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21 (Two-Disc Special Edition) 
Actors : Kate Bosworth
Studio : Sony Pictures
by Sony Pictures
Release Date : 2008-07-22
Publisher : Sony Pictures
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 0043396214552
UPC : 043396214552
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 64 reviews)
List Price : $34.95
Our Price : $13.95
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Product Description |
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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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Americancivilwar.com |
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, i.e., 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, going to exclusive clubs, and feeling on top of the world. (Ben even gets the girl: a comely, fellow counter played by Kate Bosworth.) Despite all that success, Ben feels ethically compromised, and indeed director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde), 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
Beyond 21 
On Blu-ray | 
Read the book 21 was based on | 
UMD for PSP | Stills from 21 (click for larger image) |
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21 or bust? |
21 is based on the Ben Mezrich book entitled "Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions". The best selling book is "based on a true story", but it should be noted that while it is listed as non-fiction, there are dramatizations in the book. The movie is no different in that it also departs from actual events. Fans of the book should also note that there are some differences between the book and the movie.
21 stars Jim Sturgess as a MIT student named Ben Campbell who is trying to get into Harvard Medical School. I think it is fair to say that his performance in 21 is mediocre. He was better in Across the Universe and The Other Boleyn Girl, two movies that he was also in recently.
Ben Campbell is a very intelligent student, and particular good at match and numbers. It's not long before one of his professors, played by Kevin Spacey, notices Ben's talents. He then recruits Ben to his team of players who count cards and go to Las Vegas every weekend to make big money. Reluctant at first, the money ends up too tempting as he needs it for medical school, and soon he is off to Las Vegas with the rest of the team.
While no where near any of his best performances, Kevin Spacey is fairly good in his role as Professor Michey Rosa. Also look for a decent performance by Lawrence Fishburne as a tough casino security consultant.
Ultimately, 21 isn't a bust. It's just not great either. Watch it with low expectations and you won't be disappointed. While it may have dramatized the actual events, the result is that I found myself entertained for the length of the movie.
21 is rated PG-13 for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity. It runs for 123 minutes. |
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21 |
I always enjoy gambling movies including the classic ones like "Cincinnati Kid". Although "21" is reasonably entertaining there aren't any stand out performances including from the experienced Stacey or Fishburne. This is a rental unless you have a heavy interest in this take on the six M.I.T. students that counted cards and won millions of dollars from the Vegas casinos. Although certainly worth a look I didn't feel surprised or impressed by anything in the movie. It just seemed like mostly a rehash of "Oceans Eleven" with college students. If you enjoyed this catch "Gone in 60 Seconds" and "Fast and Furious".
CA Luster |
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Disappointed with this one |
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I went into this with an open mind. I am a huge fan of Kevin Spacey, and he has yet to disappoint me...until this one. This movies premise is great but it was not very believable. These kids are geniuses, yet the go to the same casino and use the same signals for things. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I had high hopes, but they fell, fast. |
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Are You A Gambler? |
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This is a very enjoyable movie for any gambler from beginner to pro. Just don't go to the casino after watching it thinking you're going to break the bank. |
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Great Blu-ray Movie |
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Great movie to add to the collection. Decent extras, great picture & perfect sound quality. Don't waste your time on DVD's anymore -- I buy most of my Blu-ray movies from Americancivilwar. You can't beat 33% off and free shipping! |
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