Based on a story about Jeffrey Ma, one of the six M.I.T. students who succeeded in cheating Vegas, 21 is an interesting thriller featuring charming young actors and a premise that may prompt you to hit the casinos.
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is an A student at M.I.T. who is gifted in Math. Sort of a genius, actually. He's just been accepted to Harvard Medical School but he's coming up short in the finance department. He figures he needs $350,000. Except for trying his hands on a coveted scholarship, he has no way of fulfilling that dream. That is, until his Math professor, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), asks him to join his after-school club.
It turns out that it's not just any academic club, but a special group of students who are learning to beat the system -- Vegas casinos, to be precise. The group includes beautiful Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), goofy Choi (Aaron Yoo), spunky Kianna (Liza Lapira) and cocky Fisher (Jacob Pitts). Micky has invented a sure-fire way of beating the casinos at Blackjack, but the group has to work as a team. Lured by the promises and an opportunity to get close to Jill, Ben agrees to join the team but stresses that he'll be done once he makes the $350,000.
Soon, however, Ben is seduced by the Sin City: the fancy cars and clothes, the complimentary suites and champagne, the girl and, most of all, how easy it is to make money. Ben realizes he's really good at it, and he reaches his goal in no time. But he can't stop. He's sucked into the game just as he told himself he wouldn't. When casino "stop loss" agent Cole Williams (Laurence Fishbourne) hunts him down, he realizes he has much more to lose then he thought.
Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe) has quickly risen in the ranks as a fresh-faced actor who can do serious drama. He's effectively "ordinary" and unassuming as the Math genius. In fact, his character is most likable when he's passive. Once he gets into the driver's seat, Sturgess does a good job portraying a young man who loses his soul to temptation. Kevin Spacey (Fred Claus) exudes charm as the smug, sarcastic professor with an ulterior motive. You kind of know he's not really a nice guy, but you can't help but like him anyway.
Teaming with Spacey again since Beyond the Sea and Superman Returns, Kate Bosworth (The Girl in the Park) is almost too pretty to play a rocket science student (yeah, right), but she's very agreeable as Jill, Ben's object of affection, and does her best in an underwritten role. Laurence Fishbourne (Bobby) adds certain needed dimension to his ruthless, callous Javert-ish character.
The rest of the young cast is fine in their supporting roles, including Aaron Yoo (Disturbia),Lisa Lapira (Cloverfield), and Jacob Pitts (Eurotrip).
Written by Peter Steinfeld (Be Cool) and Allan Loeb (Things We Lost in the Fire), the story takes Ben Mezrich's book and M.I.T. student Jeffrey Ma's story and runs with it. Why they change the main characters to Caucasians, I'm not sure (the real students in Ma's story were all Asian). However, the script has an edge to it, and the dialogue is light but not dumb. Sure, they oversimplify the Math and theories in the film so that the common audience can understand -- I mean, are we to believe that senior Math students at M.I.T. are going to be stumped by a simple probability question? Still, the script has great energy, and when the characters land in Vegas, it turns into a fun thriller with interesting twists and good character development. It's not to say there aren't any irritating plot holes and character inconsistency, but the story doesn't linger long enough for them to significantly damage the film.
Director Robert Luketic (Monster-in-Law) infuses his own youth in the production. It's hip and snazzy. The pace is brisk but not frenetic. The story moves with interesting twists. Not to mention a fascinating premise -- who hasn't thought of beating the casinos? In fact, I'm eager to hit the Blackjack table soon arming myself with what I've learned (I promise I'll stop after I win $350,000!) Luketic has a good eye for movement, colors, and the editing is crisp. There's a great juxtaposition between the glitziness of Las Vegas and cold, scholarly Boston. Even when the story treads into the realm of implausibility, Luketic is able to keep it real.21 is not serious drama. It doesn't tackle serious or deep personal issues. It's about money, sex, thrill, fun, and love. But it is entertaining and well executed. There may not be 21 reasons why you must see it, but one is enough: as Ben Campbell says while collecting his chips, "Winner, winner, chicken dinner."
Stars: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Laurence Fishburne, Jack McGee
Director: Robert Luketic
Writers: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb (based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book)
Distributor: Columbia
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and sexual content including partial nudity
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Ratings:
Script – 7
Performance – 7
Direction – 7
Cinematography – 7
Music/Sound– 8
Editing – 8
Production – 8
Total – 7.4 out of 10
On their first day of high school, Wade (Nate Hartley), Ryan (Troy Gentile) and Emmit (David Dorfman) are three dorks who immediately draw the attention of bully Filkins (Alex Frost) and Ronnie (Josh Peck). Hoping to survive high school, they try to hire a professional bodyguard to protect them. They find their man in a war veteran named Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson).
Unbeknownst to them, Drillbit is actually a homeless con-man. His plan is to take the kids' money and burglarize their houses when they're at school. He teaches the kids useless skills and tactics, basically bullshitting them before he finds the opportunity to get his money so he can move to Canada. When the boys get hurt because of Drillbit's bogus advice, Drillbit feels bad and develops real feelings for them, and he decides to actually go through with it, protecting them for real. He masquerades as a substitute teacher.
Owen Wilson (
On the contrary, the boys are a joy to watch. Nate Hartley (
The adults are less effective in this comedy about teens (Drillbit included, who is basically a big boy who never grew up). As the school bully, Alex Frost (
Written by Kristofor Brown (
Director Steven Brill (
Over all, the movie is forgettable and misses the mark. Thankfully the affecting performances and chemistry of the three young actors prevents the movie from becoming as painful as getting our teeth drilled.
Horton (Jim Carrey) is a fun-loving, carefree elephant who never forgets. One day while frolicking in the jungle, he hears a voice. At first he thinks he's imagining things, but soon he realizes there's a whole civilization living on a speck resting on a clover.
The civilization is the Whos, led by the Mayor of Whoville (Steve Carell). The Mayor is a happy-go-lucky guy, whose only dream is to become one of the great mayors, and for his son Tommy (Jonan Hill) to succeed him. When he hears Horton talking to him through a pipe, the Mayor realizes they're not alone. There's a whole new world outside of their universe, and Whoville is in danger of being obliterated if Horton can't find the speck a safe place to settle. Try as he may, Horton has a difficult time convincing his community, led by Kangaroo (Carol Burnett), that the Whos exist. It's up to Horton alone to protect the Whos.
As the lovable elephant who always gives 100% and never forgets, Jim Carrey (
It's delightful to "hear" Carol Burnett (
Dr. Seuss's timeless tale of belief is wittily adapted by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (
Directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino are able to keep a balance between the frenetic nature of the tale and the softer moments, making it entertaining to both the kids and their parents. There are times the pace becomes so fast that I feel a bit lost. Even so, the animation makes up for everything -- it's colorful, beautiful and imaginative. They really bring Dr. Seuss's fantastical worlds to life, especially the whimsical Whoville with its unique details.
With its unique and colorful characters, a good central message that doesn't feel preachy, and vibrant and imaginative CG animation, the movie is a joy for the entire family. So listen, and listen well -- you may hear a Who, too!
Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) has just been unjustly dismissed from her job as a governess. Penniless and with no place to go, Miss Pettigrew is desperate for a job and a meal. She takes a chance and masquerades as a social secretary for an American actress, Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). Little does she know it's going to be one heck of a day for her.
It turns out that Delysia, a glamorous social butterfly, is caught in whirlwind relationships with three different men: Nick (Mark Strong) who owns the nightclub she performs in and provides her for the gorgeous flat and extravagant lifestyle; Phil (Tom Payne) who is a young, handsome producer who may give Delysia her first starring role on the West End stage; and Michael (Lee Pace), a passionate pianist who adores Delysia despite all her flaws. Underneath Delysia's outer shell of glamor lies a fragile, frightened girl who can't decide how she should live her life. As different as Delysia and Pettigrew are, they are also very much alike, and they take to each other immediately.
Through a series of farcical events, Miss Pettigrew works her magic and averts plenty of disasters for Delysia, who in turn introduces Miss Pettigrew to her busy social world. She meets a conniving fashion designer Edyth Dubarry (Shirley Henderson) and her fiance, well-known designer Joe (Ciarán Hinds). Delysia convinces Edyth to make over Miss Pettigrew, but Edyth knows Pettigrew's secret. Driven by her desires to stay employed but also to help Delysia straighten up, Miss Pettigrew finds herself all caught up in her own dilemmas as well.
The entire cast, headlined by Frances McDormand (
The men in this handsomely made film are just as dashing. Lee Pace (
David Magee (
Under director Bharat Nalluri's (
With the actors' incredible timing, chemistry and charms, as well as the plot's brisk pace and witty dialogue, the film is a fine throwback to Hollywood's golden past, a delectable vintage champagne that is perfect for any day.