for companionship and grappling with uncertainty while harnessing the will to live fully whatever little life remains.

The film opens with the introduction of Dr. Abe Mandelbaum (Martin Landau), a retired cosmetologist, moving into Cliffside Manor nursing home, believing his wife Molly (Ann Marie Shea), is suffering from the onset of severe dementia. There, he encounters a foul-mouthed, former womanizer, Phil Nicoletti (Paul Sorvino), and they gradually form an unlikely friendship.

The third main character introduced in this narrative is Angela Donadio (Maria Dizzia), who starts working as a nurse in the same nursing home. She's a single mother, who's looking for her father whom she never knew. The movie deftly intertwines the lives of these three unique characters, heralding surprises and revelations that eventually bind them together.

Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game is far from the usual depiction of nursing home life in cinema. Instead of showcasing seniors locked away in an isolated environment, it presents the nursing home as a microcosm of a living, breathing society. The movie takes us on an introspective journey, revealing a slice of the universe where friendship, love, humor, regret, and sadness coexist.

What distinguishes the film is its honest portrayal of the remainder of life’s course, filled as much with humor as with solemnity. Landau and Sorvino’s enviable on-screen camaraderie delivers laughter as naturally as it compels retrospection. They play poker with other senior residents and have believable conversations about past accomplishments, current frustrations, and unseen future.

Although these men come from contrasting backgrounds, they are united by shared circumstances. Their life experiences, rich with highs and lows, converge amidst the poker games, nursing home routines, their mutual loneliness and crumbling health. They find in one another a reflection of their own fears and hopes, providing the audience with a raw, occasionally uncomfortable look at the reality of aging.

Perhaps most strikingly, the movie does not shy away from displaying the characters' sexual desires and needs, a topic often considered taboo in a senior setting. It breaks down societal notions and explores relationships that mature adults may have with sexuality. It handles this matter with finesse and sensitivity, impressively maintaining the delicate balance between humor and seriousness.

The female lead, Angela, played by Maria Dizzia, brings another layer of intrigue to the plot. She's fractured, genuine, and kind – everything a nurse dealing with patients in their twilight years should be but with her own baggage to deal with. The subplot involving her search for her absent father adds a touch of mystery to the movie, further enriching the narrative.

Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game may initially give off a vibe of an offbeat buddy movie scenario, but it is so much more. The relationship that grows between Abe and Phil conveys a deep sense of respect and affection for the elderly, showing that it's never too late to form meaningful relationships. Howard Weiner's script and direction create an atmosphere of sympathetic understanding, reinforcing the inherent dignity in old age frequently neglected by society.

With Martin Landau’s unfortunate passing in July 2017, this film turned out to be his last. He brought a certain vulnerability and depth to his character, making Abe not just likable, but relatable. His final performance, along with the credible portrayal by Sorvino, serve as the backbone of this moving narrative.

In essence, Abe & Phil's Last Poker Game is a narrative that hums with the vibrancy of life. It paints an authentic portrait of aging without resorting to typical clichés, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate profound, character-driven stories.