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21 (2008) | 
 enlarge | Director: Robert Luketic
Actors: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Category: Movie
Buy New: $3.99
Rating:  85 reviews
Sales Rank: 35
Genre: Drama - Crime
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 123 Minutes
ASIN: B001EMXS1Q
Theatrical Release Date: March 28, 2008
Release Date: October 20, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| 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 gifted 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. |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 80 more reviews...
Slick &Entertaining, But Far From Reality November 17, 2008
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
I enjoyed the movie because it was entertaining all the way. It was slick and had interesting characters. The only problem was the last half of it where credibility when flying out the window. The movie is all about supposedly very intelligent people, led by the smartest of the all the group, the only veteran in this college age-dominated cast: "Professor Mickey Rosa," played by Kevin Spacey. Well, Rosa would not do what he did here, for starters, meaning trusting an untrustworthy and revenge-seeking kid. If you've seen the movie you know what I mean. The others in the group wouldn't go along with the renegade - "Ben Campbell" (Jim Sturgess) - either. There is no way this kid is going to totally outsmart the professor, but it makes for good Hollywood dramatics.
There are a bunch of other holes, too, such as wanting to be anonymous but going back to the same place; a ridiculous chase scene through the casino gambling area and kitchen; hand signals that a junior detective could see (and are never changed!) and - maybe the worst - winning tons of money in sessions. Nobody with half a brain would win much at any session, because it draws attention. You win a little here, a little there and go from place-to-place and remain anonymous. This movie is based on a true story, and I can guarantee you that's what the MIT students did in real life - not what you see here.
Still, facts aside, it's still a fun movie to watch and since entertainment is the name of the game with films, it succeeds and I still give it an "8" star rating for that. At no time was I bored and overly insulted at the dumbness that I would have stopped playing the DVD. It will hold your interest and you'll be thoroughly entertained, especially if you don't know a lot about blackjack and how casinos operate.
Oh, as a postscript: they don't beat up "card counters" in back rooms of casinos. If they think you are counting cards, which I don't believe is illegal, they still have the right to kick you out of their establishment.....but they ask you nicely and you are removed from the floor with no big scene or violence. They have your picture, there are security people everywhere, and you aren't allowed back.
So, enjoy the film but don't believe the screenplay.
3 Stars Good but not Great November 11, 2008
TDM (Colorado Springs, CO)
Many of the other reviews talk about the storyline but I am writing this just as one man's opinion. 21 was a fun movie to watch. There is nothing extremely captivating about the movie. I was honestly more enthusiastic to watch the movie than I should have been. Something about the story line of going to Vegas to beat the odds is fun and it gets the addreniline pumping even as you watch but in the end you know it will come crashing down.
The bottom line about this movie is that it has a decent story line and is entertaining. 3 stars is a perfect rating because although I would recommend it to most people, if you have something else you have been really wanting to buy then buy that movie instead of 21
Card Counting in Vegas October 28, 2008
Rebecca Kinson (Fredericksburg, VA United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A movie that is lightly based on a true story of MIT students counting cards in Las Vegas to pay their way through college.
On a positive note, this movie was cute and the acting was great. I love Kevin Spacey. The ending had a couple of twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and it made me smile at the end.
On the other hand, it was just a little ho-hum. Nothing spectacular. I think it could have been a little more exciting and visual.
 Definitely a chicken dinner of a movie... October 24, 2008
C. Beauchamp (Austin, TX)
I really really liked this movie. It was different, it was interesting, it was fun. And it was based around real events. Kevin Spacey is like icing on the cake, he did a great job. I was surprised I like this one so much, it was a little bit of a hidden gem for me. I watched it basically because I wanted something and it was available :) It kept my attention and the math/cheat stuff kept me complete enraptured. Awesomeness!
 too much dramatization and unbelieveable from time to time October 20, 2008
Epsilon Delta (CA USA)
this movie has a lot of dramatization. and things hard to believe, such as beating up a card counter... many books i read said that they only tell you not to play at the blackjack table ever again. i'd recommend watching Breaking Vegas (2004) which is a more accurate story of what actually happened.
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