Stars:
***
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and partial
nudity
Run Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes
Jim
Sturgess (“Across the Universe”) turns up the heat as an untapped genius who
takes a walk on the wild side.
Ben
Campbell (Sturgess) is a shy MIT senior who’s been accepted to Harvard Med but
desperately needs a scholarship to make his dream come true.
Days are
filled with classes on non-linear equations, geek time on engineering
competition Project 209 and $8 an hour as assistant manager at J. Press
Menswear.
Until the
fateful day that math professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) discovers that Ben
has a brain like a Pentium chip and makes him an offer he can’t refuse: learn
to count cards and make a killing in Vegas.
Ben’s goal
is simple and his motives pure – study the tricks of the trade and work hard
enough to generate $300K, enough to cover tuition and living expenses on the
way to becoming Dr. Campbell.
Best laid
plans begin to sour when a daily diet of vectors and formulas segue into
high-roller suites, fantasy clubs and the irresistible lure of teammate cum
sexy brain trust Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth botoxed into a radiant mask of
perfection).
Ultimately
it blows sky high; Ben gets emotional and then gets stupid, burning the candle
at both ends and allowing jealousy and greed to take the place of vigilance and
common sense.
“21” is
smart enough to methodically mine the illicit business of counting, a lively
little enterprise. Plot generates sharp narrative comment on the downside of
seduction and desire but an awkward climax puts idealistic spin on beating the
odds.
Sturgess
carries “21” to the finish – sweet, smart and charismatic. Scripting is tight
and witty though skewing dangerously close to cliché. Supporting cast plays it
cool – Spacey’s smug arrogance perfectly in keeping with character and Laurence
Fishburne giving grit as a casino security thug.
And that’s
entertainment.