Poker House

Poker house is a semiautobiographical of the teenage years of director Lori ‘Tank Girl’ Petty’s life in Iowa before she sought out fame. Her character in the movie is named Agnes, a 14 year old basketball star who works two jobs and cares for her little sisters Bee and Cammie the best she can. Her mother Sarah played by Selma Blair is a drugged out alcoholic prostitute who is obsessed with her pimp Duval played by Bokeem Woodbine. Duval is a despicable man who runs trade, and holds poker games at Sarah’s house and hustles everyone of their money. Despite how hard working and what a good kid Agnes is, she somehow manages to fall madly in love with Duval herself behind her mothers back, or under her nose whichever you prefer. Agnes makes out with Duval whenever her mothers back is turned, telling herself that he is the real thing. Agnes and her next younger sister Bee, try to scrape together money the best they can so they don’t have to depend on their completely dysfunctional mother for every little thing. Agnes delivers newspapers and slings burgers, and Bee collects bottles to turn them in for money. Little Cammie gets dropped at the local diner everyday where the owner Dolly watches after her. The local fixture is Stymie played by David Allen Grier, who also co-wrote the story. He is a somewhat mentally out of touch old man that seems to help look after the little girl each day. Making sure she gets fed, watches the soaps and gets enough juice to drink. When Agnes finishes her school and work for the day she picks her up.


One day Agnes has a big basketball game to go to, and that day her mother is throwing a party at the house attended by low life’s and hookers. The party rages out of control and the cops are called. Once everyone is cleared out and Sarah is passed out somewhere, Agnes and Duval sneak away like they usually do but this time he means business. The inevitable takes place, and Agnes is traumatized. She bolts for the bathroom to wash off the blood from her attack and her mother stumbles in. Agnes is hysterical and crying reaching out for her mommy. Sarah is so blitzed that she doesn’t even notice anything is wrong and tells Agnes to go to the store for alcohol and Newports. Agnes wants revenge on Duval and threatens to shoot him with his own gun. Sarah is so in love with Duval that she tells her hysterical daughter that ‘I can’t live without him so shoot me instead.’ This sends Agnes over the edge but she doesn’t kill anyone. She simply steals Duval’s Brougham with the vanity plates and 8 track and drives herself to her basketball game in time to make the second half. She sets a record that night in scoring points and helps win the game. Despite everything she has to endure, she comes out intact and still able to care for her little sisters. The narration can get a little heavy, but overall a quality film. Well done.