DVD Release Date: July 22, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 2008
Rating: PG-13 (for some violence and sexual content including partial nudity)
Genre: Drama
Run Time: 123 min.
Director: Robert Luketic
Actors: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Laurence Fishburne, Liza Lapira
Anyone who’s seen Ocean's 11 (or any of the less-successful sequels) knows that it’s not particularly easy to be a big winner in Vegas. After all, the elaborate schemes that George Clooney and his friends cooked up to steal their millions needed a sizeable crew, a healthy bankroll and more gimmicks than the stereotypical used cars salesman has up his sleeve.
Of course, that was fiction, and winning big isn’t any easier in the real world. Well, unless you happen to be a math whiz with a knack for counting cards. Based on the true story of MIT students who actually managed to beat the system, 21 is a slickly crafted cautionary tale of what happens when seemingly normal people get rich quick and start enjoying the high rollers’ lifestyle a little too much.
Setting up the story 2,700 miles away from the bright lights of Vegas in Boston, Ben Campbell (
Across the Universe lead
Jim Sturgess) is a brilliant guy in a major quandary. See, he’s wanting to attend Harvard Medical School but is $300,000 short of his goal. And even though he’s got what it takes academically, there’s only one full-ride scholarship available, something his counselor assures him he’s not getting because he doesn’t stand out enough. So with a dead-end retail gig and a single mom without much money to her name, Ben’s chances of making it to med school are looking pretty grim.
But instead of procuring a sizable student loan like most applicants would, one of Ben’s professors may be able to help in what’s an all-too-convenient plot twist. After Ben effectively impresses Micky (an enjoyably snarky Kevin Spacey) with comments he’s made in class, it seems his prof has found his latest recruit. Admiring Ben’s decision-making ability with reason, not emotion, Micky thinks he’ll be a perfect fit for his pet money-making project.
As evidenced by the geeky company that he keeps, (his friends like to build robots for fun) and his close relationship with his mom, Ben is typically a stand-up guy one can’t help but root for. So when he discovers that Micky is wanting him to count cards for big jackpots in Vegas, Ben is reluctant. In fact, he says no on a couple of different occasions.