“21”
Starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth
Released: March 28, 2008

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An exciting twist on the classic casino movie, yet not terribly memorable.

IF THE ONLY thing stopping you from living a dream was money, what would you be willing to do?

What if your dream was furthering your education? It seems unfair that an education like that of Harvard Medical School should be out of price range for so many.

Frustrated by this obstacle, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), an MIT student of exceptional brilliance, finds another way of making the money. His present application for a scholarship to Harvard is lacking something unique.

Campbell is invited to a very shady, after-class group that knows how to make the big bucks. There, his teacher, Prof. Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), uncovers Campbell's rare skill of card counting.

With a newfound confidence, it's off to Vegas with the crew — including Campbell's new sweetheart Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Choi (Aaron Yoo), and Kianna (Liza Lapira) — to take on the casinos with some serious blackjack.

Immediate success follows the team's weekend trips. However, the casinos that fall victim to the students' cleverness have a bone to pick, especially with Campbell, who is the team's leading man.

Vegas soon reveals their teacher's real motive. Rosa had been a successful card counter himself, yet one ambitious casino security chief got on his tail and has been on it ever since. Laurence Fishburne (best known for his role as Morpheus in “The Matrix” trilogy) plays Cole Williams, the scary big man who beats up card counters when they're making too much money.

Since card counting is technically not illegal — it's a strategy — security or law enforcement can't be called in. Here is where Campbell gets into big trouble with Williams, as did Rosa many years before.

“21,” directed by Robert Luketic (who also directed “Legally Blonde”), is based on a true story. In fact it's based on the book “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions” by Ben Mezrich. I wish I had known this before I saw the film, because what these students accomplished would have seemed even more amazing.

The cinematography of Vegas in “21” is unique. Although I have never been to Las Vegas, I've seen enough of it in the movies. “21” opened my eyes to a brand new Vegas, with more cuts and editing than usual, creating a fast liveliness.

This film is colorful. The characters' wit, the filming, and the soundtrack (including a funky new twist on the Rolling Stones' “I Can't Get No Satisfaction”) combine to entertain any viewer for the time being.

The problem I had with spending $7 to see this film in theaters is that it didn't leave a lasting impression. Despite a clever ending, I walked out of the theater feeling just as I did when I walked in.

The film's message: You can become anyone you want in Vegas. Who hasn't heard that before?

Apart from this, Sturgess (who starred in “Across the Universe”) performed well in his role. I enjoyed the characters. Yoo's character Choi was a favorite, as he'd steal everything from wine to scented candles from the lavish hotel rooms in Vegas the team stayed in.

My main interest in the film was the whole idea of card counting. I vaguely understood it myself, but it seemed like such an intellectual yet simple way of cheating the system and making a butt-load of money.

Anything like that just sounds like a really awesome, mischievous thing to do.

Overall “21” could be described as clever, cunning, exciting ... but sadly predictable. See it for the filming and characters, because the plot just doesn't suffice.

“21” is currently playing at the Goodrich Savoy 16, 232 W. Burwash, Savoy, and the Beverly 18, 910 Meijers Drive, Champaign.

“21” AT A GLANCE

• Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Laurence Fishburne
• Directed by: Robert Luketic
• Written by: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb; based on a book by Ben Mezrich
• Genre: Drama, Casino Thriller
• Rated: PG-13
• Runtime: 123 min.
• Release date: March 28, 2008
• Summary: Ben Campbell is an MIT student who has trouble paying for school. But his ability to count cards offers a way out.
• External sites: IMDb entry, official site