21

Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:59 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

21 — ★ ★ — Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Jim Sturgess, Jack McGee, Liza Lapira, Aaron Yoo, Sam Golzari, Spencer Garrett, Kieu Chinh; rated PG-13 (violence, brief gore, profanity, vulgarity, brief partial nudity, brief sex)

Like a seriously troubled gambling addict, "21" shows its hand too early and then stays at the table too long for its own good.

This fact-based piece runs two full hours, and by the time it's done, some huge holes in its plotting have been exposed and a ridiculous, laughable ending has been tacked on.

That's a shame, because the first hour of the movie is actually pretty good. It's based on "Bringing Down the House," the nonfiction best-seller about how a half-dozen Massachusetts Institute of Technology students used card-counting techniques and player-communication strategies to take millions from Las Vegas casinos.

The fictionalized version stars Jim Sturgess ("Across the Universe"). He plays Ben Campbell, a brilliant and hard-working but cash-strapped student who's been accepted to Harvard Medical School once he completes his undergraduate work.

Story continues below

Unfortunately, he doesn't have enough money to pay the Harvard tuition. And his chances of getting a scholarship are remote at best.

So, he agrees to join a "team" led by an MIT professor, Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey). He's gathered some of the school's best and brightest, and has been taking them to Sin City on weekends to gamble at the blackjack tables.

Director Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde") and two credited screenwriters do a good job of explaining the fictional Rosa's gambling "system" and techniques. The plotting is a little muddied and is pretty sketchy towards the end, though.

And Sturgess does try to cover up his natural British accent with an unconvincing New England one. But he's a pretty likable hero, even when the film demands otherwise.

As for Spacey, he chews so much scenery here that you expect to see plasterboard between his teeth. And Bosworth is a pretty negligible presence.

"21" is rated PG-13 for some strong violence (including a brutal interrogation scene, some fisticuffs and brief gunplay), occasional profanity, a brief sex scene, some suggestive language (slang references), derogatory slurs, brief partial female nudity, and brief gore. Running time: 122 minutes.


E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Movie Info
Rated PG-13 for violence, brief gore, profanity, vulgarity, brief partial nudity, brief sex.

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Jim Sturgess, Jack McGee, Liza Lapira, Aaron Yoo, Sam Golzari, Spencer Garrett, Kieu Chinh
FIND LOCAL MOVIE SHOWTIMES
Video
Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...

i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...

Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...

Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...

can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...

Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...

These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...

My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...

It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...

You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...

Advertisements