2008 Woodie Awards
21: It doesn't add up
Bill Rhein
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Entertainment
The film "21" had serious potential to be a great movie. Yet this mediocre film fails on many levels. This is astonishing considering the star power and factors behind the film. The film producers had a good idea, but the movie left me begging for the end.
The book "Bringing Down the House" is the inspiration for the film. The best selling book is the true story of Ben Mezrich, who used math and card counting to win large amounts of money in Las Vegas casinos. Jim Sturgess plays Ben, a math genius who needs money so that he can attend Harvard Medical School. Kevin Spacey, a professor, notices his talent and invites him to learn card counting so that he can devise a teamwork system to guarantee continuous wins at blackjack. Ben's life becomes complicated when he falls for a teammate played by Kate Bosworth and casino security puts the pressure on him.
One place this film went wrong was with the acting. Jim Sturgess had his big break with the lead in "Across the Universe," but this actor from the UK had a hard time being a believable American college student. The audience might fail to care for his character due to the lack of depth. The other big name in this film is Kevin Spacey, who has proved himself as one of the greatest actors ever. However, one cannot always be perfect as Spacey gives a moderate performance as a stereotypical college professor who quotes "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
More small flaws plague this film, which the flashy clothes and stylish music could not cover. The idea that inspires this film is fine, yet it becomes boring. At first, the depiction of card counting is exciting, but the repetitive nature of the action becomes boring. In between scenes in casinos are unoriginal moments showing the rise and fall of a movie character. Ben starts as a nerdy college student, who uses his skill to become something great and win the attention of the girl he has adored for a long time. Nevertheless, in the process, he forgets his true friends, then his world comes crashing down, and he must redeem himself. The end is predictable and like other films of this nature everything becomes right and Ben still gets the girl.
The structure of the film being similar to many others may cause this movie to flop. Despite being based on a bestselling book and having notable actors, "21" might only score the titular number on a scale out of 100.
The book "Bringing Down the House" is the inspiration for the film. The best selling book is the true story of Ben Mezrich, who used math and card counting to win large amounts of money in Las Vegas casinos. Jim Sturgess plays Ben, a math genius who needs money so that he can attend Harvard Medical School. Kevin Spacey, a professor, notices his talent and invites him to learn card counting so that he can devise a teamwork system to guarantee continuous wins at blackjack. Ben's life becomes complicated when he falls for a teammate played by Kate Bosworth and casino security puts the pressure on him.
One place this film went wrong was with the acting. Jim Sturgess had his big break with the lead in "Across the Universe," but this actor from the UK had a hard time being a believable American college student. The audience might fail to care for his character due to the lack of depth. The other big name in this film is Kevin Spacey, who has proved himself as one of the greatest actors ever. However, one cannot always be perfect as Spacey gives a moderate performance as a stereotypical college professor who quotes "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
More small flaws plague this film, which the flashy clothes and stylish music could not cover. The idea that inspires this film is fine, yet it becomes boring. At first, the depiction of card counting is exciting, but the repetitive nature of the action becomes boring. In between scenes in casinos are unoriginal moments showing the rise and fall of a movie character. Ben starts as a nerdy college student, who uses his skill to become something great and win the attention of the girl he has adored for a long time. Nevertheless, in the process, he forgets his true friends, then his world comes crashing down, and he must redeem himself. The end is predictable and like other films of this nature everything becomes right and Ben still gets the girl.
The structure of the film being similar to many others may cause this movie to flop. Despite being based on a bestselling book and having notable actors, "21" might only score the titular number on a scale out of 100.
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