Product Description

Jim Sturgess, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Kate BosworthDirector: Robert Luketic

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3632 in DVD
• Brand: Blu-ray Drama
• Released on: 2008-09-08
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Russian
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 123 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
An unconvincing exercise in moral complexity, 21 is based on Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions. Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe) plays brilliant blue collar scholar Ben Campbell, whose doubts that he'll win a scholarship to Harvard Medical School compel him to join a secret, M.I.T. gang of math whiz kids. Under the silky but chilling command of a math professor (Kevin Spacey), Jim and the others master card counting --the statistical analysis of cards dealt in blackjack games. The team lives a humdrum existence during the week, but on weekends in Sin City the students are rolling in cash, frequenting exclusive clubs and feeling on top of the world. Ben even gets the girl: a comely fellow card counter played by Kate Bosworth. Despite all the success, Ben feels ethically compromised and indeed director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Across the Universe), in the old tradition of American movies, plays it both ways where fun vices are concerned. On the one hand, it feels so good --on the other, ahem, we know it's wrong. That studied ambivalence proves wearing after a while, making the most interesting character in the film a casino watchdog played by Laurence Fishburne. A master at reading the emotions of gamblers beating the house with a scam, he's admirable for being good at his job, but repellent for wrecking the faces of counters in casino dungeons. He's all about moral complexity in the tradition of anti-heroes, and a truly provocative element in an otherwise superficial movie. --Tom Keogh

Synopsis
Inspired by a true story, 21 mixes Las Vegas casino wheeling and dealing with college-kid angst. Kevin Spacey is crafty MIT professor Micky Rosa, who trains gifted students to count cards and then flies them out to Vegas to raid the blackjack tables between classes. At first they rake in a bundle, but then catch the unwanted attention of tough-guy security chief, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) who wants to prove himself before he's replaced by face recognition software. Maths genius Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) originally joins the ring in order to come up with the $300,000 he needs for tuition money, but he's also smitten with the ring's resident babe, Jill (Kate Bosworth). When he finds out Professor Rosa hasn't been dealing entirely from a straight deck, Ben's high-end shopping spree dreams turn sour (though card counting is not illegal) and the battle of wits is on, no second chances given. Spacey is in his preternaturally calm, morally compromised element, stealing scenes left and right; Fishburne brings the hangdog depth; and director Robert Luketic (LEGALLY BLONDE) succeeds in making the film glossy, stylish and thrilling. 21 is based on the bestseller BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE by Ben Mezrich.

Customer Reviews

Maths made sexy
Maths and card-playing do not seem to be subjects to light up the screen with energy, but the director here has a fair stab at doing just that.
`Inspired' by a true story, an epithet which presumably allows them great license with the facts, we follow the seemingly nerdy but brilliant Ben Campbell. He is an MIT student desperate to get funds for his Harvard aspirations, and falls in with a group of students who win large amounts of money by `card-counting' at Blackjack in Vegas, led by their maths professor (Kevin Spacey). We see his gradual corruption as the girls, money and high rolling lifestyle lure him to push himself further. And then of course, things start to unravel. Unfortunately, the story does not explore the moral murkiness of the events very far, and still manages to drag things out just a little longer than it might have. Still, the pace is peppy, the direction as energetic as the subject can let it be, showing an improvement on the director's previous fare `Mother-in-Law' and `Win a date with Ted Hamilton', and has a decent soundtrack to keep momentum up.
The cast all perform acceptably, with Kevin Spacey hardly stretching himself but still successfully filling out an important part. Kate Bosworth looks stunning no matter which disguise she is wearing, and Jim Sturgess as Ben makes the transition from naïve nerdy wannabe to cocky highroller and finally to `wiser-than-his-years' young man.
All told, a young sexy cast, veteran actor for gravitas, and a soupcon of moral ambiguity make for an entertaining and worthwhile couple of hours, but falls short of being inherently memorable. (6/10)

21 Blu-Ray
'21' is a good film looking at a group of college students who engage in a card counting 'scam' in Vegas. Based on true events you can't help but be impressed by the skill involved and very quickly you are drawn in to the idea and how they go about it. The performances are all pretty solid and this film is also well directed. This is one of those films you don't have to think too hard for and can just sit back and enjoy the ride. It's not earth shaking, but nor does it try to be. It's just a good film with an interesting idea and enough twists and turns to keep you engaged for the duration. Worth a look.

An Entertaining Film
'21' is a captivating movie- yes, the original story has been given the gloss of Holywood, but it is a good film. Kevin Spacey brings the character of Mickey Rosa to life with his legendary acting skills, and the character of Ben provided a vivid narrative. All of the cast were good, but for me Kevin Spacey made this film. Also, the soundtrack is electric and contributes perfectly to the atmosphere of each scene. The video and audio quality are excellent, as is typical with blu-ray. I'd recommend this for all fans of good Vegas/Casino movies & Kevin Spacey.