Wanna play cards?
Yup, this is late. Saw the film on Tuesday but I've been so bloody busy I've not had time to write this until now.
URGA MOTW
21
This film is a "based on a book based on a true story" movie - here's the basic premise: Ben Campbell is in his final year at MIT and wants to get into Harvard Medical School - but he has no money for the degree, and his chances don't look good at getting a scholarship. He'll need $300,000 to pay for college, and his job at a menswear store doesn't pay very much. But he's a gifted and incredibly intelligent student, something which doesn't escape the notice of his mathematics lecturer Mickey O'Reilly (Kevin Spacey). Mickey invites Ben to join his select group of smart students - they count cards at blackjack tables in Las Vegas, and have a system to avoid getting caught, and they take home large volumes of money. Ben is initially reluctant, but the hot girl of the group, Jill Taylor, convinces him, so off to Vegas to make his fortune.
You'll pretty much be able to guess what happens from here, except maybe for the last 20 minutes or so. In adapting this story for the screen (or maybe the book?) they've gone with a lot of story cliches about "heist" movies, and you'll spot them all coming a mile off (except for maybe the last one). However, the acting is not too bad, and the dialogue isn't all that cheesy, and the characters have a certain charm about them.
Not a superly fantastic movie, but still entertaining.
7/10
URGA MOTW
21
This film is a "based on a book based on a true story" movie - here's the basic premise: Ben Campbell is in his final year at MIT and wants to get into Harvard Medical School - but he has no money for the degree, and his chances don't look good at getting a scholarship. He'll need $300,000 to pay for college, and his job at a menswear store doesn't pay very much. But he's a gifted and incredibly intelligent student, something which doesn't escape the notice of his mathematics lecturer Mickey O'Reilly (Kevin Spacey). Mickey invites Ben to join his select group of smart students - they count cards at blackjack tables in Las Vegas, and have a system to avoid getting caught, and they take home large volumes of money. Ben is initially reluctant, but the hot girl of the group, Jill Taylor, convinces him, so off to Vegas to make his fortune.
You'll pretty much be able to guess what happens from here, except maybe for the last 20 minutes or so. In adapting this story for the screen (or maybe the book?) they've gone with a lot of story cliches about "heist" movies, and you'll spot them all coming a mile off (except for maybe the last one). However, the acting is not too bad, and the dialogue isn't all that cheesy, and the characters have a certain charm about them.
Not a superly fantastic movie, but still entertaining.
7/10