Sometimes, movies are more than just entertainment. Sometimes they’re made to teach people a lesson, grant a moral foundation they didn’t have before or simply offer helpful advice.
The movie I saw this week fit in to that wise category of movies that Hollywood often forgets.
What was the lesson I learned this week?
In plain English, don’t even think about counting cards unless you want to get the crap kicked out of you by Morpheus.
The based-on-true-events hope-to-be blockbuster 21 debuted in theaters on Friday with its sights set on ousting ferocious competition like Superhero Movie.
The term “based on true events” isn’t exactly accurate, however, since it’s actually based on a book, which is based on true events.
In the same way a story changes as it passes from generation to generation, the more mediums this story passes through, the further it deviates from said “truth.”
Just in case you don’t know the premise, the story revolves around an MIT student named Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) who has his heart set on achieving his childhood dream of attending Harvard Med. The only downside is that he can’t afford it, so he must rely on winning a full-ride scholarship using his immaculate school record and most importantly, his burning desire.
Following an impressive in-class performance his professor, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), who also happens to be the leader of a little gambling society, offers Ben a chance to win a free ride to Harvard and also a chance to be with the hottie he’s after.
The story itself is appealing because every wannabe-scammer will think they can beat Vegas by counting cards in blackjack and for the first half of the movie it doesn’t suggest otherwise.
The actual story is that this group of students went through several transformations and had over fifty members at times.
They didn’t always win, in fact, they lost—they lost a lot. But, that isn’t what Hollywood’s big players want you to think because that isn’t as fun to watch.
I won’t say the movie wasn’t entertaining, though, because it was I didn’t need the movie to be completely true or difficult to predict to be entertained because, as someone who yearns to beat the system myself, I appreciated what they were trying to do.
Plus, Kevin Spacey is always a good addition to any predictable plot.
My only gripe with the movie aside from its predictability was the over-the-top conflict.
The worst thing that happened to the actual group of students was that they were added to a computer system and barred from casinos.
However, in 21 (SPOILER ALERT! But not really because it’s in the previews) the casino worker thinks it’s acceptable policy to beat card counters to oblivion.
From what I know about the amount of card counters, the casino’s loss prevention captain, Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne), would have his hands full of blood constantly.
If you go see 21 I think it’s safe to say you know what you’re getting yourself in to.
It’s not going to win Best Picture, but it won’t win a Razzie either. There are plenty of reasons to see this movie whether you want to learn how to “Bring Down the House,” see Laurence Fishburne really beat somebody or just watch Jim Sturgess act instead of sing (fairly well, might I add).
The movie 21 definitely isn’t a blackjack, it’s a soft sixteen at best, but if you’re on the fence about what move to make, I guess I’d say hit.

Questions or comments?
Contact Joe at
JJUnderb9309@winona.edu