21 (2008)
Crime, Drama, History |
21 is a 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.
Ben Campbell, 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 signalling, 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.
Director: Robert Luketic
Writers: Peter Steinfeld (screenplay), Allan Loeb (screenplay), Ben Mezrich (book)
Stars: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Aaron Yoo
►Cast:
| Jim Sturgess | … | Ben |
| Kevin Spacey | … | Micky Rosa |
| Kate Bosworth | … | Jill |
| Aaron Yoo | … | Choi |
| Liza Lapira | … | Kianna |
| Jacob Pitts | … | Fisher |
| Laurence Fishburne | … | Cole Williams |
| Jack McGee | … | Terry |
| Josh Gad | … | Miles |
| Sam Golzari | … | Cam |
| Helen Carey | … | Ellen Campbell |
| Jack Gilpin | … | Bob Phillips |
| Donna Lows | … | Planet Hollywood Dealer |
| Butch Williams | … | Planet Hollywood Dealer |
| Ben Campbell | … | Planet Hollywood Dealer Jeff (as Jeffrey Ma) |
| Frank Patton III | … | Planet Hollywood Floor Manager (as Frank Patton) |
| Steven Richard Vezina | … | Red Rock Dealer |
| Chaska T. Werner | … | Red Rock Dealer |
| Kyle Morris | … | Red Rock Dealer (as Kyle D. Morris) |
| Ernell Manabat | … | Red Rock Doorman |
| Frank DeAngelo | … | Red Rock Host (as Frankie De Angelo) |
| Marcus Weiss | … | Red Rock Valet |
| Anthony DiMaria | … | Hard Rock Doorman |
| Christopher Michael Holley | … | Philosophical Gambler (as Christopher Holley) |
| Scott Beringer | … | Big Shot |
| Terasa Livingstone | … | Russian’s Girlfriend |
| Jeffrey J. Dashnaw | … | Russian Mafioso (as Jeff Dashnaw) |
| Colin Angle | … | Professor Hanes |
| Supriya Chakrabarti | … | Professor |
| Bradley Thoennes | … | Warren |
| Kieu Chinh | … | Chinese Woman (as Kieu-Chinh) |
| Alice Lo | … | Chinese Woman |
| Sally Levi | … | Chemistry Review Girl (as Sally Livingston) |
| Henry Houh | … | Chinatown Dealer |
| Frank Chen | … | Chinatown Host |
| Spencer Garrett | … | Stemple |
| Celeste Oliva | … | Airport Screener |
| Tom McGowan | … | Husband |
| Ruby Hondros | … | Wife |
| Christian Mello | … | Drunk Dude |
| Gregory Seymore | … | Drunk Dude (as Greg Seymore) |
| Joey Aliano | … | Club Goer |
| Jason Amherst | … | MIT Student |
| Shaun Aponik | … | Harvard Medical Student |
| Dale F. Appel | … | Weary Airport Traveler |
| Razmig Arabian | … | Diner Patron |
| Finise Avery | … | Student |
| Ellen Becker-Gray | … | Mother at Robotics Competition |
| Fethi Bendida | … | Student |
| Chad Boldini | … | Student |
| Eric Bruno Borgman | … | Strip Club Patron |
| Patrick Canty | … | Robotics Guest |
| Fritz Ceriales | … | MIT Student |
| Nicole Chauvet | … | Upscale Gambler |
| Chemi Che-Mponda | … | Hotel Maid |
| Sean Collins | … | MR Tillman Shopper |
| Desiree April Connolly | … | Patron at Doyle’s Bar |
| Jeffrey Corazzini | … | Nightclub Patron |
| Michael Coryer | … | Gambler |
| Katie Curley | … | Audience Member Robotics Competition |
| Ramses del Hierro | … | Cole Thug |
| Kevin Deon | … | Security Guard |
| Sal DiMino | … | Train Passenger #1 |
| Will Dragan | … | Bar Patron |
| Frank Durant | … | Student |
| Asia M. Evans | … | Student |
| Ben Fisher | … | Basketball Player |
| Paige Flannery | … | Mile’s Sister |
| Keith Fluker | … | Card Shark |
| Steve Flynn | … | Gambler |
| Thomas Michael Flynn | … | MIT Student |
| Tom Gilligan | … | Gucci Salesman |
| Trudi Goodman | … | Airport Traveler |
| Harley Harrison | … | MIT Student |
| Mary Ann Hebinck | … | Casino Patron |
| Ty Izquierdo | … | Casino Patron |
| Seba Johnson | … | Airport Attendant |
| Christopher Jude | … | Blackjack Dealer |
| Jeff Kamps | … | Train Commuter |
| Spencer Kayden | … | Mrs. Hankins |
| Lyralen Kaye | … | College Mom |
| Lee Kerr | … | Waiter |
| Lynn L’Heureux | … | Bar Patron |
| Crystal Lisbon | … | Student |
| Christopher J. Long | … | China Town Crowd |
| Yulia Lilith Maceo | … | High-Roller |
| Rebecca Marshall | … | Hot Girl |
| David L. Marston | … | Casino Security Team |
| Robert Masiello | … | Pedestrian |
| Alexandra McDougall | … | Student |
| Paul McGillicuddy | … | Restaurant Patron |
| Andrew J McGuinness | … | College Student |
| Josh Mervis | … | MIT Student |
| Ron Murphy | … | Maintenance Man |
| Chris Palermo | … | Strip Club Patron |
| Giovanni Pantaleo | … | Robotics Guest |
| Bob Pepper | … | Craps Dealer |
| Americo Presciutti | … | Croupier |
| Eric Rollins | … | M.I.T. Student |
| Robert Sabino | … | Security Guard |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia