21 - C

Ben Campbell (London-native Jim Sturgess) wants to go to Harvard Medical School after he graduates from MIT. That will cost 300K – tough to reach making $8/hour at a men’s clothing store. When he’s recognized as an unflappable math genius by Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), he’s invited to participate in a “club” that goes to Las Vegas on the weekends to count cards and make big bucks. Of course, when millions of dollars are involved, there will be double crosses; there will be payback; there will be blood.Click below for the rest.

Campbell initially declines to participate, then suddenly agrees. Likewise, love interest Jill (Kate Bosworth) declines Ben’s advances, and then suddenly jumps him. It’s like most of the character-building scenes were deleted, but the film still feels long at 123 minutes. It also lacks dramatic tension throughout. Since it opens with Ben getting pursued at a casino then flashes back, you already know he’ll join the group, won’t get caught by the cops, or searched by airport security (nice Moby track!). The change of editing and lighting styles between the Boston scenes and Vegas scenes are a nice touch, but some of the other directorial choices are uninspired (Ben sitting at a card table slowly moving while everyone else moves fast – indicating the passage of time – haven’t seen that since last week.)

As a casino security expert, Laurence Fishburne exudes force, but does not induce fear. Spacey hasn’t been this good since American Beauty, which isn’t saying much, but it’s nice to see him relaxed and having fun. Sturgess is as stiff as he was in Across the Universe, but how else would you play a 21-year-old MIT student – like Bluto Blutarsky? Based on an actual events and a book, the real MIT students were all of Asian descent (save one) - including Campbell’s character (Jeff Ma – in real life). Here the lone Asian male is a kleptomaniac and the lone Asian female is ditzy and fragile. Nice going, Hollywood. The movie is watchable during the Vegas scenes, but that can’t make up for the familiar and forgettable Boston scenes. C