21
Synopsis: Inspired by the true story of MIT students who mastered the art of card counting and took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings. Looking for a way to pay for tuition, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) finds himself quietly recruited by MIT’s most forgotten students in a daring plot to break Vegas. With the help of a brilliant statistics professor (Kevin Spacey) and armed with fake IDs, intelligence and a complicated system of counting cards, Ben and his friends succeed in breaking the impenetrable casinos. Now, his challenge is keeping the numbers straight and staying one step ahead of the casinos before it all spirals out of control.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and sexual content including partial nudity.
Run Time: 123 Minutes
Director: Robert Luketic
Dvd Extra’s: 21: The Advantage Play, Basic Strategy: A Complete Film Journal, Money Plays: A Tour of the Good Life, Filmmaker Commentary, Languages: English, French, Spanish, Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.
Nudity Factor: Several scenes take place in a strip club though the dancers are scantly clad they do not show nudity.
Of Note: The problem Prof. Rosa mentions in class with the three doors is known as the Monty Hall problem.
Recommendations: Across the Universe — Heartless — Crossing Over — 50 Dead Men Walking — The Way Back — The Other Boleyn Girl — Eagle Eye — Disturbia — Phone Booth — Vantage Point
Trailer:
Rating: 
The movie is actually based on a true story – one where a group of brainiac students decide to outsmart the system by taking on the casinos in Las Vegas. Leading the charge is a genius professor who brings the team together and teaches them the tricks of the trade. Enter Ben, played by the charming Jim Sturgess, who needs a cool $300,000 to get into Harvard Medical School. Talk about motivation!
The acting in this flick is pretty solid. Jim Sturgess nails it as Ben, Kevin Spacey shines as the professor, and Kate Bosworth adds a nice touch as the love interest. The story itself is intriguing, but it could have used a bit of trimming. Clocking in at over 2 hours, there are moments that drag on a tad too long. I mean, I love a good casino heist as much as the next person, but let’s keep it snappy, folks.
I must admit, the first time I watched this movie, it felt like it was moving slower than a tortoise in quicksand. But on the second viewing, with a trip to Vegas under my belt, it was a blast to recognize all the familiar spots. It’s like a game of “I Spy” with a side of high-stakes gambling.
Overall, my only gripe is that this should have been a 90-minute sprint instead of a 120-minute marathon. Some scenes overstay their welcome and start to lose my interest. But hey, it’s still a fun ride. Although, after two viewings, I’m not sure if I’ll be hitting play on this one again anytime soon.