21 had everything going its way. A great young cast. A superb older actor. A hip soundtrack (mostly). Great source material. Unfortunately for the film (and I’m guessing the source material as well) the “unexpected twist” could be seen coming from halfway through the film. Maybe sooner. But what’s important is not that you know how it’s going to end – but if you enjoy getting there. And on that count, 21 does almost everything right.
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) suffers from a terrible affliction – more brains than cash. And he has an awful lot of brains; which makes his shortage of cash all the more painful when he’s accepted into Harvard Medical School fresh out of MIT. What’s a genius gotta do to catch a break right? In his search for funding he’s invited by a group of students to play a part in their weekly charade as professional Blackjack players in Vegas. The catch? They’re not so much playing Blackjack as they are the system. The ragtag group, headed by Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), seems unstoppable in their conquering of casino after casino. Unfortunately, devoting oneself entirely to a life of weekends makes the existence in between boring and suffer in comparison. He falls out of line with his two Robotics-loving friends and even finds himself at odds with a Blackjack teammate. But hey, if it leads to the future of your dreams no price is too great, right?
As all films must, 21 finally puts Ben at odds with circumstance and the team must choose between loyalty and profit. Can the team pull off one last Blackjack scam or is it time to cash out?
Jim Sturgess, who you might remember from Across the Universe (2007), plays the genius Campbell well enough to get you through the movie. Maybe it’s a flaw in acting or perhaps a flaw in writing but you have to wonder how a kid so smart can make so many stupid decisions in a row. Maybe it’s the taste of wealth. Maybe it’s Kate Bosworth hanging off his arm. Maybe he really just likes Harvard. But the point is bad decisions are made and the only doubt Sturgess’s performance leaves falls solely on the source material.
Kevin Spacey plays a role quite different from others. Sure, he’s still his confident and smarmy self but it’s mixed into a jumble so that the character comes off as appropriately business-like despite the slimey motives. There’s enough hinting throughout the film as to Micky Rosa’s past as a Blackjack counter himself, but all the talk never really pays off. Or maybe it did pay off – but when it was paying off he was wearing a cowboy hat and fake goatee so I was somewhat distracted by the awesomeness of Kevin Spacey in such a costume. It’s almost worth seeing the movie for that costume alone. Almost. If you’re on the edge that should push you over.
Kate Bosworth plays the part of Jill Taylor who finally ropes in Campbell but then plays a disturbingly outspoken role from there on out. As she’s also an MIT student it’s odd that the character itself seems little more than eye candy assuming she has the perfect SAT scores that MIT suggests. So why does she feel so flimsy? I think it has less to do with Bosworth’s performance and more to do with simply being underwritten/underdeveloped. Shame.
Laurence Fishburne and Jack McGee make up the Counter-Counting Team that runs Security at the casinos where Campbell and his team strike their card playing antics. While McGee takes backseat to Fishburne’s more determined role he still does his part to add to the opposite end of the plot. On the other hand Fishburne’s burnt out security chief blends seamlessly into the story and really adds credibility when the film’s shoddy ending leaves the audience slightly unsatisfied.
Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira and Jacob Pitts comprise the other half of the Blackjack Counting team. Aaron Yoo gets his fair share of comedic moments and Jacob Pitts adds some very predictable and trite drama to the first 45 minutes – but it’s Liza Lapira’s character that creates a problem for the film’s plot. The security officials notice that Campbell is present at all of these casinos and they even notice Liza signaling Ben to sit at her table – but why do they never go any further in associating her with the cheaters? What’s going on there?
In the end what matters most? The film is entertaining. Very much so. While my mind would occasionally spasm when it noticed an error that never really detracted from the fact that overall the films looks and runs smooth. There’s enough old talent to back up the newer still-struggling talent that in the end it all evens out to a fun ride.
50 bucks says Hollywood is rushing 22 into production right now.
"21" opens March 28, 2008 and is rated PG13. Drama. Directed by Robert Luketic. Written by Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb, Ben Mezrich (book). Starring Lawrence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Jim Sturgess, Aaron Yoo.
