From today's R-J:

`Stuey' struggles

Michael Imperiolo doesn't disappoint in "Stuey" but the film is a drawn-out downer.

A massive crowd, possibly 1,000 people, stretched back into the Palms casino for a first look Tuesday at the Palms' Brenden 14 Theatres of the long-awaited story of Stu "The Kid" Ungar, three-time winner of the World Series of Poker before committing suicide at age 45.

Imperioli captures Ungar's self-destructive, mercurial side throughout and local Joe LaDue shines as a tough-love pal.

But director Tony Vidmer, who told the audience afterward that he "worships at the altar" of fast-paced films, could have put more of that philosophy to use. The last 45 minutes of the 2 1/2-hour flick went flat.

Even hard-core fans of "The Sopranos" will wince at some of the language as Stuey spirals out of control.

To accommodate the high local interest, a 1:30 p.m. screening has been added today and a 10 p.m. showing is set for Friday.