21: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Director: Robert Luketic
Writers: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb
Producers:Dana Brunetti, Micheal De Luca, Kevin Spacey

Starring: Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell, Kevin Spacey as Mickey Rosa, Kate Bosworth as Jill Taylor, Aaron Yoo as Choi, Liza Lapira as Kianna, Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams, Josh Gad as Miles Connoly, Sam Golzari as Cam, and Jacob Pitts as Fisher(IMDb). Rated PG-13.

Ben Campbell is siting alone in the library, and a student named Fisher approached him. Not knowing who the student is Campbell is hesitant at first but later acquiesces, and follows Fisher to a room where he is greeted by his physics' professor and four students. Campbell is persuaded by the group by being told how much fun and money he can have in a rather short period through counting cards in Vegas. Although the offer is tempting, Campbell rejects the offer because of his busy schedule. However, the group seriously needed the genius mind of Campbell so the girl he had a crush on, Jill, was sent to persuade him further but Campbell remained stern in his rejection of the offer. But after deep consideration, Campbell realized through this venture, he could earn the $300,000 needed for Harvard Medical School. Campbell joins the group, and he ends up having an encounter with Cole Williams.

This film had a very odd pace. The story developed rather slowly, but the pace at which the story development was adequate enough to keep me interested; basically I was marginally bored through the rising action. Strange indeed, while as bored as I was I still found the desperation of Campbell real and enticing. I credit the film makers for the infusion of that realism. There were no fancy car chases or elements indicative of a major action film. 21 simply was not that type of movie, although the potential to take the film in that route was there because of the Vegas element. A quick fact about this film, this movie is actually based on the best selling nonfiction book, Bringing Down the House.

The plot development on screen was clean, and I cannot recall seeing any logical problems with the storyline. On another note, Scenes where the opportunity for explosive acting could have been exhibited were rather tamed. Campbell suffers losses, but his anger was tamed, and his anger matched the over all tone of the film. This was a rather mellow film. I wanted more suspense in the key scene where Campbell first met Cole Williams, but again even the suspense in that scene was tamed. The acting was good, the casting was good, the ending was relatively entertaining but the film needed some more drama. According to Movies.com fans gave the film a B+, critics gave it a C, and I will give it a C-. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.