21 movie review reddit

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, strictly by the numbers.

Now streaming on:

If the thrill of gambling were really about winning, there would be too few gamblers to support the multibillion-dollar Vegas gambling industry. Everybody knows that the odds are predetermined to favor the house, and that people play the games for the rush, not the payoff. Bettors are many, winners are few. That's what makes it a reliably profitable business. Like insurance. The premiums for participating in the game outweigh the payouts the company makes as incentives to keep the players playing.

So how exciting would it be if, say, somebody devised a system that used simple math to give a blackjack player the edge over the dealer? "Inspired by" the real-life story of the M.I.T. students who took Las Vegas casinos for millions, "21" has been reshaped to fit a simple movie template -- and it's nearly as much fun as watching an insurance professional compute actuarial tables.

In "21," directed by Robert Luketic , the worst thing a gamester can be accused of is gambling. "Don't give in to your emotions," M.I.T. professor Micky Rosa tells his blackjack students. "Play the system." Good advice for a card-counting scheme. Bad advice for a movie. If you want to see how a formatted screenplay looks when it's actually on the screen (you can just about count the page numbers as they flip by, and maybe measure the margins, too), "21" may provide a practical lesson: How to follow all the "rules" and end up with zero. It's not unwatchable, but you could watch it with your eyeballs tied behind your back and enjoy it just as much.

Here's another example of a good story turned into a purely generic one -- no doubt with the aid of a Bob McKee screenwriting seminar and textbook.

Act I: M.I.T. undergrad Ben Campbell ( Jim Sturgess ) is a nerdish wicked-smart Bostonian white guy working with his best friends (a fat guy and a Persian-American guy) on a project for a robotics competition. He really needs a $300,000 scholarship to get into Harvard medical school, but he's only one of 72 talented prospects. He's recruited by Professor Rosa ( Kevin Spacey ) to join a secret cabal of card-counters with a scheme to hit Vegas on weekends and make a fortune. He resists. A Beautiful Girl ( Kate Bosworth ) attempts to woo him. He resists. OK, he really needs the money, so he joins up -- but just until he can get enough for full college tuition.

He learns the blackjack system in a montage sequence or two and passes the test. The Beautiful Girl rebuffs his advances in an attempt to maintain a strictly professional relationship.

Act II: The team goes to Vegas and the guys win. Another montage sequence? Maybe. It's getting a little fuzzy. But wait: A casino security guy named Cole Williams ( Laurence Fishburne ) starts to notice something -- and not a moment too soon because he's losing all his business to high-tech biometric face-recognition software. Technology! Drat! Card-counting isn't illegal, but the casinos want you to know that if you're caught doing it, they might take you down in the basement and beat the living craps out of you.

The Beautiful Girl retracts her rebuff. The Hard Rock Casino comps her a suite in which she and Ben enjoy a brief, soft-focus sex-scene montage. "It seemed too good to be true," Ben says in voiceover. "And it felt like it was never going to end." It does. Ben is no longer the same guy he was back in Boston. He loses -- money, his friends, the Beautiful Girl, his mentor, everything. Bummer.

Act III: Ben has one last chance. He makes up with Rosa and the Girl, and the team reunites for one last Big Score in Vegas. Everything works out exactly as the screenwriters have planned. The End.

Meanwhile, British actor Sturgess (" The Other Boleyn Girl ") gets to play an American with traces of a peculiar accent (based on Jeff Ma, a Chinese-American who was called Kevin Lewis in the book); Spacey gets to alternate his slick good-cop schtick (" L.A. Confidential ") with his steely bad-cop schtick ("Swimming With Sharks"); Luketic (" Legally Blonde ," " Monster-in-Law ") gets to direct another picture, and Bosworth gets to wear some wigs.

The movie itself has a tell: Watch for the moment when somebody obviously pulls a punch. If you hadn't figured out the rest of the movie by then, it gives away the whole thing.

Now playing

Space: The Longest Goodbye

Marya e. gates.

Megamind vs the Doom Syndicate

Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces

Brian tallerico.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Christy lemire.

Kaiya Shunyata

Monica Castillo

Film credits.

Rated PG-13 for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity

123 minutes

Kate Bosworth as Jill Taylor

Aaron Yoo as Choi

Kevin Spacey as Micky Rosa

Laurence Fishburne as Cole

Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell

Liza Lapira as Kianna

Peter Steinfeld

Directed by

Robert Luketic

Latest blog posts

The Scene That Clint Eastwood Cut to Make Unforgiven a Classic

Ape Shall Not Kill Ape: A Look at the Entire Apes Franchise

Criterion Celebrates the Films That Forever Shifted Our Perception of Kristen Stewart

The Estate of George Carlin Destroys AI George Carlin in Victory for Copyright Protection (and Basic Decency)

User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

User Ratings
External Reviews
Metacritic Reviews
Full Cast and Crew
Release Dates
Official Sites
Company Credits
Filming & Production
Technical Specs
Plot Summary
Plot Keywords
Parents Guide

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits
Alternate Versions
Connections
Soundtracks

Photo & Video

Photo Gallery
Trailers and Videos

21 (United States, 2008)

21 is a perfect example of how something that's "based" on a true story can nevertheless exist mainly in the realm of fiction. While it's true that the source material for the movie, Ben Mezrich's Bringing Down the House relates events that actually happened, screenwriters Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb have fictionalized the entire story, leaving intact only the central idea that a group of MIT students devised a card-counting scheme that allowed them to fleece the Vegas casinos. And, while I'm firm believer in the adage "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, " 21 doesn't spin a good enough yarn to justify all the changes. In fact, when one character indicates to another that he started out smart then got sloppy and stupid, he might have been referring to the script.

Our "entry point" into 21 is Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a graduating MIT senior who has already been admitted to Harvard Med School. There's a problem, though: Ben can't raise the needed $300,000 (never heard of student loans, I guess) and his chances of getting a "free ride" scholarship appear slim. Along comes Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), who brings with him a too good to be true offer: a space has opened up on his "team" and he's offering it to Ben, one of the most gifted mathematical minds he has encountered during his time teaching at MIT. The "team" is a group of five students who visit Las Vegas regularly and put into effect a sophisticated card-counting scheme that the casinos have been unable to break. Initially, Ben refuses, but the allure of Harvard Med plus his attraction to Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), one of Micky's special students, pulls him in. After a local initiation, it's off to Sin City for Ben's official induction. There, waiting to match wits with him is Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne), the head of security at Planet Hollywood.

The idea behind 21 is compelling - tell how a group of college kids beat one of the most sophisticated anti-crime systems in place anywhere around the world. Unfortunately, the problem is with the execution. Perhaps because there's math involved, 21 doesn't do an effective job of providing the bare-bones details of how the crime is pulled off. It hedges and cheats and employs lots of quick edits but we don't get anything close to a coherent description of what the kids' methods are. It doesn't take long before the film relegates the heist elements to the background so it can focus on clichéd interpersonal relationships, including a tepid romance between Ben and Jill. Finally, the movie ends with a series of Hollywood staples, including a chase and a "twist" that won't surprise anyone.

21 is yet another instance of Hollywood dumbing-down smart people. In order to pull off something as audacious and successful as what the MIT students did, they had to be geniuses. Yet, as portrayed in the movie, they're ineffectual blunderers. Some of the things they do are so stupid that they're insulting. Of course these characters are eventually going to get caught doing these sorts of things. How could they not? Audiences enjoy watching heist movies where the characters are two steps ahead (not two steps behind) and where the narrative provides some surprises. Neither characteristic is evident here. And, in addition, the resolution has an unpleasant "have your cake and eat it" quality. The fingerprints of those demanding a Hollywood ending are all over this screenplay.

Jim Sturgess, who has survived the Beatles debacle Across the Universe relatively unscathed, gives a nice turn as shy Ben, who gradually emerges from his shell as he gains more confidence in his newfound skills. It's a familiar character arc but Sturgess' performance allows us to buy into it. Kevin Spacey provides his customary intensity; he's fun to watch even when he's not in peak form. His Superman Returns co-star, Kate Bosworth, isn't as successful. Her performance is wooden and she and Sturgess don't click as a couple. Laurence Fishburne is wasted in a stereotypical thug role and no one else has enough lines to be worth mentioning. The supporting characters in 21 truly are one-dimensional.

Another disappointing aspect of 21 is its sluggish pace. The high-energy Vegas setting doesn't increase the wattage of the production. The movie is a little over two hours in length but feels longer. Some of the movie's last-act "action" sequences have been inserted primarily as a way to liven things up, but they're so pointless and derivative that all they do is drag out the running length. (Are we really supposed to be thrilled by scenes of Sturgess and Bosworth being chased by bad guys through a series of casino kitchens?) When it comes to the other two heist movies currently playing in theaters, The Bank Job and Flawless , the only advantage one could attribute to 21 is the youth of its cast. When judged on the basis of story, excitement, surprises, and character development, 21 comes in a distant third.

Comments Add Comment

Rear Window (1954)
Sleuth (1969)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Neon Demon, The (2016)
Left Behind (2014)
Jade (1995)
Other Boleyn Girl, The (2008)
Cloud Atlas (2012)
(There are no more better movies of Jim Sturgess)
Across the Universe (2007)
Crossing Over (2009)
JT LeRoy (2019)
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Bug's Life, A (1998)
American Beauty (1999)
Fred Claus (2007)
Ref, The (1993)
Outbreak (1995)
Superman Returns (2006)
Still Alice (2015)
Rules of Attraction, The (2002)
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton (2004)
Bee Season (2005)
Blue Crush (2002)

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
The First Omen Link to The First Omen
The Beast Link to The Beast

New TV Tonight

Chucky: Season 3
Mr Bates vs The Post Office: Season 1
Fallout: Season 1
Franklin: Season 1
Dora: Season 1
Good Times: Season 1
Beacon 23: Season 2

Eye For Film >> Movies >> 21 (2008) Film Review

Reviewed by: Stephen Carty

Despite being a genius among geniuses, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is struggling to raise the tuition fees he needs for Harvard Medical School. Out of the blue, he’s recruited by one of his Professors, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), to join an elite club including ‘it’ girl Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth) that uses card-counting to win big-money at blackjack in Las Vegas. Though things go well at first, human behaviour soon ensures that the best laid plans fall apart and it’s not long before security agent Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) is on their trail.

Given the popularity of the Ocean’s trilogy and the boom of poker over the last few years, a movie like 21 should have been expected. Loosely based on the true story as detailed in Ben Mezich’s source novel Bringing Down The House (and when I say loosely, the only thing that survives is the fact that MIT students concoct a scheme to fleece casinos) it takes the fun idea of ‘card-counting’ made famous in Barry Levinson 's Rain Man and makes a whole film out of it.

Unfortunately, director Robert Luketic ( Legally Blonde , Monster-In-Law ) seems quite content just to borrow inspiration from other movies in order to create something that is fairly generic. Indeed, anyone who watches movies regularly probably won’t be surprised as pieces of the ‘puzzle’ fall into place and I doubt anyone won’t be able to predict the ‘surprise’ ending. With the full Hollywood treatment, 21 has a routine romance, an evil scheming villain (well, professor) and a host of other cliches. Hell, at one point there’s even a chase through a kitchen.

Regardless, what’s most important is that, despite this, 21 is still an entertaining motion picture. While Luketic might be trying to recreate the feel of Casino , the end result is something more like Ocean’s Eleven meets The OC (in particular, the episode The Strip) which – just to clarify – isn’t an insult. The pace is energetic, the soundtrack is brimming with hip tracks and there is a real feel-good factor in seeing the former king of the nerds adjusting to his new life as a gambling rock-star. That’s right, the old wish-fulfilment chestnut.

Filling this role is young British actor Sturgess, who anchors those around him. Though his arc, like the film itself, isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, Sturgess is charming and sells the transition from timid geek to confident grafter. It may be a tad premature, but his breakthrough performance showed me he’d make a decent Peter Parker when the Spidey franchise inevitably reboots. Can’t see it? There’s even a scene lifted directly from Spider-Man in which Bosworth (interestingly, Superman’s love interest in Superman Returns ) waves at someone behind him and he waves back. I’m telling you, you heard it here first.

Around Sturgess is a star trio filling their roles without exerting themselves. The always watchable Spacey steals a few scenes despite not leaving his comfort zone, Fishburne sighs his way through a role that he could do in his sleep and Bosworth looks more at home when playing the costume-dressing hustler than the hottest girl on campus.

Overall, 21 is certainly not going to change the cinematic world, but it’s lively and believes in itself enough to justify a worthwhile night at the flicks. Though there are certainly better heist movies out there and it might be the sort of picture that critics find tedious (I will add that I didn’t) this is ideal Friday night entertainment. You might not want to go all-in with 21, but it is definitely a safe bet for amusement.

Most viewed

11 Apr 2008

123 minutes

Robert Luketic is so over pink. After establishing himself as Hollywood’s go-to guy for any script that dotted its ‘i’s with hearts, the Legally Blonde director has ditched pastels for something more boysy - and he proves himself capable of frothy amusement for either gender.

Based on a true story, 21 follows Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a handsome college nerd, who is inveigled into a group of teenage card-counting blackjack players led by his maths lecturer (Kevin Spacey). So follows a journey of riches won and lost, sexual awakening and really good suits.

This is as much a piece of enjoyable fluff as anything else Luketic has made; it’s just got moodier lighting. The nerd who gets a taste of the cool life is a cinematic stalwart, so it stands to reason that Ben’s first few outings in Vegas provide the film’s zippiest scenes. His fellow scammers are a job lot of characters, allowed only two facial expressions each, but their propensity for taking on new identities every time they hit the tables makes them fun to be around. That people wishing to pass unnoticed would probably not don big hats, goofy glasses and wigs from Madame Skanky’s House of Hookers is rather beside the point. Realism is unwelcome in this realm of wish fulfilment, and that’s just fine.

Luketic places the film in capable hands with his two leads. Bosworth is sweetly determined as love interest Jill, a combination of mutual exclusives: maths genius and prettiest girl in school; a career gambler father, and happy childhood. But it’s Sturgess who makes the movie. The young Brit, who threw heart and lungs into Across The Universe, has an everyman appeal that gives the movie a sturdy centre. Spacey is clearly enjoying himself immensely as the preening Svengali, but his once-subtle charisma has given way to a smirking need to hog the lens, while Laurence Fishburne makes an insufficiently threatening villain, as a security guard outdated by technology.

Being a film about dodgy gambling, 21 can’t resist some sleight of hand in the final act, but it’s an obvious con that won’t draw any gasps from its big reveal. This is a film that's at its most enjoyable when it knows not to play beyond its means.

Movies | 01 04 2008

Movies | 07 02 2008

Movies | 19 11 2007

Movies | 22 03 2006

Movies | 02 09 2005

Movies | 27 08 2004

Movies | 27 11 2002

Share full article

Supported by

Movie Review | '21'

With Assist From Greed, Money Makes the Man

By Manohla Dargis

March 28, 2008

Greed is good and comes without a hint of conscience in “21,” a feature-length bore about some smarty-pants who take Vegas for a ride. Loosely based on the nonfiction book “Bringing Down the House” by Ben Mezrich, and adapted for the screen by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, this bankrupt enterprise asks you to care about a whiny M.I.T. moppet, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess, serviceable), who because he can’t afford Harvard Medical School (boo hoo), starts counting cards to rake in some serious cash.

The conduit to Ben’s journey of counterfeit self-discovery is a racially, ethnically, sexually balanced gang of other greedy bright things (the most appealing being Aaron Yoo, wasted as the kooky, sexless Asian guy), run by an equally avaricious math professor, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey on autopilot). Using a system of mnemonic devices, goofy hand signals and a talent for numbers, the team has devised a way to beat the bank. (In Las Vegas, Laurence Fishburne and his knuckles will have something to say about that.) Because Ben doesn’t want to use his poor widowed mother’s savings to go to Harvard, he decides to ditch his qualms if not his sense (because he really has none) and signs on.

And so it’s off to Vegas they go, where they count the cards, take the money and run. Amid the din and glare of various casinos, the director Robert Luketic, whose credits include “Legally Blonde,” engages in other dodgy business: he cribs from Wong Kar-wai’s “Chungking Express” period (Ben sits motionless as the world races by); borrows from the David Fincher of “Fight Club” (camera tricks for kicks); lifts from Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” (throw the money in the air like you just don’t care); and pays homage to universal whoredom by restaging the “Pretty Woman” shopping montage. He also tosses in some gleaming rides, a couple of PG-13 pole dancers and a Rolling Stones remix that both Dad and the kids can enjoy.

Ben ogles the chintzy glamour and the chesty blondes spilling out of their dresses, and the movie does exactly the same. He particularly likes it when his skinny school crush, Jill, clambers aboard and offers him a lap job, for which I hope the young actress Kate Bosworth was well compensated. Like everything else in “21,” Jill can be bought for the right price, as of course can Ben and, by extension, us. The filmmakers try to soften this idea mostly by furnishing Ben with a sob story. They turn his desire to attend Harvard into something tantamount to an inalienable right, one that’s impervious to ethical standards or personal morals, which means that “21” is either a very cynical or a very smart take on the power elite.

“21” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Most of the on-screen lust is for money.

Opens on Friday nationwide.

Directed by Robert Luketic; written by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, based on the book “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions” by Ben Mezrich; director of photography, Russell Carpenter; edited by Elliot Graham; music by David Sardy; production designer, Missy Stewart; produced by Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey and Michael De Luca; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 2 hours 3 minutes.

WITH: Jim Sturgess (Ben Campbell), Kate Bosworth (Jill Taylor), Laurence Fishburne (Cole Williams), Kevin Spacey (Micky Rosa), Aaron Yoo (Choi), Liza Lapira (Kianna) and Jacob Pitts (Fisher).

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

For Parents
For Educators
Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

Get the app
Movie Reviews
Best Movie Lists
Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

Best TV Lists
Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
Common Sense Selections for TV
Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

Book Reviews
Best Book Lists
Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

Game Reviews
Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

Podcast Reviews
Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

App Reviews
Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

YouTube Channel Reviews
YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

Explaining the News to Our Kids

Family Tech Planners
Digital Skills
All Articles
Latino Culture
Black Voices
Asian Stories
Native Narratives
LGBTQ+ Pride
Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Common sense media reviewers.

Breezy Vegas con film fun, with some iffy stuff.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The students involved in the scheme are aware that

A security officer takes delight in beating up any

Strippers do their thing at a club (lots of cleava

Some salty language, including "goddamn," "bulls--

Practically feels like a commercial for Las Vegas,

Lots of drinking in Boston pubs and at the Vegas c

Positive Messages

The students involved in the scheme are aware that what they're doing isn't necessarily playing by the rules, and they seem quite attracted to the rush. They also happily indulge in the spoils, drinking to excess, hooking up with strangers, and throwing money around (one seems to have a shoplifting habit, and fake IDs are used to subvert the authorities and protect the students' true identities). Still, it's clear that, for them, it's not necessarily about total greed (except perhaps for their mentor, Professor Rosa). Also, for Ben, this enterprise is a means to a seemingly noble end: paying for medical school without having to rely on anyone for help. Plus, he comes to an understanding that his game isn't without its cost.

Violence & Scariness

A security officer takes delight in beating up anyone caught counting cards; he even wears special rings on his fingers to make the experience more painful (the bloody aftermath is shown on camera). He also flashes a gun, and another gun is fired in a casino. Some loud arguments between friends.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Strippers do their thing at a club (lots of cleavage shots); Jill propositions Ben, and they make love in front of a window (they're shown from the top half, kissing passionately, naked); mild jokes about masturbation.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Some salty language, including "goddamn," "bulls--t," and the like.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Practically feels like a commercial for Las Vegas, with scene upon scene of casinos, gamblers, and the strip. Signage is everywhere, from the Hard Rock Cafe to Planet Hollywood to The Mirage. A book that teaches the students how to count cards is clearly shown. Shopping sprees take place in stores that are clearly marked out front or by shopping bags, including Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Also many mentions of Google, Sizzler, MIT, Harvard Medical School, etc.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Lots of drinking in Boston pubs and at the Vegas casinos and strip bars. Tons of smoking in those locales as well.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that 21 is a breezy, fact-based drama about college students who use their math skills to count cards in Las Vegas; it may appeal to teens thanks to stars like Jim Sturgess (of Across the Universe ) and Kate Bosworth . That said, the subject matter is pretty serious, and there are some fairly violent scenes -- a security officer punches counters with a closed, ring-bedecked fist -- as well as lots of smoking, drinking, swearing, and, of course, gambling. The students also meet up post-gambling at a strip club, and there are plenty of cleavage shots and some passionate clinches. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (8)
Kids say (12)

Based on 8 parent reviews

Too much sex

What's the story.

MIT senior Ben Campbell ( Jim Sturgess ) has worked hard all his life to achieve one goal: attend Harvard Medical School. Getting in isn't the problem -- he's already been accepted -- but paying for it is. His only chance is a full-ride scholarship, but nothing distinguishes him from most of the applicants. He's smart and hardworking, but he has no life experience, having sacrificed his social life for school. No wonder the lure of Vegas becomes too much for him to resist -- what's not to like about the chance to make tons of money, live a different life, and land a pretty classmate, Jill ( Kate Bosworth )? Jill is part of a blackjack "team" led by professor Micky Rosa ( Kevin Spacey ), a math whiz who trains his students in the fine art of card-counting and flies them to Sin City for money-making weekends. Technically, it's not a crime -- but Vegas doesn't celebrate winners, particularly if they're geniuses who find a way to take the house for all it's worth. Soon Ben discovers he's involved in a dizzying game where the stakes -- Harvard, graduation, his future -- are much too high.

Is It Any Good?

Slick, stylish, and mostly seductive, 21 -- based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book Bringing Down the House about MIT student Jeff Ma -- is a treat despite some clunky dialogue and clichéd setups. Just one example: On his 21st birthday, Ben's mother beseeches him to have fun; "You only turn 21 once," she says. Cut to the fork in the road that promises excitement. Later, Jill, in an effort to persuade Ben to join the team, tells him, "You were born for this." And so on.

But true talent masks many ills -- and Sturgess has plenty. Cool and vulnerable in Across the Universe and aptly English in The Other Boleyn Girl , he's credibly earnest and awkward here, but not so much that his Vegas transformations are unbelievable. Spacey, who co-produced the film, gives viewers more of his sneering, snide shtick, but it's effective here. His mentees are a likable bunch -- young, too-clever, and eager to please. And Vegas? The cheese is (mostly gone). Rarely has it looked this fun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Ben's decision to gamble as a means to an end. Was he right? Is it ever OK to bend the rules to accomplish something?

Since it's not technically illegal to count cards, why is it so frowned upon? Do you think it's cheating or just a clever use of math skills? Is it easier to justify something like card counting if you're taking money away from a casino instead of a person?

Does the movie glamorize Las Vegas and gambling? What do you think casinos are like in real life?

Movie Details

In theaters : March 27, 2008
On DVD or streaming : July 21, 2008
Cast : Jim Sturgess , Kate Bosworth , Kevin Spacey
Director : Robert Luketic
Inclusion Information : Female actors, Gay actors
Studio : Columbia Tristar
Genre : Drama
Topics : STEM
Run time : 123 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity.
Last updated : December 23, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Ocean's Eleven

Want personalized picks for your kids' age and interests?

The Hangover

Biopic movies, great sports movies, related topics.

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Is 21 Movie Based on a True Story?

Directed By Robert Luketic (‘ Legally Blonde ’), ‘21’ is a 2008 heist -drama film that revolves around a group of math students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who come together to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, and use tricks like card counting and covert signaling to win a large sum of money. The protagonist of the film is Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a bright and brilliant student at MIT aspiring to study at Harvard Medical School. He even gets accepted there but doesn’t have the $300,000 needed for tuition.

His sole option seems to be the lucrative Robinson Scholarship, but only a select few receive that. At MIT, professor Micky Rosa ( Kevin Spacey ) invites Ben to join his team of Blackjack players, and the younger man’s life forever changes. ‘21’ is a fascinating tale of crime, gambling, revenge, and love. If the film’s realistic narrative has made you wonder whether it is based on a true story, this is what you need to know.

Is 21 Movie a True Story?

’21’ is partially based on a true story. The makers of ‘21’ categorize it as a film “inspired by true events” and not “based on a true story.” ‘21’ is the cinematic adaptation of author Ben Mezrich’s 2003 book ‘Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions.’ The book tells the story of the MIT Blackjack Team, a real-life group of students who employed card counting and other advanced strategies to beat casinos in Las Vegas and other prominent gambling venues in the world.

Although the group was referred to as the MIT Blackjack Team, students from Harvard University and other prolific colleges were also part of it. They started operating in 1979, and they and their successors were active until the beginning of the 21st century. The film is set in modern times. Characters carry cell phones and are seen visiting Red Rock and Planet Hollywood casinos, both of which became operational in the 2000s.

Most of the characters in the film and Mezrich’s book are composites. The book itself reportedly admits this, along with the fact that names, locations, and other details were altered. During the adaptation process, more changes were introduced to the material. For instance, the book’s protagonist is Kevin Lewis, who is based on a former mechanical engineering student named Jeff Ma.

However, the film’s Ben Campbell is not exclusively inspired by Ma but an amalgam of Ma and several other team members. Ben’s interview scene was reportedly inspired by the interview of a member named Big Dave. Another glaring inaccuracy is that Ma is an Asian-American, whereas a white British actor portrays Ben in the movie. This particular aspect of the film was the subject of controversy around the time of its release.

Furthermore, unlike in the film, the group was not led by a professor in real life. Mezrich reportedly stated that Micky Rosa was a composite of three people: Bill Kaplan, JP Massar, and John Chang. Kaplan disputed this, asserting that there is not much resemblance between Rosa and the three of them except that what they were doing was like “any other business.”

Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth) was reportedly based on Jane Willis, who received her law degree from Harvard Law School in 1994. Bill and Jill eventually become lovers in the film. However, Ma and Willis weren’t romantically involved in real life. Ma brought Willis and her boyfriend into the team in the early 1990s. At some point, she and her boyfriend got married. But things didn’t eventually work out, and they divorced. Since then, she has remarried. Her second husband is Richard A. Davey, a former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation.

Mezrich has encountered questions about the authenticity of his book for a long time. In his April 6, 2008, article in The Boston Globe, reporter Drake Bennett claimed that parts of Mezrich’s book were completely fictional. Earlier that year, Mezrich spoke about his writing philosophies during an interview. “I’m not looking to use big words,” he stated .

“I write for people who if they weren’t reading my book, they wouldn’t be reading another book. They would be watching TV. I’m not competing with other books. I’m competing with the Red Sox.” So, we can safely assume that the main purpose of the book as well as the film is to entertain and not impart knowledge about history. Ultimately, ‘21’ can be regarded as a heavily fictionalized version of true events.

21 Movie Review And Film Summary(2008)

21 is a 2008 American heist drama film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Aaron Yoo, and Kieu Chinh.

The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the best-selling book by Ben Mezrich.

Despite its largely mixed reviews and controversy over the film’s casting choices, 21 was a box office success, and was the number one film in the United States and Canada during its first and second weekends of release.

21 Film Cast

Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell.
Kate Bosworth as Jill.
Kevin Spacey as Micky Rosa.
Aaron Yoo as Choi.
Liza Lapira as Kianna.
Jacob Pitts as Fisher.
Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams.
Jack McGee as Terry.
Josh Gad as Miles.
Sam Golzari as Cam.
Helen Carey as Ellen Campbell.
Jack Gilpin as Bob Phillips.

21 Movie Plot

Ben, a mathematics major at MIT, is accepted into Harvard Medical School but cannot afford the $300,000 tuition. He applies for the prestigious Robinson Scholarship which would cover the entire cost.

However, despite having an MCAT score of 44 and high grades, he faces fierce competition, and is told by the director that the scholarship will only go to whichever student dazzles him.

Back at MIT, a professor, Micky Rosa challenges Ben with the Monty Hall Problem which he solves successfully. After looking at Ben’s 97% score on his latest non-linear equations test, Micky invites Ben to join his blackjack team, which consists of fellow students Choi, Fisher, Jill, and Kianna. Using card counting and covert signaling, they are able to increase their probability of winning while at casinos, leading them to earn substantial profits. Over many weekends, the team is flown to Las Vegas and Ben comes to enjoy his luxurious lifestyle as a so-called big player.

The team is impressed by Ben’s skill, but Fisher becomes jealous and fights him while drunk, leading Micky to expel him. Meanwhile, the head of security, Cole Williams, has been monitoring the team and begins to turn his attention to Ben.

21 Film Review

This film is very interesting even though the ending was predictable, it doesn’t exactly goes according to the actual real story but the film is loved by alot of people.

The plot is interesting, Micky, a math professor, recruits five brilliant students and uses their skills to win millions of dollars at blackjack in Las Vegas.

The filming of 21 began in March 2007. Principal filming of the Las Vegas scenes took place at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, the Red Rock Casino, and the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas.

Filming also took place at Harvard Medical School, Chinatown, in Cambridge, and the Christian Science Center in Boston, Massachusetts. As Massachusetts Institute of Technology did not allow filming on campus, the MIT school and dorm interiors, the gymnasium, and the alumni reception were all shot at Boston University.

21: Casinos In The Film

In pre-production, the producers and the book’s original writers predicted that the Vegas casinos would be unhelpful, as a film that told viewers the basics of card counting might hurt their bottom line.

A featurette included with the DVD completely and accurately describes the “Hi-Lo” system used by the MIT Blackjack Club and by Rosa’s team in the film.

In fact, the writers were surprised when told by the producers that MGM Studios would finance the film, though all “MGM” casinos (including one used by the real MIT Blackjack Team) are owned by MGM Resorts International and are no longer related to MGM Studios.

In reality, as another DVD featurette reveals, the casinos (including MGM Resorts) saw the film as an attention-getter; people who saw it would be encouraged to go to Vegas and play: some just for fun and some attempting to count cards but failing to learn or memorize the entire strategy or making too many mistakes. T

he film withheld critical strategy details (such as the conversion from the “running count” to a “true count”), and most beginning card counters underestimate the number and value of the mistakes they make.

21 Film Soundtrack Listing

The soundtrack was released at the same time as the film.

1. The Rolling Stones—“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (Remixed by Soulwax) (6:07). 2. MGMT—“Time to Pretend” (Super Clean Version) (4:20).
3.LCD Soundsystem—“Big Ideas” (5:41). 3. D. Sardy featuring Liela Moss—“Giant” (3:42). 4. Amon Tobin—“Always” (3:38).
5. Peter Bjorn and John—“Young Folks” (4:37). 6. Shook One —“Soul Position” (4:16).
7. Get Shakes—“Sister Self Doubt” (4:22). 8. The Aliens—“I Am The Unknown” (5:27).
9. Rihanna—“Shut Up and Drive” (3:34). 10. Knivez Out—“Alright” (3:31).
11. Domino—“Tropical Moonlight” (3:28). 12. Unkle—“Hold My Hand” (4:58).
13. Mark Ronson featuring Kasabian—“L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)” (3:32). 14. Broadcast—“Tender Buttons” (2:51).

Other tracks

Although it is not included in the soundtrack, Moby’s “Slippin’ Away” (Axwell Vocal Remix) plays in the scene when Ben is passing through airport security.

The song “Everybody Get Dangerous” by Weezer was also featured in the film, but not included on the soundtrack since it was not yet released. It would later be released on Weezer’s 2008 record, The Red Album. It is played on a distant radio when the team is in a poker club.

The song “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick and “Music is Happiness” by The Octopus Project were also featured in the film but not on the soundtrack album.

The song “Magnificent” by Estelle (feat. Kardinal Offishall) was also featured in the film but not on the soundtrack album. It’s played approximately 58 minutes in, after the Weezer song, in the scene where Ben buys Jill a beer. It’s subtle, and has a reggae beat.

In the promotional trailers, “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” by The Doors was used. During the restaurant scene where the team explains to Ben how they work, “Home” by Great Northern can be heard playing in the background.

The song “Again with the Subtitles” by Texas artist Yppah is another uncredited song in the film.

The track played as the team makes off at the end of the film is “Rito a Los Angeles” by Giuseppe De Luca, which features part of the main riff of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”. This track is also used in Ocean’s Twelve, the first sequel to the caper film Ocean’s Eleven, about actually robbing casinos in Vegas. My Mathematical Mind by Spoon was featured in the trailers.

21 Film Critical Reception

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 36% of 169 critics gave the film a positive review, for an average rating of 5.17/10. The site’s critical consensus reads: “21 could have been a fascinating study had it not supplanted the true story on which it is based with mundane melodrama.”

Metacritic gave the film an average score of 48 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews”. Audiences polled by

CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “B+” on an A+ to F scale.

The Movie Culture Synopsis

A race-based controversy arose over the decision to make the majority of the characters white Americans, even though the main players in the book Bringing Down the House, upon which the film 21 is based, were mainly Asian-Americans.

The lead role was given to London-born Jim Sturgess, who required a dialect coach to speak with an American accent.

Jeff Ma, who was the real-life inspiration for the character Ben Campbell and served as a consultant on the film, was attacked as being a “race traitor” on several blogs for not insisting that his character be Asian-American. In response, Ma said, “I’m not sure they understand how little control I had in the movie-making process; I didn’t get to cast it.”

Ma said that the controversy was “overblown” and that the important aspect is that a talented actor would portray him. Ma, who is Chinese American, told USA Today, “I would have been a lot more insulted if they had chosen someone who was Japanese or Korean, just to have an Asian playing me.”

Overall, it’s a great film and TMC would give it a solid 8/10. This film is available to watch on Netflix .

You may have missed

TMC Exclusives
TMC Originals

Yuta Okkotsu’s Domain Expansion Explained: Authentic Mutual Love – Jujutsu Kaisen Manga

Top 101 Movies of All Time: As per IMDb ratings

Why we all love the Kung Fu Panda Franchise

Uncategorized

Leave the World Behind: Ending Explained

Images & Screenshots

No Results.

Be the first to rate & review this game!

Screen Rant

The 10 best movies of 2022 so far, according to reddit.

Whether it's an epic multiversal trip, an even more epic superhero noir, or a yet even more epic Viking film, we've been treated to no end this year.

Warning: This list contains spoilers for several 2022 films.

It's only four months into 2022, but that's a long enough time passed for Redditors to debate what the best movie of the year is so far. In fairness, the year has been chock-full of huge releases. Whether it's an epic multiversal trip, an even more epic superhero noir, or a yet even more epic Viking revenge flick, cinephiles have been treated to no end this year.

RELATED: 10 Huge Box Office Hits That Didn't Get Sequels, According To Reddit

Redditors' favorite movies of the year so far include hugely unpopular opinions, ones that are in line with the general consensus, and everything in between. Either way, the first quarter and change of the year is going to be a hard act to follow. But if the next eight months have half as many great films as the first four months, film buffs are in for a great 2022.

The Northman

Coming off the heels of the 2019 psychological horror The Lighthouse , director Robert Eggers sought to make something even more disturbing and epic. He did exactly that with The Northman , a hauntingly beautiful supernatural Viking movie. BiggDope puts it best by explaining that "the final shot of the Valkyrie carrying Amleth into Valhalla is one of the most gorgeous frames I've ever seen. The entire movie was colossal."

The Northman is a typical revenge movie, but the unique way it's shot and its ambitious scope make it stand out from even the very best revenge movies like Django Unchained and Oldboy . There hasn't been a swords and sandals movie this epic or critically acclaimed since 2000's Gladiator .

Everything Everywhere All At Once

In Hollywood, once one unique movie is successful, that movie's originality becomes a trend that's run into the ground by Tinseltown, and that originality is quickly lost. However, while multiverses have become rampant across movie studios over the past few years, the newly released Everything Everywhere All At Once puts them all to shame.

And it did so for a relatively small $25 million, which is almost one-tenth of Spider-Man: No Way Home's budget. Gr33nman460 loves the indie movie, explaining, "I laughed, I balled my eyes out, I had an all-around excellent time."

Jackass Forever

Redditor Duelpear points to Jackass Forever as the gold standard of movies in 2022. The Redditor claims, "being in a full theater, laughing along to a movie, is such a rare experience these days that I'm going to remember and appreciate it for a long time."

RELATED: 10 Movies That Look Like They Had Much Higher Budgets, According To Reddit

It's a massive win for MTV when it manages to make audiences teary-eyed over a Jackass movie. Along with all of the laughs and grotesque stunts, Jackass Forever is surprisingly emotional, as all these old friends are back on screen together for the first time in 12 years. And the swan song hasn't ended yet, as Jackass 4.5 , which features all of the bonus footage that didn't make it into the movie, will be released on Netflix on May 20th.

Boiling Point

Movies that look like they were shot in a single take are becoming more and more popular. Whether it's the comedy Birdman or the war epic 1917 , inventive filmmakers are continuously finding ways to fool audiences that their movies look like one shot. However, Boiling Point actually was filmed in one take.

User Ionlyspeakfactz gives two simple reasons why they think it's the best movie of 2022, "Filmed in one shot. Superb acting." The movie follows a London chef during his restaurant's busiest night of the year, and anything and everything goes wrong when the health inspector visits. While it sounds like a dramatic version of "Charlie Work," arguably the best ever episode of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia , the movie is a surprising visual spectacle as well as thrilling.

Director Michael Bay's movies don't often make it into top 10 lists, but 2022's Ambulance is arguably his best work since the 1990s. It might still be typically full of shots of helicopters, huge guns, and machoism, but it's also very much a return to form.

Redditor SendMoneyNow is one of the biggest advocates of the movie, and when considering the best film of 2022, they admit that they're "shocked to say it's Ambulance ." The movie is a fun heist flick, and Jake Gyllenhaal gives a wildly eccentric performance that it's almost as if he prepared for the role by watching Nicolas Cage's most uncaged movies .

So many Redditors referred to The Batman as the very best movie of 2022. A great deal of that could be recency bias and hype, as it's newly released and it feels like fans have been waiting for it for years at this point. However, though whether or not it's the best Batman movie is a different debate, there's no denying that it feels more like a Batman movie than any film in the Dark Knight trilogy.

User Sonder332 thinks it's the best because "Robert Pattinson is great at Batman, Zoë Kravitz is just amazing as Catwoman. I loved the noir take on it. Very excited to see where it goes." The 2022 release is the darkest Batman movie ever , and it's the first movie to actually depict the vigilante as "the world's greatest detective," and fans can't get enough of Batman and Catwoman together.

The Uncharted video game franchise is one of the most beloved series ever and by far the crown jewel in Sony's exclusive game series. The games have always been cinematic and a movie adaptation had always sounded promising. And after finally escaping development hell and being passed around by directors for 12 years, it was finally released this year.

Unfortunately, it went down like a lead balloon amongst fans, and it wasn't exactly a critical hit either. However, in what is something of an unpopular opinion, Content_Pool_1391 thinks it's the best movie of 2022. The Redditor defends it by explaining, " Uncharted was a really fun movie. Very unexpected that it was so good."

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

User Angel-McLeod points to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent as the best 2022 movie so far. The Redditor ecstatically explains, "I knew it was going to be good but that film is full-on glorious. It’s as close to perfect as one could hope for."

RELATED: 10 Movie Endings So Bad They Ruined The Film, According To Reddit

The movie follows Nicolas Cage playing an exaggerated version of himself, and he must remember what he learned from his wildest movies to overcome the outrageous situations he finds himself in. Of all the movies that have been released this year, whether it's The Batman or The Northman , The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent hilariously has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than most of them.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

It's only four months into the year so far, but there have already been two video game movies. But while Uncharted was hated by fans, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was loved by its fanbase. Reddit user DaBrokenMeta thinks it's the best movie of the year so far, and they're not alone, as there were more gasps in the movie theatre for the Sonic 2 post-credits scene than there were at any point in Avengers: Endgame .

Between the introduction of fan-favorite characters, the return of Dr. Robotnik, and all of the hidden Easter eggs and references to the SEGA Genesis games, the sequel deserves all the box office success it has been getting. It isn't even the last video game movie of 2022, as later in the year will see the release of the animated Mario .

Turning Red

Pixar has the best batting average of any movie studio, animated or otherwise, as almost all of their films are rated "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes and loved by fans young and old. NhSnork is no different, as they think the newly released Turning Red is not just the best film of 2022 so far, but they also think Pixar will struggle to top it.

The Redditor argues, "I don't even expect Lightyear to trump it." However, given how Lightyear is based on one of the most beloved animated characters of all time and its trailers are hiding what the movie is even about, the Redditor could be eating their words.

NEXT: 10 Movies That Would Be 10x Better If They Added Dinosaurs, According To Reddit

IMAGES

21 (2008) Movie Review from Eye for Film
21 movie review & film summary (2008)
21 movie review & film summary (2008)
21
21
21 wiki, synopsis, reviews, watch and download

VIDEO

Jackie

COMMENTS

Thoughts on 21 (2008)? I know its a really flawed movie but ...
As former blackjack dealer who routinely pulled 20 and 21's off of stiff cards with robotic efficiency that made people flee the table like I farted in an elevator I only remember laughing at all of it. There's only one good movie set in a casino, and that's Casino and that's because it has nothing to do with gambling. Blackjack is a loser's game.
21 movie review & film summary (2008)
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) attempts to beat the house in 21, which was inspired by a real-life gambling scheme. If the thrill of gambling were really about winning, there would be too few gamblers to support the multibillion-dollar Vegas gambling industry. Everybody knows that the odds are predetermined to favor the house, and that people play ...
21
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a brilliant student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, needs some quick cash to pay his tuition bills. He joins a group of students who, under the leadership of ...
21 (2008)
User Reviews. 21 is definitely the major film for the spring time, it has young hot actors, including an incredible academy award winner, Kevin Spacey, and another great actor who's head looks like it grew quite a bit bigger, Lawarence Fishburne. So it has all the key ingredients for a good movie, a decent plot, over all a good combination of ...
21 (2008 film)
21 is a 2008 American heist drama film directed by Robert Luketic and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.The film is inspired by the story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the best-selling 2003 book by Ben Mezrich. IMDb offers a brief summary of the film: "21 is about six MIT students who become trained to be experts in card counting in Black Jack and ...
21 Review
21 is inspired by the true story of the very brightest young minds in the country — and how they took Vegas for millions. Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a shy, brilliant M.I.T. student who ...
21
21 is a perfect example of how something that's "based" on a true story can nevertheless exist mainly in the realm of fiction. While it's true that the source material for the movie, Ben Mezrich's Bringing Down the House relates events that actually happened, screenwriters Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb have fictionalized the entire story, leaving intact only the central idea that a group of ...
21
Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 29, 2009. When the movie 21 was announced with Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne, it sounded like a winner. When everybody else involved in 21 was ...
21 (2008) Movie Review from Eye for Film
Indeed, anyone who watches movies regularly probably won't be surprised as pieces of the 'puzzle' fall into place and I doubt anyone won't be able to predict the 'surprise' ending. With the full Hollywood treatment, 21 has a routine romance, an evil scheming villain (well, professor) and a host of other cliches.
How 21 got the Monty Hall problem wrong : r/math
Each doors had 1/3 prob. I pick door 1. Prob winning is 1/3 prob of losing is 2/3. Say host opens door 3. Doors 2 and 3 had 2/3 prob mass of hiding the car. I haven't learned anything new about door 2 but I've learned that the entire density of prob 2/3 is now assigned to door 2 instead of split between doors 2 and 3.
21
21. (Cert 12A) Peter Bradshaw. Fri 11 Apr 2008 04.22 EDT. K evin Spacey produces and stars in this sluggish movie version of Ben Mezrich's 2003 bestseller Bringing Down the House, the entertaining ...
21 Review
21. Review. Ben (Sturgess) is liberated from his geeky life when his college professor (Spacey) spots his genius for maths. Teach' draws him into a card-counting scheme on the tables in Vegas ...
21
21. Directed by Robert Luketic. Crime, Drama, Thriller. PG-13. 2h 3m. By Manohla Dargis. March 28, 2008. Greed is good and comes without a hint of conscience in "21," a feature-length bore ...
21 Movie Review
Our review: Parents say ( 8 ): Kids say ( 12 ): Slick, stylish, and mostly seductive, 21 -- based on Ben Mezrich's nonfiction book Bringing Down the House about MIT student Jeff Ma -- is a treat despite some clunky dialogue and clichéd setups. Just one example: On his 21st birthday, Ben's mother beseeches him to have fun; "You only turn 21 ...
Is 21 Movie Based on a True Story?
The makers of '21' categorize it as a film "inspired by true events" and not "based on a true story." '21' is the cinematic adaptation of author Ben Mezrich's 2003 book 'Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions.'. The book tells the story of the MIT Blackjack Team, a real ...
21 Movie Review And Film Summary(2008)
21 Movie Review And Film Summary (2008) 21 is a 2008 American heist drama film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Aaron Yoo, and Kieu Chinh. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the best ...
In the movie 21, after winning blackjack money Ben keeps all ...
The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers.
21 [Reviews]
Focus Reset ... Skip to content
Reddit's Favorite Movies of 2021
Countless fans found themselves in tears throughout this film and has been brought up countless times in Reddit users' lists of their favorite movies of 2021. Fans were overtaken by the themes of grief and recovery and the gut-wrenching acting of everyone in the film. Pig has won 25 awards, 11 of those going to Nicholas Cage for Best Actor.
The 10 Best Movies Of 2022 So Far, According To Reddit
Coming off the heels of the 2019 psychological horror The Lighthouse, director Robert Eggers sought to make something even more disturbing and epic.He did exactly that with The Northman, a hauntingly beautiful supernatural Viking movie. BiggDope puts it best by explaining that "the final shot of the Valkyrie carrying Amleth into Valhalla is one of the most gorgeous frames I've ever seen.
Total solar eclipse 2024 highlights: Live coverage, videos and more
Updated April 8, 2024, 2:00 AM PDT. By Denise Chow. Eclipse day has arrived! A total solar eclipse — nicknamed the Great American Eclipse for its long path over North America — will be visible ...
Unable to find 21:9 Movies : r/pirating
Unable to find 21:9 Movies. Hey Guys, I am unable to find any 21:9 Movies, even tho I know they exist. Just as an examle, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 does exist as 21:9 on Amazon to stream, but nowhere to download.