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Bookmark this page21 (2008)
Director: Robert Luketic
Movie review
From Time Out London
Based on the true story of a bunch of MIT geeks who hit Las Vegas for a winning run on the blackjack tables before casino security cottoned on, this is a great idea for a movie but not a great movie.In essence, it adheres to the evergreen guys-on-a-mission template, with hard-up undergrad, Ben (Jim Sturgess, lightweight but passable) fearing he’ll be priced out of Harvard Medical School. He is lured by maths professor Rosa (Kevin Spacey, urbane but hokey) into a guerrilla unit of his best students ready to take on the baize tables: his argument is that twenty-one is a simple game, and by remembering which cards have been dealt, you give yourself a better chance of knowing when to fold or take a chance.
Prospects look good for the rest of the picture at this stage, but disappointment takes over with the realisation it’s all being pitched to a pre-teen audience, smoothing out potentially juicy moral dilemmas and sanitising the grown-up throb of the Vegas experience into anodyne glitz.
Actually, there’s something rather pernicious in the way the film drools over the towering chips, palatial suites and incipient gambling fever, as if to tantalise viewers way too young to be admitted to these very establishments; all of which hardly keeps us on-message that friendship’s a greater prize than cash alone. The whizzo-conceit and slick visual bling do give it an undeniably diverting buzz, yet the movie’s cautionary formula shows its hand way before the clunky final reel.
Author: Trevor Johnston
Time Out London Issue 1964: April 10 – 16, 2008
User reviews of this film
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- deeko said...
- Posted on Jul 15 2009 08:54 this film does not live up to the hype at all. It's like a 'made for tv' film, the acting is average, the script should be much better. The people who love this film will be the under 16s and have not seen the cooler, casino, even oceans 11 was far better. Based on a true story about Asian-americans geek students, turned in to a film for white middle class americans...sad.
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- sally said...
- Posted on Jun 12 2008 10:49 Good review. It's convinced me... seen several reviews to the same effect about this movie. Decided it's probably not worth watching.
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- Mike Buck said...
- Posted on May 19 2008 13:51 I enjoyed this film, ok its not the greatest movie ever made, but it was well acted, Kevin Spacey being his excellent self. It has a massive Oceans 11 feeling to it, which isn't a bad thing, When it comes down to it, everyone will have their own opinion on films. What I like i'm sure some people will hate and visa versa, go and watch it, I enjoyed it.
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- john said...
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Posted on May 18 2008 16:20
"the person who rote this review thinks theyre some kind of english language genius. Using words in the wrong context and just throwin big words in to make them sound interlectual. Saying the film is bad because it doesnt highlight that friendship is better than cash, maybe but, this is what people want to see. The author is a loser! "
Mmm, I wonder why the poster quoted above is not earning money as a film reviewer? Tip - learning to spell would be a great start - the thinking can come later... - Report as inappropriate
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- dan evans said...
- Posted on May 17 2008 19:09 I would rather eat an elephant
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- matt b said...
- Posted on May 16 2008 15:10 the person who rote this review thinks theyre some kind of english language genius. Using words in the wrong context and just throwin big words in to make them sound interlectual. Saying the film is bad because it doesnt highlight that friendship is better than cash, maybe but, this is what people want to see. The author is a loser!
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- mel said...
- Posted on May 06 2008 20:24 This has to be the best film i have seen in ages! im only 16 so cant go to the casoins..yet ;) but it sure made me want to. Very smart and exciting film! i would go watch it again but i dont have the money :(..but WELL worth going to see it!
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- tom said...
- Posted on May 05 2008 14:20 A brilliant mathematician becoming a common gambler? Pfft.
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- Les Molloy said...
- Posted on May 04 2008 21:32 OMIGOD, Time Out London has done it again. Not so much a listings magazine, giving us informative reviews, but more a Roget's Theasaurus and please excuse me Ed if I have spelt and grammartised that wrong! At least I now know what pernicious means! Oh yeah, the film. Casino movies are always good especially if you come from, or live in, a money driven capitalist economy. Money for nothing or for simply adding together pus one or minus one is a good job if you canb get it. Actually with, or without, the assistance Professor Rossa I might give it go. London Clubs International, get ready 'coz here I come!!!! I enjoyed the film.
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- xD said...
- Posted on May 04 2008 12:24 I thought the film was really good...And i didnt expect that to happen at the end ! XD...worth watching....It is very smart how they did it ...and its amazing that it is a true story
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- Dani said...
- Posted on Apr 29 2008 23:16 Amazing film. It was fascinating the whole way through. The only slightly bad thing, it was a tad too long. There were a few bits that could have been cut out. But other than that fantastic! Best film i have seen in a while.
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- Ross said...
- Posted on Apr 28 2008 00:38 This was complete pants. It was obvious and un-thought out. I sat there watching it hoping it would get better, but to no avail! Left after about an hour before I turned to stone with boredom.
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- Ade Baby.x.x.x said...
- Posted on Apr 25 2008 08:16 Good film.x
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- rebecca said...
- Posted on Apr 24 2008 14:28 what is the ratting of this film it is mint man
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- Dave said...
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Posted on Apr 23 2008 11:14
This film was awesome! loved it! would definetly go see it again.
well good! - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Robert Luketic
Cast: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Sam Golzari, Spencer Garrett full cast
Genre(s): Drama
Duration: 123 mins
US Release: Mar 28 2008
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