21 (2008, DVD)

I saw this movie as a sneak peek before it was out. I liked the movie, but I did predict just about everything that happened. O also I am dealer at MGM Grand Detroit Casino so I have an insight view of casinos. I also find it interesting that it is an MGM film even though the real group of MIT kids counted in mostly MGM casinos.

Bought for parents.They were told it was a good movie.If you like gambling and the fast life of a casino this movie takes you there in the fast card game of 21.Good movie.

This movie rocks!!! Had me glued from beginning to end, excellent acting, great story. Highly recommended.

This little movie with very few well known actors is about using a system of gambling on blackjack called "counting cards." Kevin Spacey plays Micky Rosa, a math professor at MIT, who recruits and trains students in the system and then flies them to Las Vegas to work the system. They will share the profits 50% for Rosa and the rest shared equally among the student team--5 of them for 10% each.

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgis) is recruited as the head leader on the team because he is supersmart in Math at MIT. He resists at first, but he really does have a need for money because he wants to go to Harvard Medical School as soon as he graduates from MIT. The bill for Harvard Medical School will be $300,000, and he is just getting by working in a men's store in Boston. We also learn at the beginning of the movie that he is one of 76 to apply for a full scholarship to Harvard, but his Harvard counselor tells him that it is unlikely that he will get the scholarship. He needs "something to really dazzle the scholarship committee." Enter Jill (Kate Bosworth), whom Ben has had his eye on, and who convinces him to join the team.

The movie shows the team going to Las Vegas several times and working the system. Ben amasses money big time and hides it above the ceiling tiles of his dorm room. But unknowing to him, the casino security team in Las Vegas is hot on his trail. Led by Cole Williams (Lawrence Fishburne of "Matrix" fame), they are using face tracking (like finger printing of your face) to track Ben as he goes to and from blackjack tables. You see, "counting cards" is an illegal system in Las Vegas. And the casino operators are not happy when someone continues to win too much over and over.

From here, you are on your own. This movie is based on a true story written in a book called "Bringing Down the House." Although my DVD seemed to have audio problems with the voices too low and the music too high, subtitles saved the day. The story does satisfy, and you will have a good idea of the system when it is on display in the movie. The ending to the movie does please too. It is a nice ride.

I read numerous books on this exact topic, so I was extremely excited for the movie to come out. I was a bit disappointed to see the story focus much more on the characters than on the whole card counting method. The early part of the movie, where the main character learns to count cards is true to form, but a lot of other things are out of nowhere and have no factual basis. This movie never says it represents the actual story, so they were able to deviate from the true story quite a bit. Overall the movie was good, but if included a bit more of the facts, and showed a bit more of the methods used to count the cards, it would have been great for people, like myself, who followed the real story closely.

I was very happpy with my selection. Movie was in perfect condition and was sent in a timely manner. I would definately buy again.

THE FILM WAS GOOD. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF I WAS SOLD AN ORIGINAL DVD AND
NOT A COPY. THE DVD WAS UNWATCHABLE AT TIMES.

First let me say that I am a Kevin Spacey fan and like most of his work. Here, not so great. The movie was overly predictable - seemed sort of sequenced. I certainly wouldn't recommend this to anyone, unless you like watching Kate Bosworth on screen - i was bored half-way through and couldn't wait for it to end. If you have a curiousity about how couting cards works, just go on line and teach yourself any of the so-called systems out there. Dialog was not all that creative - better to spend your two hours getting more rest or going out to party.

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This is a true story and the director did a good job as well as the actors. I loved it. Everyone should see this novie.

21 is a great movie that will keep you on the edge of your sits! It is very interesting and very exciting. It has new actors and some old good actors that make the movie even better.

I have seen this movie before twice and loved it so I decided to search through ebay and bid for it. This is an awesome movie!

How to cheat at cards and win~ just because HOW they did it is illegal makes this movie all the more fun~

Kevin Spacey is a genius and is a MIT Professor who uses his gifts of Math and Science in a fun scheme to win at cards~ Spacey is professor Miky Rosa~ who figures out the way to win is COUNT CARDS~ rather than bore you how this work just watch the movie the counting is a "formula to memorize cards" and it works~ ADD step two....train students with high IQS and fantastic memories and ship them to VEGAS when they clean up and WIN and then replace them with new Students so the Casinos do not recognize any ONE person~ what a great scheme~ until Casino Security Chief played by Laurence Fishburne is hot on their trail~ add GREEDY Jim Sturgis as a super math genius who needs his haul for tuition money and Kate Bosworth as the GIRL who needs the money for good reasons of her own~ all goes along well until the students figure out that Mickey (Spacey) is stealing from THEM~ if you undstand the basic premise of the movie it is more fun~ add Spacey who a "steals" the show ~LOL
also we get to see how FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE works this too is facinating since this is used in Casinos, Airports, Government Buildings and just about any place needed~ AMAZING~
I GIVE THIS A SOLID 9 OUT OF 10 FOR CRIME THAT PAYS BUT ONLY FOR A WHILE~

IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~

i had heard good feedback,and it lived up to it's hype.highly recommended!kevin spacey shines,as usual.his characters are always so multidimensional.original impressions fade as he reveals layer after layer.

The DVD was delivered promptly and in the exact condition as advertised.

I actually would have rated all as a Very Good, if that category existed.

I very rarely would give an excellent rating.

I really enjoyed the movie. It was truly enjoyable I am glad I bought it. The reason I decided to buy it is because a lot of my friends said it was a good movie. I didn't get to see it when it was at the movies. I said soon as it comes on DVD I was going to buy it.

The movie is a must see for all blackjack players. The actors really play the part, and I felt as if I was playing the game myself. I'm ready to go to Vegas today!

I decided to buy this movie because i love gambling and am into movies like this such as the Oceans trilogy. The first half of the movie just moved way to slow and it was hard for me to really get into the movie! I would recommend watching this movie, but if you have the option to rent it, i would choose that.

It is entertaining and certainly better than most programs currently on TV but does have some unrealistic scenes. It may have been a true story but I feel Hollywood has embellished it too much. i.e. in one scene, lots of cash has been hidden in a drop ceiling and when the persons room is ransacked, only those tiles where the money is hidden are disturbed. How did the thief know where to look?

Exciting! Didn't really expect the twists at the end, but that made it all better! Would watch it over and over again.

21 is a movie that is based upon real life events. The movie is loosely based upon the book Bringing Down the House.

The movie revolves around a young student who has straight A+'s at MIT. He is trying to get $300,000 to attend Harvard Medical School.

Since he doesn't have the cash around he actually is recruited by one of his statistic professors, played by Spacey, to join a group of professional blackjack counters who all attend MIT.

The movie deals with how the young student goes about changing and growing towards his dream. He is dogged by a casino security guard played by Laurence Fishburne as he counts his way towards hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The movie is solid but drags in a few places. Overall though the story does carry you through the movie.

4/5

Latsyrhc
Tamarack Collectibles

its a great movie and i really enjoyed it. its one of the few movies i would watch multiple times. i thought it would keep me entertained.

Kevin Spacey (American Beauty) gives a great performance as an MIT Professor who recruits students to be part of his black jack card counting gang.

Ben Campbell plays the "A+ Student" who is recruited to be the main player.

Laurence Fishburne (Cole Williams) also gives an outstanding performance.

The movie starts out a bit slow as the Director spends a bit too much time introducing the characters. After that the movie takes off and draws you into the life of High Stakes Gambling.

Overall the movie is very entertaining and I would recommend it to anyone who likes movies.

Rated 4 of 5 for another outstanding performance by a strong cast.