21 (2008)
What’s the count?
Presentation:
There’s a certain period of time as a teenager where movies were marketed with deadly precision to our adolescence years. This is one of those films for me with in the golden age of Hollywood slop where cable TV was bigger than life. Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey face off in an intellectual battle of wits, student vs. teacher beyond the blackjack table. It surprises me to learn that people don’t like this film. Sure, the message is inconsistent and some motivations flip flop for our entertainment with over-dramatic flair, but I maintain it’s Hollywood slop writing at it’s most indulgent.
Conclusion:
Look there’s not a whole lot I can defend in this film other than the fact like I love casinos and the unvalidated genius trope. The Michael Bay era of blockbusters around 2008 was a special time for bootleg popcorn flicks. Movies like Jumper, Push, Chronicle and 21 really spoke to the teenager dreaming of something bigger and if you were around back then this film just seemed like a cool escape for the nerds. If not, then this might be just any other flick from the assembly line.
Recommendations
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