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21
Now, I am not a man of cards. I have never in my life played poker or Texas Hold'em, and I rarely play kid card games like Go Fish, War, Old Maid, and Spoons. But I do play one card game, and one card game alone, Blackjack, or 21 as they seem to be calling it.
In the new movie 21, MIT student Ben (Jim Starguss, Across the Universe) is in a rut. He has perfect grades, but little money. In addition to MIT, he wants to get in Harvard Medical. This does not come easy, especially if you work at a local store for 8 dollars an hour. But Mickey, (Academy Award Winner Kevin Spacey), Ben's math teacher convinces Ben to join a group that goes to Vegas every weekend, (and Christen holidays, as they joke in the film), and make a killing by counting cards. The system of counting cards is that the members of the gang will do verious symbols, like folding their arms behind their back to show that the table is "hot". And word tricks like "This drink is sweet" to show that the amount of cards is 18 or something like that. They didn't complete explain counting cards.
And that's where the errors of the film began, the system of counting cards is explain, but not fully. I don't know, maybe I didn't pay attention, or I'm stupid and forgot. An addition to not explaining counting cards to it's fullest, they don't really explain the beauty of the trick. And this is just one of the many problems that the screenplay has throughout the film. Including the film's biggest flaw, the cliche, almost paint by numbers plot.
Now, I know that this movie is "inspired" on a true story, as well as based on a book, but I never read the book, nor went into detail to ever find out the true story. But, something tells me that the story I saw was not the real deal. Unless the true story is very unorignial itself, in which I'm sorry.
But, there is some good. The acting is done very well in my opinion. From Larry Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, and even new-comer Jim Starguss. Who may make it in this business.
The film was, at times, starter than your average teen funfilm. Just like last years well liked Disturbia. And there was some rather good direction in this film. Which is a good step for this director who has made films like Legally Blonde and Win a Date with Tad Hamiltion. I do hope that he stays in this direction for the time being.
But for every up in this film, there's a down. The films dialouge went from good to bad. And there are moments in this film that I had to roll my eyes to. And, this movie doesn't really break new ground. Simpilar themes in this film have been taken from the Ocean films, to The Perfect Score. Not to mention many other films like Good Will Hunting.
In the end, 21 is no Ocean's 11 or 13, but at least better than Ocean's 12.
5/10-ok **1/2 stars.
___________________________________________________________________________
On a side note, for people out there who actually read my reviews, I hope you like this style. I want to be a critic, so I have to start writing like one.
In the new movie 21, MIT student Ben (Jim Starguss, Across the Universe) is in a rut. He has perfect grades, but little money. In addition to MIT, he wants to get in Harvard Medical. This does not come easy, especially if you work at a local store for 8 dollars an hour. But Mickey, (Academy Award Winner Kevin Spacey), Ben's math teacher convinces Ben to join a group that goes to Vegas every weekend, (and Christen holidays, as they joke in the film), and make a killing by counting cards. The system of counting cards is that the members of the gang will do verious symbols, like folding their arms behind their back to show that the table is "hot". And word tricks like "This drink is sweet" to show that the amount of cards is 18 or something like that. They didn't complete explain counting cards.
And that's where the errors of the film began, the system of counting cards is explain, but not fully. I don't know, maybe I didn't pay attention, or I'm stupid and forgot. An addition to not explaining counting cards to it's fullest, they don't really explain the beauty of the trick. And this is just one of the many problems that the screenplay has throughout the film. Including the film's biggest flaw, the cliche, almost paint by numbers plot.
Now, I know that this movie is "inspired" on a true story, as well as based on a book, but I never read the book, nor went into detail to ever find out the true story. But, something tells me that the story I saw was not the real deal. Unless the true story is very unorignial itself, in which I'm sorry.
But, there is some good. The acting is done very well in my opinion. From Larry Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, and even new-comer Jim Starguss. Who may make it in this business.
The film was, at times, starter than your average teen funfilm. Just like last years well liked Disturbia. And there was some rather good direction in this film. Which is a good step for this director who has made films like Legally Blonde and Win a Date with Tad Hamiltion. I do hope that he stays in this direction for the time being.
But for every up in this film, there's a down. The films dialouge went from good to bad. And there are moments in this film that I had to roll my eyes to. And, this movie doesn't really break new ground. Simpilar themes in this film have been taken from the Ocean films, to The Perfect Score. Not to mention many other films like Good Will Hunting.
In the end, 21 is no Ocean's 11 or 13, but at least better than Ocean's 12.
5/10-ok **1/2 stars.
___________________________________________________________________________
On a side note, for people out there who actually read my reviews, I hope you like this style. I want to be a critic, so I have to start writing like one.
Comment
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Comment by Ing on August 14, 2008 at 2:36pm
- I really enjoyed this, too Will! THANK YOU so much for all of your reviews!
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