The cars.
The suits.
The martinis.
"- Vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred.
- I'm sorry we don't serve alcohol."
- The "Casino Royale" poker scene
is just as dramatic and bombastic
as the rest of the film.
"- I hope our little game isn't causing you to perspire."
- But how do you turn a simple card game
into tense and thrilling cinema?
"- I won't consider myself to be in trouble
until I start weeping blood."
- It's time to lay the cards on the table.
This is the "Director's Playbook".
The "Casino Royale" poker scene
is actually divided into multiple scenes.
The approach Campbell and his DP Phil Mayhew took
was to give each scene a different visual language.
One game was shot with a static camera.
The next with a moving camera.
And the last was designed
to close in on Bond and Le Chiffre.
This gives each scene escalating tension.
As well as the audience a chance to
watch with fresh eyes.
"- Who's he looking at?"
- We'll be using StudioBinder storyboard software
to track and organize each shot from these scenes.
"- And you must be Mr. Bliss' replacement.
Welcome Mr. Beech.
Or is that Bond? I'm a little confused.
- Well, we wouldn't want that, would we?"
- So, let's deal the cards
and break down the first round.
The Flop.
This is the round Mayhew described
being shot with a mostly static camera.
But why?
"- Enjoy the game."
This objective and neutral style makes sense
as we settle into the game.
Bond is trying to get a read on Le Chiffre
so this unobtrusive visual style
matches Bond's relaxed approach.
There are only two shots with a moving camera worth mentioning.
When the cards are dealt.
And this shot.
We dolly and pan over
to an over the shoulder on Le Chiffre.
There are other players at the table.
But this shot
reminds us that this game
is really only between these two men.
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The rest of the scene is quite standard.
Some quick dutch angles on the cards and chips.
And a pair of extreme close-ups
on the Le Chiffre's eyes
as Bond spots his tell.
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"- Call."
- There are 85 shots in the scene
with an average shot length or ASL
of 2.87 seconds per shot.
Which is a rather quick pace.
But helps move the scene along
while the camera stays still.
Bond got what he was looking for.
Le Chiffre tell.
"- Dry martini. Wait.
Three measures Gordon's, one of vodka...
...half of Kina Lillet, shake it over ice...
-...then add a thin slice of lemon peel. - Yes, sir.
- You know, I'll have one of those. - So will I.
- Certainly.
- My friend, bring me one as well. Keep the fruit.
- That's it?
Anyone want to play poker now?
- Someone's in a hurry."
- And call."
- In the next round "The Turn"
the camera gets a bit more active.
The second hand is a shorter scene
with a slightly slower pace.
60 shots with an ASL of
3.5 seconds per shot.
The pace may seem slower.
Until you notice just how active the camera has become.
Now that Bond believes he has the secret
to beating Le Chiffre
"- It's the tell. - He's bluffing.
He plays more aggressively.
"- Bet. 500,000."
- And the visual style kicks up a notch.
Like this quick push-in to Felix.
"- Three hundred grand."
- And this pan between Bond and Le Chiffre.
"- And call."
And the final change worth mentioning
are the inserts of cards and chips.
The game is intensifying
and these shot sizes reflect that.
"- Well, it's 14 million and 500,000.
It's up to you, Monsieur Bond.
- Bond will have to go all in to call his bluff.
- Go. - Call.
Gentlemen, showdown, please.
Full house. Kings and aces.
Monsieur Le Chiffre."
- Remember, at this point
Bond believes that he spotted Le Chiffre tell.
And has the upper hand.
Until the rug gets pulled out from under him.
And Bond loses everything.
"- You must have thought I was bluffing, Mr. Bond.
Please. We will now break for one hour.
When we return, the big blind will be 200,000.
- Vodka martini.
- Shaken or stirred? - Do I look like I give a damn?"
- Let's move on to the final showdown.
"- Shall we up the blinds?
- Why not?"
Where the first round was more neutral
and the second round was more subjective
"The River" is a combination of the two.
There is purposeful camera movement
but also moments where the stillness
allows for tense moments
as we wait with fated breath.
"- Queen plays. Wins."
- This is Bond's last chance to win.
And there's no holding back.
One immediately recognizable shift
is the camera's orientation to the players.
"- All in.
Bet is six million."
- In the first two rounds with 180-degree line
running through our hero and villain,
the camera mostly stayed on Bond's left.
Now we are positioned on his right.
This could suggest a power shift.
As Bond takes control of the game.
Or simply another way to differentiate this round
from the previous two.
Either way, it's another trick
Campbell uses to give the scene a fresh perspective.
Another noteworthy evolution to the visual language
are these claustrophobic over-the-shoulder shots.
Both men feel they have the other trapped.
So, shots like these give them no room to move or breathe.
"- Forty million, 500,000. All in.
- Raise. All in."
- And this is a great way to raise the intensity
one last time.
"- Well, I think I will call you on that one.
- Call.
- One hundred and fifteen million in the pot.
And then
Bond delivers the crushing blow.
"- Monsieur Bond.
Five and seven of spades.
A straight flash.
A high hand.
Monsieur Bond wins.
- For you. - Thank you very much."
These poker scenes
represent a fraction of "Casino Royale's" runtime.
And yet they are some of the most memorable.
This lesson isn't just about how to shoot a card game.
A director shooting any project
with a consistent type of scene should take note.
If you're prepping a scene with layered conflicts
or complex geometry and eye lines,
it's helpful to use a shot list
and storyboards to design your sequence.
StudioBinder lists all of these shot spec options out for you.
So, you can mix and match unique combinations
and plan your shoot to a tee.
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StudioBinder.
"- I can't believe I'm just won."
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