21
I was fortunate enough to see this film with two fellows who had not only read the book on which it’s based (Ben Mezrick’s Bringing Down The House), but also had, um, taken the resulting inspiration to more practical levels, shall we say. 21 could be described as a loosely faithful interpretation of a loosely fictionalized semi-memoir, but on its own merit, it’s a pretty entertaining movie.
Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe) plays Ben Campbell, an MIT math wunderkind trying to get into Harvard Medical School (what an underachiever!). Ah, but there are obstacles that only an extreme endeavor could possibly overcome. As always happens, one thing leads to another and he ends up on an underground professional team of blackjack card counters clearing hundreds of thousands of dollars in Las Vegas. Though cast as a socially awkward math nerd, Sturgess’ dreamy, humble puppy eyes prevent his transformation into a confident moneymaker from being very striking.
Leading the team is King Stoneface himself, Kevin Spacey, bringing his full, glittering intelligence - underscored with disdain - into play. The rest of the team is the very enjoyable Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, and Jacob Pitts, as well as the very pretty Kate Bosworth. The group has good chemistry together as friends, and are equally smooth at acting like strangers, despite their painfully obvious signaling system.
It’s no surprise, really, what happens next. Naturally, it would be irresponsible for the movie to actually contribute to the Young Criminal’s Handbook and teach us how to count cards; it’s equally irresponsible to show card counting as a way to attain some kind of crazed celebrity fantasy life. As one of my companions noted, “Count cards equals sex with Kate Bosworth. Got it.” I offered to help distract super-dreamy Sturgess in his endeavors but we knew we’d never make it past the pit boss. My companions advised me that the movie skims over the difficulties our hero had concealing his secret life. I would have found that more interesting than our hero’s issues with his nerd-life friends, though I very much enjoyed their scenes for their own merit.
Mistakes are made, obviously (anyone ever hear about a back-up plan, or a bank?), or else the movie would be terrifically boring. Enter the obligatory “the old-fashioned ways are always better” heavy, in the form of Laurence Fishburne. Cowboy Larry is trying to hold on to his way of doing things in the face of computer-aided surveillance, and sometimes the dialogue spends a little too much time complaining about it. He is a formidable sight marching across the gaming floor, so I can’t carp on it too much.
So, after all the dramatizing to protect the innocent is done (thanks MK), the story has a nice, comfy Hollywood ending (complete with someone handing someone else baked goods with a warm smile), but it’s fun to ride the myth for a while, especially with such comely partners.
MPAA Rating PG-13
Release date 3/28/08
Time in minutes 123
Director Robert Luketic
Studio Columbia Pictures
