![]() ![]() The story might not be exceptionally inventive, but it is compelling. A game of cards is not necessarily visually exciting, but “21” manages to keep the stakes high through crafty twists and Ben’s voice-over narration at the casino tables. Despite failures in character development, the action-based on Mezrich’s own experiences-is genuinely interesting. In true Spacey fashion, he is suitably creepy and always mysterious. As the mastermind behind the card-counting scheme, Spacey takes an underwritten role and creates a complex character with dark undertones. He has perfected the art of playing cunning villains you love to hate, like John Doe in “Se7en,” and his Micky is no exception. Spacey is the only actor whose scenes are a welcome interruption from the gambling. ![]() Their scenes together interrupt the action on the casino floor and slacken the movie’s otherwise fast pace. The unconvincing romance that develops between Ben and Jill is an afterthought seemingly thrown in to attract female ticket buyers. Likewise, Ben’s nerdy MIT friends and fellow cardsharks, like the cliché “hot-girl-in-a-geeky-school” Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), are simple caricatures. The British actor’s one flaw is the inconsistency of his American accent the rest of Ben’s underdevelopment is the fault of screenwriters Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb. Despite the script’s lack of depth, Sturgess does a fine job of conveying Ben’s torn loyalties as he becomes increasingly engrossed in the team. This downfall is never fleshed out, though, as in-depth characterization takes a backseat to the gambling plot. ![]() The clash between these two worlds ultimately sends him on a downward spiral. The gaudy, dark casinos and dance clubs contrast with the bright, cozy images of Ben’s college life. But it also features slick camera work that displays the blackjack game from Ben’s point of view and illustrates the nuances of the game to the uninitiated. It contains the requisite shots of Ben staring in wonder out the window of a limousine at the gleaming Las Vegas landscape-an unimaginative sequence that’s been repeated in countless other films. From the opening credits, where the camera pans over the surfaces of playing cards to a dark, flashy casino club, the film is highly stylized and polished. The players lead a fantasy lifestyle during their excursions away from Cambridge until greed, jealousy, and casino security derail them. Ben needs tuition money for Harvard Medical School and is soon seduced by the possibility of hitting it big with cards. The team needs another player to join their trips to Las Vegas, where they count cards to turn the blackjack odds in their favor. Loosely based on “Bringing Down the House,” the best-selling book by Ben Mezrich, “21” traces the involvement of MIT student Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) with the school’s underground group of card players, organized by professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey). The characterization is as shallow as the glitzy lifestyle the students pursue, but a few strong performances, appealing visuals, and an exciting plot make the film enjoyable, although unoriginal. A clear departure for Luketic-who’s known for bubbly, candy-colored movies such as “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” and “Legally Blonde”-this film is sleeker, starker, and more sophisticated. In “21,” the new film by director Robert Luketic, five college students trade the pressure-filled halls of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the even higher stakes of Las Vegas blackjack tables. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |