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Slick camera work and some good performances rev up the technical quality of this fact-based story about a 21 year old MIT student named Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) who, along with his brainy Ivy League chums, travels to Vegas to win tons of money at the blackjack tables. Their sleazy math professor, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), leads the group. Rosa has devised an elaborate and conspiratorial card counting scheme that consists of code words and hand gestures. With all that preparation, the group’s scheme does work … for a while. And in the process, the shy, cautious Ben, who only wants the money for tuition costs, morphs into his alter ego, a person quite unlike his original self.
The film’s pace starts off leisurely, then alternates between fast-paced Vegas casino action and periods of downtime wherein Ben and his girlfriend, fellow conspirator Jill (Kate Bosworth), talk shop and take in the high life. The story does have a villain, but it may not be who you think it is.
The script’s dialogue is snappy and hip, and contains minimal tech jargon. “Variable change” is one such math term, and it has thematic implications toward the end, as the story twists and turns in ways that may surprise you. And “winner winner, chicken dinner” is the group’s lingo for gambling success.
Production design is realistic and lavish; this is a big budget film. Color cinematography, by DP Russell Carpenter, is polished and slick. There are lots of elaborate camera dissolves and close-ups. The best parts of the film are the close-ups of the characters at the blackjack tables. Film editing coincides with plot pacing, and ranges from slow to super fast. Acting is all-around good. Kevin Spacey gives his usual topnotch acting job; Sturgess and Bosworth also give fine performances.
It’s not a perfect film. Background music was noisy and rather nondescript for my taste. And I could have wished for more card playing, and less time spent on Ben’s college buddies in the first Act; the result is that the film gets off to a slow start. Still, the script is credible, and stays close to its book source “Bringing Down The House” by Ben Mezrich.
Thematically relevant in today’s world of greed and materialism, “21″ is a terrific film, one that has greater import than other films, because the events in “21″ really happened. And the fine performances and polished visuals enhance the overall look and feel, to create a film that is both engaging and entertaining.
by Lechuguilla
#MP3 #21 #Jim Sturgess #LCD Soundsystem #Movie Reviews
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I LOVE JIM STURGESS AND SAW HIS MOVIE AND GOT A TINGLY FEELING……….
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Just saw it, it was good, not great, but not bad either.
Ok movie, terrible ending, awesome soundtrack
didn’t love it at all- although spacey was great. At 90 minutes, could’ve been a much better movie. It took itself WAY too seriously.
it was just okay for me. not bad, but not great either. didn’t really for the characters a whole lot, other than Ben’s nerd friends. some of the stuff seemed kind of overly dramatic, with the use of a lot of slow motion with the card dealing and stuff. it made me laugh how they were always inserting sound effects for when the cards hit the table. i might have appreciated this a little bit more if I actually knew how to play blackjack.
Disappointing on some levels, but it couldn’t have been more entertaining than that. Good job from the actors, especially from Jim Sturgess.
A very entertaining and interesting movie! Jim Sturgess is simply amazing at anything he plays. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
An extremely predictable and forgettable movie that is relatively entertaining although it’s drawn out too long. None of the performances are particularly fantastic and although it is apparently based on a true story not a single character appears realistic. With more intelligence and originality, 21 could have been great.
I didnt read the book but the movie was good. I thought the concept was great and i only wish i was that good at simple math.
I LOVED THIS MOVIE! The cast was great and totally fun