‘21’ Loses Momentum on Convention
-----Many casual movie goers were thrilled about ’21.’ They thought it was awesome that you could beat the system like that and loved the movie. I did not. I enjoyed it enough while watching it, but found it very formulaic, forgettable, and kind of tired.
-----‘21’ is based off of the true story about six MIT students who learn to count cards and make millions in Vegas. We follow the story of Ben Campbell, who is played adequately by Jim Sturgess. While struggling financially as he tries to pay for an admission to Harvard School for Medicine, he is recruited by Professor Mickey Rosa, played by Kevin Spacey with his usual intensity. Jim quickly becomes consumed with the wealth and power the team experiences on weekends in Vegas. Can he maintain the balance between necessity and greed? What do you think?
-----There have been documentaries on the MIT students and card counting, and I would suggest if you’re really interested in the subject, watch those. This film isn’t terrible, just a little droll. It follows many of the typical Hollywood conventions, somewhat spoiling the excitement of the thrilling true story. You will probably be amply entertained while watching this movie, as was I, and you may even connect with a few of the characters. I only found fault in that as the characters start to get worn and tired, so does the viewer. This is a fine way to tell a story, as long as the energy from the beginning is again realized. Unfortunately, the ending is somewhat anti-climactic and ultimately such a cliché that you never really feel any sort of excitement or satisfaction. This could be in part, that it is indeed a true story, but I think a lot of the momentum loss falls upon the director. You need to maintain the sense of urgency so that the conclusion is satisfying and memorable, not dutiful.
-----Nonetheless, the movie has its moments. If you see it you won’t feel cheated, and the cast does acquire a nice sense of chemistry. The film also opens an interesting window into the world of the MIT students off whom the film is based. What would they do if they had so much money at their disposal? How would their lives in Vegas conflict with their lives at school? This too, is another aspect I don’t think was legitimately explored from their schooling standpoint. I didn’t quite buy they could just turn their college discipline on and off so easily. In the end, you’ll have had a fairly enjoyable two hours, but a week later you’ll have forgotten much of the film and will probably reply to inquiries about the film with a solid, “meh.”
