21

21 is a movie about blackjack, counting cards, and winning a lot of money and I remember writing a blog about this movie a while back and wanting to see it, and I finally did.  Jim Sturgess is Ben Campbell, a very intellegent MIT (Massachusettes Institute of Technology) student who with the help and encouragement of Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), a girl he’s had his eyes on joins a group of other MIT trained to count cards in the casino game blackjack.  They were led by Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), who trains them and brings their talents to Las Vegas in order to win a lot of money at the casinos.  What counting cards can do is give the player an advantage over the house and allow them to make bigger bets and therefore more money.  The main reason Ben wants to make money is to pay for Medical School at Harvard, which is about $300,000.  When the money seems to be coming in easily, Ben gets a little arrogant and is starting to get noticed by casino security enforcer Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne).  After watching Ben and the rest of the group a little closer, Williams figures Ben is counting cards and wants to make him quit immediately and send a message that casinos don’t want players to count cards.  Counting cards is not illegal, but casinos do not want the players to do it.  I thought 21 was pretty well done and it moved right along.  If you’re looking for a movie to rent I don’t think you’d be disappointed with this one.

21 trailer