The Prime Roll

Chicago gambler Juliano (Lano) Branka is on a lucky streak, a once-in-a-lifetime ``prime roll'' with all the breaks going his way. But Lano defies Mafia big shot Tough Tony, and Lano's ``uncle'' Artie the Arm, sends Lano to Atlantic City until Artie can settle Tony's hash with capo di capi Mad Mike. (Another hood is named Tommy the Tomato.) Top Atlantic City mobster Angelo Briari is suspiciously cordial to Lano, who fears a setup, possibly for the rub-out of an A.C. union head. Meanwhile, the murdered union chief's brother, a police detective from Ohio, blows into town bent on vengeance. Izzi ( The Take ) keeps the pot boiling up to the jarring and sentimental ending. But Lano, 28 going on 16, is not an empathetic figure; he's too concerned with his image and impossibly late in realizing his compulsiveness. (Mar.)