Review of 21 (2008) by Beck E — 04 Sep 2010

This movie was fanomanal I loved everything about it.

First off, it was tastefully done, the violence, lanuage, and sexual content were downplayed until it was plot. They didn't stick out like a sore thumb like in some movies, it just fit and fell in place. You barely realized it was there when you were immursed in the movie.

I loved Jim Sturgress (adding him to my top favorite actors). He was perfect. His composure, body language, the way that everything seemed bigger than life when he wanted it to be, and the innonce that he could have when he so wished to have it. He played wonderfully as Ben, he could've done nothing better. He had the boyish charm, and the adult class.

Kate Bosworth was great! I loved her as Jill. She was beautiful, graceful, charming, and intellegent. She made the right emotional and physical reactions that this movie called for. She had the perfect range for this part.

Aaron Yoo was hilarious! He was the funnest/funniest character in this movie. He had great timing (key in comedy acting) and he had the perfect skill for joking in rough or even regular scenes. He made me laugh, and smile, and his acting skills were perfect for the part.

Liza Lapira was good for this role. She wasn't my favorite, but she was definatly a perfect choice for this role. She was great at the "what? who? huh?" aspect of the role and she was pretty which was semi-required for the role.

Kevin Spacey as a teacher is always entertaining. I didn't like who he turned out to be and how he played that role but I did love who he started as and was during the first half of the movie. Beautiful acting, he was smart, stunning, and very convincing.

Laurence Fishburne... was so-so. He didn't surpass any expectations that were set for he'll be okay. He did the role and made it convincing, but didn't put a lot of personality into this really smart, and devious character.

I loved the plot, direting, sets, screenwriting, and overall movie.

The sets were great because they made Las Vegas bigger than life and bigger than it really is. It made the whole place huge and it made Boston small enough that their vegas was EVEN BIGGER.

The script was well written and downplayed language. The ending was written amazingly as was the begining. The middle was great, but the ending really makes you laugh.

(: PLEASE WATCH!

Favorite Quotes: (FYI some quotes might spoil a little bit... .maybe).

AdvertisementKianna: Dude, I lost track 20 cards ago.

Micky Rosa: Don't call me dude.

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Ben Campbell: Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

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Ben Campbell: [in regards to Mickey Rosa inviting him to the Blackjack team] So why are you telling me?

Micky Rosa: Well, let's just say a spot opened up on our roster.

Ben Campbell: How?

Micky Rosa: Jimmy got a job at Google.

Ben Campbell: Jim... Jimmy got a job at Google?

Micky Rosa: Yeah, it's catchy, I know.

Ben Campbell: Well, if you're making so much money at this then why did he take it?

Micky Rosa: Ben, I said Google, not Sizzler.

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Cole Williams: If I see you in here again, I will break your cheekbone with a small hammer. And then I will kill you.

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Ben Campbell: I'm not the same guy I was back in Boston.

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Micky Rosa: [while Choi is stealing everything that isn't nailed down in the hotel room] *Hey!* You steal The Bible, you go to Hell. Those are the rules.

Choi: Like I'm not going anyway.

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Jill Taylor: You know what I like most about Las Vegas? You can be whoever you want to be.

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Jill Taylor: [in Foxx Strip Club] So do you want a private dance?

Ben Campbell: How much?

Jill Taylor: 20 a song, 30 song minimum.

Ben Campbell: I don't know. Sounds expensive.

[they kiss].

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Philosophical Gambler: Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery.

Philosophical Gambler: It's all what you do in the moment, baby.

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Jill Taylor: [after opening the curtains in Ben's room] Nice undies!

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Micky Rosa: What's the count?

Choi: Uh, plus nine?

Micky Rosa: You're just saying that because Jill did.

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Ben Campbell: [after Jill wakes him up when their plane arrives in Boston] I seem to be waking up to you a lot.

Jill Taylor: Don't get used to it.

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Micky Rosa: The only thing worse than a loser is someone who won't admit he played badly.

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Micky Rosa: [on why he needs Ben to be the second high roller] Because I don't trust the girls and Choi is... well, Choi.

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Cole Williams: Always account for variable change.

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Ben Campbell: I had a 1590 on my SAT, I got a 44 on my MCAT, and I have a 4.0 GPA from MIT. I thought I had my life mapped out, but then I remembered what my non linear equations professor once told me, always account for variable change... I let down my good friends, but as it turns out, they weren't too bad at simple math either. I scored the prettiest girl in school. I got beaten down by an old school Vegas thug who was having trouble accepting his retirement, but I worked out a deal with him that got him a nice pension... And I lied to my mother, but I confessed a lie and well, she still loved me... So my senior year of college I joined this team and I learned this new skill. I went to Vegas 17 times to use it. I made hundreds of thousands of dollars counting cards. And then I had it all stolen from me, twice... How's that for life experience professor? Did I dazzle you? Did I jump off the page?

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Micky Rosa: You are only ever as good to me as the money you make!

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Miles Connoly: I've got some good news, though. I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance.

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[a man is being beaten brutally by Cole Williams and his partner, Terry].

Cole Williams: You think you can beat the system? This *is* the system... beatin' you back!

[Cole smacks the counter in the face].

Cole Williams: You wanna count cards, you do it in Atlantic City! Get him up.

Terry: [growling] Let's go. Get up! On your feet!

Cole Williams: Count to five. Count to five!

Card Counter: [disillusioned] What?

Cole Williams: Count to five so that you don't have brain damage, you can go home.

Terry: Start with One.

Card Counter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Cole Williams: Good. Now... stop counting!

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Choi: Basic strategy says that you should hit that!

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Choi: [laughing and taking a video while Ben is goofing off as a new persona in the mirror] No please, keep going, this video's priceless!

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Ben Campbell: Man, that sugar's sweet.

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Micky Rosa: [to Ben about card counting] What were going to do is perfectly legal and they can't do a single thing about it.

[very next scene: in a concrete room, bare bulb lights, a fist hits a guy who's strapped to a chair: he's bleeding/sweating].

Cole Williams: You think you can beat the system?

[shows guy his meaty fist].

Cole Williams: This *is the system*....*beating you back*.

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[beating Ben Campbell up and looking at his real ID].

Cole Williams: *Oh*....you go to MIT. So you understand all this. You're a smart boy, eh?

Terry: [cackles mean and tough with Cole] Smart boy.

Cole Williams: Tell me something....does Professor Rosa still teach there?

Ben Campbell: [closes his eyes as Cole Williams throws a savage punch to his face].

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Micky Rosa: Choi, you made five grand last night. So would you stop stealing 9 cent pens and everything you can get your hands on from the maid's cart. It's embarrassing!

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Micky Rosa: [Referring to Ben] I think he's gonna be ready for our little trial run tomorrow.

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Micky Rosa: [Micky is talking through the "Game Show Problem"] People remember. If you don't know which door to open, always account for variable change. Now most people wouldn't take the switch, out of paranoia, fear, emotions. But Mr. Campbell kept emotions aside, and let simple math get his ass into a brand new car!

[class chuckles].

Micky Rosa: Which is better than that goat you've been driving around campus.