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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).

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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

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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

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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.

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Columbia Pictures

Summary Ben Campbell is a shy, brilliant MIT student who, needing to pay school tuition, finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor an ... Read More

Directed By : Robert Luketic

Written By : Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb, Ben Mezrich

Where to Watch

Jim Sturgess

Kate Bosworth

Kevin Spacey

Liza Lapira

Jacob Pitts

Laurence Fishburne

Cole williams.

Sam Golzari

Helen carey, ellen campbell.

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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.

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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)
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Blue Crush (2002)

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.

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THE MOVIE CULTURE

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 .

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Movie Review: 21 (2008)

Phntmbanana
Movie Reviews
7 responses
--> March 29, 2008

Alright … well there isn’t much to say about 21 because it really just made me so angry to the point that I screamed out “FUCK this movie” about a half hour in. Now you may be asking me why I would get so angry at such an obviously mediocre film. Simple, it was just so horribly cliched and lazy in almost every way possible that it was impossible to not get upset. If they had stuck to the supposedly fantastic source material – a book named “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions” by Ben Mezrich – then the movie would have been infinitely better. What could have been a fascinating tale becomes an after school special with a happy ending that doesn’t fit in anywhere.

21 is the story of Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), a promising M.I.T. student who needs money to get into Harvard Medical School. To make ends meet (and against his better judgement) he joins a group of his fellow students, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Kianna (Liza Lapira), Choi (Aaron Yoo) and Fisher (Jacob Pitts) to go to Las Vegas every weekend with their math professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) to “beat the house” by counting cards while playing blackjack. Fascinating stuff and if the movie would have kept the focus on the characters and how they beat the system, it would have been so much better. But instead it put its focus on how this master group basically did the most cliched things possible in Vegas – riding in limos down the strip, hanging out with strippers and acting like pompous high rollers. Moreover, the way that director Robert Luketic decided to present this was predictable and boring, with the money making process being outlined through either stop motion video (which I actually did scream at in the theater) or some sort of epilepsy inducing flashes of cards. As I said earlier, this movie is completely Hollywood-ized in a way that really took me away from the story.

Moving onto the choice of actors, I can’t complain too loudly, after all, 21 features an all-star cast of actors. They all do their part relatively well but none of them really stand out and propel the film to the level that it needed to be for me to enjoy it. The fault lies with the lack of character development (which for me is what should have driven the film) by writers Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb. The only role with any semblance of meat was written for Kevin Spacey – problem is Spacey’s role is the same as I’ve seen him do a thousand times before. I’d have also liked to see more from Lawrence Fishburne, who plays Cole William, the casino agent fixated on tackling the team. He almost seems to be miscast as the “villain”.

So long story short, 21 is a movie that disappointed me greatly. Ultimately, it rips off so many great casino films while systematically ruining a fantastic true story by dumbing it down into a story that was made for children. Just because a film is PG-13 doesn’t mean you have to completely alienate everyone above the age of 12 with a story that is full of morals where they don’t belong and a twist ending that doesn’t fit. It is a crying shame that such a good cast was wasted on a lazy movie that just borrows and never improves. My suggestion? Read the book if you are interested in this story and avoid this film adaptation completely.

Movies and comics are my passion. When not watching the latest Hollywood megahit I can be found idling at the local comic shop.

Feature: Top 10 Horror Movies of the Past 10 Years (1999-2008) Movie Review: The Strangers (2008) Movie Review: Teeth (2007) Movie Review: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) Movie Review: Doomsday (2008) Movie Review: The Signal (2007) Movie Review: There Will Be Blood (2007)

'Movie Review: 21 (2008)' have 7 comments

March 30, 2008 @ 8:46 am Anthony

Is there such a thing as a good casino type movie that doesn’t involve gangsters? I can’t think of any..

April 9, 2008 @ 9:23 pm Magda

it pained me to see a movie with so many great actors running like a long episode of CSI crossed with outtakes from Oceans 11(or is it 10?) I think this movie went overboard with the least realistic portrayal of Las Vegas since, well Las Vegas(tv show)and frankly i am sorry to say, i had to ask my date how it ended, as i totally spazzed, and actually had to be woken up at the end.The large gentleman who had sat behind me said, and i quote “you didn’t miss much.” pshaw!

April 13, 2008 @ 2:19 am Ojay

It was that much of a pain? I have not seen 21 yet, but the preview and trailer was very enticing. I’m disappointed to hear 21 was a big disappointment. Hmm…I think I’ll still go to the movies to watch it, though. I’ll come back to comment on my thoughts once I have watched the movie for myself.

April 16, 2008 @ 3:27 am Ojay

It did rip off more than a few great ideas from past casino blockbusters, however it wasn’t that much of a let down for me. Was it original? Nope. Was it a knockoff? Perhaps. Was it entertaining? Yes, I sure thought so…

April 29, 2008 @ 4:55 pm 21 Blackjack

I had no chance to see it yet, but read a lot of rather bad reviews. If the movie is really that bad then it had wasted a very good opportunity. I think the real life story, on which the film was based provide great material for an action movie, and could reveal a lot more about casinos and casino players than any other gambling movie. It could also introduce blackjack, a classic, and my favourite, casino game to a wider audience. As I said, I had no chance to see it yet, but if you are disappointed you can always watch a fascinating BBC documentary about blackjack and card counting that was inspired by the very same story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/million_prog_summary.shtml

July 23, 2008 @ 3:40 am mochi

This piece of garbage is an example of Hollywood at its commercial worst. It’s one long bad MTV video and some of the worst directing around. Be warned that unless you have two plus hours to waste then don’t waste any money on it.

June 24, 2009 @ 3:08 pm S D Kaplan

I agree: “What could have been a fascinating tale becomes an after school special with a happy ending that doesn’t fit in anywhere.” But the critique itself is written very poorly, prose- and thought-wise.

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"You Can’t Beat The House"

What You Need To Know:

(PaPa, H, B, Ho, LL, VV, SS, NN, A, D, M) Strong mixed pagan worldview with pagan, humanist and moral elements, plus a brief homosexual reference when two female co-eds kiss as a joke; three profanities and seven obscenities; characters are beaten strongly in the face in two instances; sex between main characters involving partial nudity, two co-eds kiss as joke and a joke about self-abuse; strippers in string bikinis showing rear female nudity, multiple examples of female cleavage, and upper male nudity; drinking alcohol in the context of casinos and clubs; smoking; and, smuggling money through airport security, I.D. deception, and stealing hotel items.

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21 is based on a true story of a group of college student geniuses who are able to use their math prowess to win at blackjack in Las Vegas.

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a top MIT student headed for Harvard Medical School, but finds that his chance of getting the needed scholarship is very slim. Enter math professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey), who trains Ben and a group of students to “count cards” in Las Vegas, earning all of them hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Counting cards” is the process where one adds all the cards that are dealt to know the probability of what’s going to come next from the deck.

Though counting cards is not illegal, the casinos do not approve of the strategy. Eventually, security consultant Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) begins to catch on to the students’ wiles. If caught, the consequence is a brutal beating in the casino basement.

21 has a mixed moral message. Ben ultimately doesn’t reach his goal of riches from Las Vegas, and there are clear negative consequences to his deceptions, but through a twist of plot, his actions turn out to help him. Further, Ben’s obsession with Vegas, along with all the trappings that sudden wealth can bring, leads him to lie to his mother and abandon his best friend and the student science competition they are doing together. Ben comes to regret his actions, and he does make those things right in the end. These actions are positive and commendable, but the movie is set against the backdrop of Vegas and the desire for wealth, sex and a “party” lifestyle. One scene in fact takes place in a strip club with dozens of shots of string bikini clad women. Also, Ben falls in love with one of his cohorts and, at the height of his seduction into the Vegas lifestyle, there is a sex scene with partial nudity between them. While Ben technically isn’t cheating by counting cards, there is much deception involved, such as false identities, smuggling cash through airport security, and disguises.

Regrettably, the characters exhibit essentially a pagan worldview. God is not mentioned except in reference to one joke. This secular worldview and the negative elements of foul language and deception keeps this movie from being a strong and effective morality tale of negative consequences following negative actions. As the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7, “A man reaps what he sows.”

The movie itself is well made. The story is paced nicely, and the script creates very strong characters. The plot itself has a number of twists and turns, along with a surprise ending. The acting is the strongest element of the movie, with exceptional performances from Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell and Kevin Spacey as the morally bankrupt professor. Josh Gad as the genius best friend is terrific and has the movie’s funniest lines. 21 is a tale told well that comes close to delivering a strong moral message marred by negative elements.

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21 Parent Guide

University can be a bit expensive, so when Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess), an academically bright student, is offered a shady opportunity to make some big bucks, he takes the gamble. The money making scheme involves employing his math skills at the Las Vegas blackjack tables -- but his winning streak soon captures the attention of some poor losers.

Release date March 27, 2008

Why is 21 rated PG-13? The MPAA rated 21 PG-13

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The guide to our grades, parent movie review by rod gustafson.

Click here for a detailed explanation of how we determine our grades.

The MPAA has rated 21 PG-13 for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity

Based on true events, this story is about a group of MIT scholars (Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Kate Bosworth). During the week, they live low-profile lives as struggling college kids with homework to do and papers to write. But on the weekends, they are high rollers on the glitzy Las Vegas Strip where a single night of game playing can net each of them a substantial wad of cash.

At first Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is reluctant to join the “team”. The slightly nerdy mathematician is working with his friends (Sam Golzani, Josh Gad) on an entry for an upcoming robotics competition. He’s also saving money for Harvard Medical School. On the Cambridge campus, he hardly stands out or even gets noticed by the girls, especially Jill Taylor (Bosworth). However, all that changes after the bookish undergraduate accepts Micky’s special invitation. Before long, Ben’s established a new reputation in the Nevada resort as a big player and is on a first name basis with many of the card dealers and hotel staff.

He’s also kindling the suspicions of Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburn) and the other casino surveillance personnel (Jack McGee) who want to plug the casino’s outflow of cash. Meting out their own form of Old Wild West justice, their vigilante punishments are comprised of threats and bloody beatings that fly under the radar of established legal procedures.

While not officially illegal, the team’s organized approach to scamming the gambling establishments has as many ethical issues at its core as do the casinos themselves. The students’ excessive weekend lifestyles include sex, frequent alcohol consumption and evenings spent in a strip bar (partial nudity is seen). Yet even with this desert city’s lavish nightlife and the promise of anonymity, the plot often lumbers at a painfully slow pace and conveniently overlooks some of the safeguards these private clubs have in place to protect their investments.

With relatively few consequences for the team’s actions, this promise of quick money may seem inviting to teens facing the high cost of university tuition. But with few positive role models in the movie, families may prefer to cash their chips in for a different theatrical experience.

Beyond the movie ratings: What Parents need to know about 21 ...

Bright lights, booze and scantily clad women (with buttock nudity) performing in a strip bar are some of the entertainment these college kids take in when they’re not at the tables. A brief sexual encounter (bare shoulders are shown), discussions of other sexual activities and some passionate kissing between male/female partners and female/female partners are also depicted. The frequent theft of hotel objects, lies and assumed identities are portrayed, along with cigarette use, social drinking and stress-motivated alcohol consumption. A fight breaks out in the casino and one man fires a gun. Characters are taken to a dark basement and physically beaten (bloody injuries). Numerous profanities and terms of Deity are used in the script

Talk about the movie with your family…

Acceptance at prestigious universities is increasingly challenging. How might the rigors of academic competition impact students? Does Ben’s need for tuition money justify his activities in Vegas? Is this the kind of life experience that would look good on a Harvard resume?

Can something be ethically or morally wrong even if it is not illegal? Why do the characters in this film have little or no recourse when they are conned? What significance do peer pressure, pride and jealousy play in this script?

Las Vegas has a huge advertising campaign “What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas”. What dangers, if any, might be associated with this promise of anonymity?

Video alternatives…

Catch Me If You Can is the story of Frank Abagnale (played by Leonardo DeCaprio), another brilliant young mind who used his skills for illegal gain while being chased down by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Tom Hanks). In October Sky , a teacher in a coalmining town encourages a student to see new possibilities for his life by pursing his passion for rocketry.

DVD Notes: 21

DVD Release Date: 22 July 2008

The movie 21 releases to DVD with the following extras dealt in the hand: three featurettes ( The Advantage Player, Basic Strategy: A Complete Film Journal and Money Plays: A Tour of the Good Life) and an audio commentary with director Robert Luketic and producers Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca. Audio tracks are available in 5.1 Dolby Digital (English, Spanish and French), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

21 also releases in a Blu-ray version. This edition provides all of the aforementioned bonus materials plus an interactive game: 21Virtual Blackjack . Audio tracks are available in 5.1 TrueHD (English, French and Portuguese). There are language tracks in Spanish and Thai as well. Subtitles are provided in English, French, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Thai and Indonesian.

About author

Rod Gustafson

The most recent home video release of 21 movie is july 21, 2008. here are some details….

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Movie Reviews

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Here's the last movie I was expecting with this title. In other words, "21 Jump Street" is pretty good. There seemed to be little demand for a movie spinoff of the crime drama that ran on Fox from 1987 to 1991, and which had an early starring role for Johnny Depp . Perhaps realizing that, the filmmakers have abandoned any pretense of being faithful to the series, and turned to a mashup of screwball comedy, action and " The Odd Couple " formula.

The couple here are Schmidt and Jenko ( Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum ), who were opposites in high school and still are eight years later. In high school, Schmidt was a pudgy nerd who wore braces and couldn't get his mouth to work while trying to ask a girl to the prom. Jenko was a good-looking jock to whom all things came easily; unfortunately, he was the dim bulb in the chandelier.

In a brief prologue, the movie spares us the tiresome routine where the jock makes life miserable for the nerd; all he does is snicker with everyone else when poor Schmidt gets tongue-tied. They have no reason to be enemies, because they're from different planets. When we meet them again, they're both in the police academy, where Schmidt aces all the exams and fails everything physical, and Jenko does the opposite. That makes them both misfits, and they feel a growing camaraderie.

After an unpromising start as bicycle-riding cops on park patrol, they're exiled to an undercover unit investigating a dangerous new drug infiltrating a local high school. The captain in charge ( Ice Cube ) is the typical police veteran who can't believe the incompetence of these losers. I should mention that his name is Dickson — inevitable in a movie papered with dick jokes. The male member, having gone unmentioned during most of the cinema's first 110 years, now co-stars in many comedies.

But back to the story. It often strikes me that the actors in high school movies look too old. But Schmidt and Jenko look really too old, and the movie isn't shy about pointing that out. Indeed, one of the pleasures of "21 Jump Street" is that the screenplay by Michael Bacall and Jonah Hill is happy to point out all of its improbabilities; the premise is preposterous to begin with, and they run with that.

Jonah Hill, nominated for an Oscar for " Moneyball ," has become a movie star by demonstrating that it's not so much how you look as how well you look it. He has an endearing appeal in early scenes where he uses close-cropped blond hair in a pathetic attempt to look cool. Hill lost a lot of weight to appear in this movie, but he's one of those guys who will never be described as thin. Channing Tatum, however, has a reverse handicap: He's improbably handsome and has a (real) name that sounds manufactured by a press agent. Their attempt to pass themselves off as brothers supplies a running gag.

There might have been a temptation to write Schmidt and Jenko as rivals, but it's more effective here to develop them as friends who screw up together. They were pre-enrolled by Capt. Dickson in hand-picked classes, but trouble starts when they can't remember their undercover names and are assigned to each other's classes. That means Schmidt ends up playing Peter Pan in drama class, and Jenko is in advanced chemistry.

Apparently the conviction that we got high school all wrong is universal. Now Schmidt and Jenko get a fresh start, and Schmidt even gets another chance to ask a girl (sweet Brie Larson ) to the prom. Meanwhile, they're seeking the source of drugs in the high school, which inevitably involves chase scenes and a motorcycle gang including a fat bald guy with high-rider handlebars. As usual, the chases and explosions are boring.

A disastrous party with abuse is funny, as the movie uses bizarre graphics to illustrate the various stages users go through while using the new mystery drug. What it all comes down to is a funnier and sweeter movie than I had any way of expecting, and the debut of Channing Tatum as an actor who can play comedy. He deadpans so well here he might start looking at Cary Grant movies for remake ideas.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film Credits

21 Jump Street (2012)

Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence

109 minutes

Jonah Hill as Schmidt

Channing Tatum as Jenko

Brie Larson as Molly Tracey

Dave Franco as Eric Molson

Rob Riggle as Mr. Walters

Ice Cube as Capt. Dickson

Directed by

Christopher Miller
Michael Bacall

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7 new to Prime Video movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes April 2024

These critically-acclaimed moves are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video

A new month means a fresh collection of new Prime Video movies and Amazon’s streaming service has plenty to offer in April 2024.

Prime Video has added such a large glut of new movies this month that you might find it a little tough to know which are worth adding to your watchlist, and that’s where we can help. Below you’ll find a selection of new to Prime Video movies that have scored at least 90% or higher on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes , which is a testament to their status as quality picks.

This list even includes one of the very best movies of last year with arguably Paul Giamatti’s career-best performance, which is no mean feat. If you’re a Prime Video subscriber, these are the five new additions that you need to watch this month.

'The Holdovers' (2023)

By the time the credits rolled on "The Holdovers" my jaw was starting to hurt from smiling too much. They don’t make movies like this anymore, but they really should. Alexander Payne’s holiday-themed comedy is a testament to the enduring appeal of an unashamedly heartfelt movie. This delightful charming film will have you laughing one moment and tearing up the next, and don’t be surprised if you declare it your new favorite movie by the end.

"The Holdovers" sees Paul Giamatti give a career-best performance, as Paul Hunham, a cranky professor at a posh New England boarding school. Forced to stay on campus over Christmas break to look after the students with nowhere else to go, the inflexible educator develops an unexpected bond with a young burnout (Dominic Sessa) and the school’s cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) who is grieving the death of her son. This odd trio are unlikely companions, but over the festive period, their bond grows in ways that will warm your soul.

Genre: Comedy Rotten Tomatoes score: 97% Stream it on Prime Video

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“Chinatown” is a hard-boiled classic that blends crime mystery with character-driven drama. The 70s flick stars Jack Nicholson as Jake Gittes, a private investigator in Los Angeles, hired by a woman (Faye Dunaway) who suspects her husband of having an affair. The job is complicated when Jake learns the husband is a high-ranking city official, and the situation takes a further turn when another woman is revealed to be the husband’s actual wife. And that’s just the start of a twisting tale involving deception, double-crossing and murder.

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Nominated for a host of Oscars upon release, and winning Best Original Screenplay, “Chinatown” is a landmark American picture that has unquestionably stood the test of time. It succeeds because of the brilliant performance, and palatable chemistry, between Nicholson and Dunaway, as well as the slick screenplay and strong direction. Legendary critic Roger Ebert added the film to his “Great Movies” list, and that’s a deserved ringing endorsement.

Genre: Thriller Rotten Tomatoes score: 98% Stream it on Prime Video

'Fighting with My Family' (2019)

I have zero interest in professional wrestling. So it speaks to the high quality of “Fighting with My Family” that it ranks as one of my favorite sports movies of the last five years. This biopic is a dramatized version of the early career of Paige (real name Saraya Bevis), a pro wrestler from Norwich, England who achieved her dream of wrestling superstardom and became the two-time WWE Divas Champion and the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion.

Directed by Stephen Merchant, co-creator of the U.K. version of “The Office”, the easy-watching comedy stars Florence Pugh as Paige, with Lena Headey and Nick Frost playing her eccentric parents and Vince Vaughn her demanding WWE coach. Paige’s rise from zero to hero is extremely enjoyable but also fairly predictable. However, the subplot that looks at her brother , Zac (Jack Lowden), who doesn't make the grade is arguably even more interesting as it explores a side of professional sports rarely showcased in movies: failure.

Genre: Sports Biopic Rotten Tomatoes score: 93% Stream it on Prime Video

'Nebraska' (2014)

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Presented in black-and-white, “Nebraska” is a very low-stakes movie. There are no dramatic twists or earth-shattering stakes in play, but it succeeds in its simplicity thanks in large part to two stunning performances from Dern and Forte, as well as a memorable supporting turn from June Squibb. There’s even time for Bob Odenkirk to show up and steal a couple of scenes as well. If you’re looking for comfort in movie form this month then “Nebraska” is an essential watch, and really makes for an excellent double-bill alongside “The Holdovers”.

Genre: Drama Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Stream it on Prime Video

'Rosemary’s Baby' (1968)

A chilling horror classic that sees Mia Farrow play the eponymous Rosemary who falls pregnant after moving into a swanky New York City apartment building with her struggling actor husband, Guy (John Cassavetes). During the pregnancy, Rosemary’s neighbors Roman (Sidney Blackmer) and Minnie (Ruth Gordon) take a strange interest, and the expectant mother begins to feel isolated from her husband and becomes suspicious that something sinister is afoot.

Building to one of the most memorable endings in any movie ever, and with a score that will send shivers down your spine, “Rosemary’s Baby” may seem a little slow by modern-horror standards, but it’s a brilliantly unsettling watch that carefully builds up to a horrifying conclusion. It’s also a great time to watch this legendary horror flick as two scary movies currently in theaters, “Immaculate” and “The First Omen”, take more than a little inspiration from Rosemary's chilling pregnancy.

Genre: Horror Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% Stream it on Prime Video

'Música' (2024)

“Música” is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy from Rudy Mancuso. The movie marks Mancuso's feature film directional debut, and the online musician also co-wrote the flick. It follows an aspiring creator struggling with synesthesia, a phenomenon that causes sensory overload, as they attempt to navigate the pressures of love, family and their Brazilian heritage in Newark, New Jersey. This could be a breakout Prime Video success story based on the joyful trailer.

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'The Station Agent' (2003)

In one of his earliest films and rare leading roles, Peter Dinklage stars as Finbar McBride, a downcast train aficionado who relocates after his boss dies and leaves him a railroad depot in New Jersey. Though he's often cast in supporting roles, this idiosyncratic dramedy from director Tom McCarthy showed that Dinklage could anchor a film with an authentic dramatic performance.

Helping to pull off "The Station Agent's" heartwarming story are brilliant performances by supporting cast Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson as a local food vendor and his unhappy wife, respectively, whom McBride befriends as he sets down roots in his new home. It’s only through steadily opening himself up to new experiences that McBride learns to approach life from a more glass-half-full kind of perspective.

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Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team.

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‘Damaged’ Review: Samuel L. Jackson and Vincent Cassel Headline a Slick but Tepid Serial Killer Thriller

Wobbly material lets down TV veteran Terry McDonough’s first theatrical feature, an Edinburgh-set mystery that delights in its gruesome crime scenes.

By Dennis Harvey

Dennis Harvey

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At their least, the myriad serial-killer movies that followed in the imitative wake of “Se7en” three decades ago have gotten the grisly part down, but find compelling suspense, atmospherics and original narrative ideas harder to come by. Such is certainly the case with “ Damaged ,” which serves up a considerable number of victims’ severed limbs, yet is likely to leave scant impression — scarring or otherwise — on the viewer.

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Koji Steven Sakai, Capaldi and Paul Aniello’s script feels like an awkward compromise between competing visions, as well as somewhat inorganic multinational casting. While his performance is okay, frequently surrendering focus to better-known actors doesn’t lend Capaldi’s character enough heft or personality to center the film, as it seems meant to. Jackson is in enjoyably playful form at first, though later he’s saddled with more credulity-straining narrative baggage than he bothers to treat seriously. Cassel and particularly Dickie are underutilized, while the preliminary villains make a menacing impression the screenplay fails to flesh out much. (Even the story’s religious angles turn out to be a red herring.) Suspense is minimal in part because the murder victims are mostly only introduced to be offed — the film is less interested in their peril than lingering on the gory aftermaths.

McDonough has directed a lot of quality series installments on both sides of the Atlantic over the last quarter-century, including “Better Call Saul,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Street.” This belated first theatrical feature gets the benefit of his slick professionalism, as well as that of his overqualified actors. But they can only do so much with material that feels cursorily sewn together from elements of prior, better genre exercises, and which finally collapses into explication-heavy twistiness that leaves any remaining believability behind.

Nicely enough turned in all tech and design departments, “Damaged” is too efficiently handled to be dull, or even overtly bad — though viewers may find themselves rolling their eyes a bit after a while. But the overall lack of conviction reduces content that should be alarming and macabre to the status of an unmemorable time-killer.

Reviewed online, April 7, 2024. MPA Rating: R. Running time: 97 MIN.

Production: (U.K.-U.S.) A Liongate release of a Lionsgate, Grindstone Entertainment Group presentation, in association with Red Sea Media, Bondit Media Capital, Tartan Bridge Films of a High Five Films production. Producers: Paul Aniello, Gianni Capaldi, Roman Kopelevich. Executive producers: Barry Brooker, Stan Wertlieb, Roman Viaris, Greg Sinaiko, Luke Taylor, Matthew Helderman.
Crew: Director: Terry McDonough. Screenplay: Koji Steven Sakai, Gianni Capaldi, Paul Aniello; story: Paul Aniello. Camera: Matthias Poetsch. Editors: Luis de la Madrid, Sean Albertson, Kurt Nishimura. Music: Andrea Ridolfi.
With: Samuel L. Jackson, Vincent Cassel, Gianni Capaldi, Laura Haddock, John Hannah, Kate Dickie, Brian McCardie.

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'Drive-Away Dolls' review: Talented cast steers a crime comedy with sex toys and absurdity

From dopey villains to a wall-mounted sex toy, “Drive-Away Dolls” often plays like a signature Coen brothers movie – even with just one of the fabulous filmmaking siblings.

Directed by Ethan Coen, and co-written with his wife Tricia Cooke, the crime comedy (★★★ out of four; rated R; in theaters now) throws back to Russ Meyer and John Waters B-movies as well as 1960s psychedelia, yet with contemporary sensibilities courtesy of two extremely charming leads. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan co-star as lesbian pals on a noir-spattered road trip that takes a bit to kick into gear but, man, totally grooves when it does.

Set in 1999, with Y2K and an election cycle on the horizon, the gonzo narrative centers on a pair of Philadelphia women who need a change of pace. When she’s caught cheating, mercurial wild child Jamie (Qualley) gets thrown out by her cop girlfriend Sukie (Beanie Feldstein). So Jamie invites herself along when her friend, the extremely strait-laced Marian (Viswanathan), is so unhappy with her office gig and nonexistent love life that she plans a trip to Tallahassee, Florida, to do some birding with her aunt.

The pair sign up for a one-way rental to deliver a Dodge Aries down South. But they’re given a vehicle earmarked by a smooth crime boss, the Chief ( Colman Domingo ), with an important briefcase in the trunk. Jamie and Marian take off on a series of misadventures, including a make-out session with a women’s soccer team as part of Jamie’s various attempts to get Marian laid, with the Chief’s goons (Joey Slotnick and C.J. Wilson) in hot pursuit.

Even at a crisp 84 minutes, “Dolls” meanders at the start with multiple plotlines, though the core actresses’ chemistry keeps you invested as their characters develop via odd-couple bickering. Qualley utilizes a Southern twang (similar to mom Andie MacDowell ’s) to give her Texan role a saucy persona, while Viswanathan deftly plays the straight woman, as it were, with uptight Marian choosing to read a Henry James novel over hooking up with randos at a gay bar. Like Domingo, Viswanathan makes everything she’s in better, and it’s criminal that she’s not a huge star by now. That said, the fun turn here should help her case.

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While a series of acid-trippy transitions (featuring Miley Cyrus , no less) don’t make a lot of sense at first, they end up paying off once Jamie and Marian find and open the briefcase. (We’re not spilling but its contents do wonders for story momentum.)

Since the Coens’ last joint effort, the 2018 Western anthology “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” each brother has gone his own way. Joel Coen went the Shakespeare route with “ The Tragedy of Macbeth ,” yet Ethan Coen’s “Dolls” feels more of a kind with the genre-mashing likes of “Raising Arizona,” “Blood Simple” and “The Ladykillers.” Also akin to those, the new film boasts a colorful supporting cast: Feldstein is a feisty wonder as Jamie’s ex, while cameo king Matt Damon nicely inhabits a shady conservative senator.

The women in Coen brothers’ movies are usually the much smarter gender, as it is with “Dolls,” where Joel Coen and Cooke’s script creates a tight-knit relationship between its heroines that’s an absolute delight to watch, surrounded by goofball personalities and a healthy amount of campiness. It’s a playfully madcap turn on the “Thelma & Louise” model, and if Jamie and Marian decided to drive off a cliff, you’d want to be in that Dodge with them.

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Netflix’s most addictive movie of 2024 is now streaming. Here’s why you need to watch it

Thrillers come in all shapes and sizes. There’s the psychological or serial killer thriller, which was popularized in the ’90s by The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en . There’s the erotic thriller, which had its heyday in the late ’80s and early ’90s with such hits as Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct . And then there’s the action thriller, which is probably the most popular offshoot of the genre right now, with the Taken series and Salt as prime examples.

The story everyone is after

A tense standoff, a killer cast, more than just an effective thriller.

Recently, there’s been a revival of a subgenre that’s been dormant since the 1970s: the journalism thriller. From Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal to the Oscar-winning Spotlight to 2022’s She Said, this type of thriller usually centers around journalists pursuing a controversial and sometimes dangerous story. One of the best journalism thrillers has just been released by Netflix : Scoop . In chronicling how the BBC managed to snag the scoop of the decade by interviewing Prince Andrew about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the movie manages to be suspenseful, informative, and one of 2024’s most purely entertaining films.

If your memory is foggy, or if you don’t follow royal scandals or the news on a regular basis, here’s the real-life event that Scoop depicts. In late 2019, Prince Andrew was interviewed by British journalist Emily Maitlis about his decades-long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a rich American financier who had been convicted of being a sex offender and, that August, had died under mysterious circumstances while in prison.

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The interview was aired on the BBC program Newsnight on November 19 and immediately received worldwide attention for Andrew’s odd explanations for his behavior and unwillingness to show any sympathy toward Epstein’s victims. For example, in response to an allegation that he sweated on an underage girl at a dance club, he asserted that he doesn’t sweat, ever , so that couldn’t possibly be true.

The consequences of the interview were devastating for Prince Andrew. After it aired, he was stripped of his royal titles and receded from public view. The royal establishment took yet another public beating, with some wondering why taxpayer money was funding a member who seemingly partook in illegal activities with Epstein and yet didn’t experience any legal ramifications. Almost everyone, both in the U.K. and across the world, asked the same question: why on Earth would someone as private and protected as Prince Andrew agree to such an interview in the first place?

Scoop is a two-hour-long answer to that question. It starts in 2010 in New York City, when an enterprising paparazzo photographs Andrew and Epstein together walking in Central Park, establishing a clear and public link between the two men. That picture is remembered by Sam McAlister (Billie Piper), a talent booker for the BBC, who smells a story developing with Epstein’s ongoing trial, subsequent conviction, and eventual death, which puts pressure on Andrew to address his controversial association with the sex offender.

Scoop presents two sides of the story: the BBC journalists, represented by McAlister, Maitlis (Gillian Anderson), and editor Esme Wren (Romola Garai); and the Royal Family, who, aside from Andrew (Rufus Sewell), is almost entirely run by Amanda Thirsk (Keeley Hawes), who is torn between duty and a gradual realization her boss is a sleazebag.

As we see the two sides circle each other warily, the movie’s director, Philip Martin, never lets up on the tension felt both within the opposing ranks as well as when they intermittently meet to decide on if, when, and how the interview will take place. It’s genuinely thrilling to see McAlister chase her story and for the other journalists to pick up the baton after her part is largely finished. As the interview is set up, Maitlis wryly observes that it feels like she’s going to a gunfight in an old Western movie. And that’s what the interview comes down to: two people facing each other, one armed with facts and the other with a ludicrous defense and a complete lack of awareness that he’s done anything wrong.

This kind of thriller doesn’t work if you don’t have a great cast, which is why Scoop is so effective. Anderson continues to add to her already impressive resume as Maitlis, who has to navigate the fine line between respecting the institution she’s investigating and getting answers to questions everyone in the nation has been asking for years. When Andrew casually wonders why everyone is so interested in his relationship with Epstein when he’s far better friends with Jimmy Savile (a DJ who was also a sex offender), Anderson gives an incredulous look to her producer that’s at once very funny and incredibly revealing. She can’t believe this guy is so delusional about the serious situation he’s in, and she uses that knowledge in her interview to let Andrew symbolically hang himself with his own rope.

It’s Piper, though, who impresses the most as McAlister. Armed with leopard print boots, bottle blonde curls, and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude, she sticks out among her conservative BBC peers, but it’s precisely her outsider status and her willingness to chase after a story when no one else dares to pursue it that makes her such a great character to follow. She’s the only one that Scoop allows us to see at home, where she confides to her mother about wanting to be seen as important and tries to guide her teenage son through the first pangs of romance.

Piper is probably best known in the U.S. for her work as the companion Rose Tyler on Doctor Who , but she’s quietly put together an impressive CV with standout performances in The Secret Diary of a Call Girl , Collateral , and I Hate Suzie . In Scoop , she leads an ensemble with an authority and brassiness that only a star could deliver. Scoop is revelatory in many ways, but perhaps its biggest shock to most audiences is just how good Piper is and how good she’s always been.

Like all good thrillers, Scoop is more than its subject matter. While it faithfully and expertly re-enacts the lead-up to, and quick production of, the interview with Prince Andrew, it also poses intriguing arguments about the state of journalism and the culpability of public figures to own up to their past sins. Everyone knows and respects the BBC, but that doesn’t make it profitable or competitive with other news outlets and social media, and it’s this conundrum — the need for relevance while still preserving a brand of integrity — that drives many of Scoop ‘s characters.

In addition, Scoop is in many ways a sister to Steven Spielberg ‘s The Post and She Said , to other movies about the need for journalism to hold public figures like Richard Nixon, Harvey Weinstein, and yes, the Royal Family, accountable for their actions. It’s not wrong to categorize Scoop as a thriller — its slick direction and propulsive score by Anne Nikitin and Hannah Peel more than supports that justification — but it’s also a great movie about the value and necessity of a free press in the 21st century. Who knew a dramatic retelling of a five-year-old interview could be so thrilling to watch and so rich to think about?

Watch Scoop on Netflix now.

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Are you looking for a movie to watch this weekend? The biggest theatrical release on Friday is Civil War, Alex Garland's dystopian action film about a group of journalists covering the war within a fractured United States of America. If you don't feel like heading to a theater, then check out the new movies on streaming services, including The Zone of Interest (Max), Scoop (Netflix), and Música (Prime Video).

Unfortunately, the rising cost of streaming services may have forced you to cut back on one or two subscriptions. Thanks to FAST services like Tubi and Amazon Freevee, users do not have to pay to watch their favorite movies or TV shows. Ads support these services, so you have to watch a few commercials during your movie. However, that's a fair trade-off for free content. Below, we have curated a list of three underrated movies to watch this weekend. Our picks include a fun action movie from the John Wick creative team, a solid B-movie thriller from the early 2000s, and a charming coming-of-age tale from 2016. Nobody (2021)

This weekend, moviegoers have the option of going out to theaters and paying full price to see Civil War or a remake of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. But if you want a wider selection of films to watch, then you're better off staying at home with Hulu. Unlike its corporate sibling, Disney+, Hulu has a ton of movies from across all genres that can appeal to all types of movie fans. That's something to be grateful for, especially when you don't have to leave your couch to enjoy everything that Hulu has to offer.

Our picks for three great Hulu movies that you need to watch this weekend include a sex comedy starring John Cena, an underrated thriller, and a recently released documentary that's a Hulu exclusive. With these three films, you're going to have a lot more fun at home than you will if you head out to the movies. Blockers (2018)

Have you binged through Ripley yet? Or watched all of the most popular movies on Netflix this week, which include such diverse pictures as the action movie The Heart of the Hunter, the addictive, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller Scoop, or the Denzel Washington movie The Little Things?

Well, have no fear, this list is just for you. Digital Trends has curated a selection of three underrated movies currently streaming on Netflix that are worth your time and attention this weekend. One is a well-written true-life tale about skiing, poker, and crime (yes, really), another is a sci-fi romance from the '80s, and the last one is a modern remake of an old Clint Eastwood movie.

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Cast & crew

It Ends with Us

Lily believes she's found true love with Ryle, but when a painful incident triggers past trauma, she must decide if love alone can carry her marriage through. However, things are complicated... Read all Lily believes she's found true love with Ryle, but when a painful incident triggers past trauma, she must decide if love alone can carry her marriage through. However, things are complicated when her first love returns to her life. Lily believes she's found true love with Ryle, but when a painful incident triggers past trauma, she must decide if love alone can carry her marriage through. However, things are complicated when her first love returns to her life.

Justin Baldoni
Christy Hall
Colleen Hoover
Blake Lively
Brandon Sklenar
Jenny Slate

Brandon Sklenar in It Ends with Us (2024)

Atlas Corrigan

Young Atlas Corrigan

Young Lily Bloom

Female Waiter

(uncredited)

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Trivia The casting of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni as Lily and Ryle caused backlash from fans because in the book Lily is 23 and Ryle is 30, while Lively is 35 and Baldoni is 39. Author of the book Colleen Hoover explained in an interview that she wanted to age the characters up in the movie in an effort to correct a mistake she made in the book. She said, "Back when I wrote It Ends With Us, the new adult [genre] was very popular. You were writing college-age characters. That's what I was contracted to do. I made Lily very young. I didn't know that neurosurgeons went to school for 50 years. There's not a 20-something neurosurgeon. As I started making this movie, I'm like, 'We need to age them out, because I messed up.' So, that's my fault."
When will It Ends with Us be released? Powered by Alexa
June 21, 2024 (United States)
United States
New York City, New York, USA
Saks Picture Company
Sony Pictures Television
Wayfarer Studios
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