Lay the Favorite (2012)

• Director: Stephen Frears
• Writers: Beth Raymer (memoir), D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay)
• Stars: Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Zeta-Jones
• Release Date: December 2012
• Genre: Comedy
• Run Time: 94 min

Beth (Rebecca Hall), having drifted into private dancing (home visits leading to small scale prostitution) decides to leave small-town Florida and head for Las Vegas, where a more fulfilling life as a cocktail waitress beckons. Alas, cocktail waitressing in Vegas is a difficult nut to crack, and beth ends up working for Dink (Bruce Wilis) who makes his living from his sports gambling company. What follows is the story of Beth’s progress, and her involvement with Dink, his wife Tulip (Catherine Zeta-Jones), journalist Jeremy (Joshua Jackson), bookmaker Rosie (Vince Vaughan) and gambler Dave (John Carroll Lynch).