21

21 (2008) starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne.

Before...well having heard about the fact that it was based on a true story I was immediately encouraged by this. Generally films based on true stories have the potential to be very good, as the characters are already relatively strong. On top of that Kevin Spacey plays a key role in this film and as his films as few and far between these days it is good to see him on screen.

Ben Campbell (Sturgess) is a young, highly intelligent, student at M.I.T. in Boston who strives to succeed. Wanting a scholarship to transfer to Harvard School of Medicine with the desire to become a doctor, Ben learns that he cannot afford the $300,000 for the four to five years of schooling as he comes from a poor, working-class background. But one evening, Ben is introduced by his unorthodox math professor Micky Rosa (Spacey) into a small but secretive club of five. Students Jill (Bosworth), Choi, Kianna, and Fisher, who are being trained by Professor Rosa of the skill of card counting at blackjack. Intrigued by the desire to make money, Ben joins his new friends on secret weekend trips to Las Vegas where, using their skills of code talk and hand signals, they have Ben make hundreds of thousands of dollars in winning blackjack at casino after casino. Ben only wants to make enough money for the tuition to Harvard and then back out. But as fellow card counter, Jill Taylor, predicts, Ben becomes corrupted by greed and his arrogance at winning which lets his feelings get in the way, and it also puts Professor Rosa, as well as the group, on the radar of a brutal casino security enforcer, named Cole Williams (Fishburne), who holds a personal grudge of some kind against Rosa which threatens to undo everything the students have learned and earned.

The film from the word go is extremely slick and stylised, flashes of the recent Ocean's film come to hant me as the film is played out. With the use of the slowed shot effect that comes up everytime a character does a tell it is comfortable to know what sort of company you are in. Like the Ocean's films this is a film who's key theme is all about greed and it is through the lead character, Campell (Sturgess), that this comes across most.

It is about the fall of the everyman into greed and corruption and how eventually he pulls himself out of it and back into the real world. Sturgess plays this role briliiantly, he is captivating and a joy to watch on screen, and the chemistry between him and the other actors is wonderful. Particularly his reparté with Spacey, someone who he is able to hold his own against, which is high praise considering how good Spacey is.

Bosworth in this film initially looked to be the simple girl role that HAS to be put in, in order for the lead actor to play against, however the script opens up more as the film goes on and a stronger part is revealed. My one gripe about the Bosworth and Sturgess relationship on screen is the need to put in a sex scene half-way through, although not gratuitous it is completely unnecessary and pointless. When watching this part of the film it reminded me of the uproar cause about the Watchmen sex scene, however it is very different in that one. Snyder for Watchmen was simply recreating the comic, whereas for this film I doubt that the author of the book waxed lyrical about his sexual escapades.

Spacey is great in his role as the clever professor who is running the show, and it is the fact that Sturgess and Boswell are backed by such a good actor that gives this film gravity and impact for me. My one gripe and annoyance about the characters unfortunately comes from Fishburnes character. I have no doubt in my mind that it is not his fault, but unfortunately the depth and threatening nature of his villainous role is not pulled off at all. He falls into the trap of not being bad enough at times. Maybe that is a good thing, as he is meant to be the law in the film and we are on the side of the anti-heroes, I'm not sure, but i just felt that there could have been something more from his character.

The film isn't pretending to be anything it's not, which is what garners its greatest appeal for me. The film is about gambling and it doesn't go beyond it's means to try and shock or surprise it's audience. It does what it says and the tin, and it does a very good job of it. So that is why I am giving it...

★★★★☆