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21 - The Movie |
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21 is a movie released in 2008 about the exploits of the MIT Blackjack Team. It is based on the book "Bringing Down the House" by Ben Mizrich, and stars Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Laurence Fishburne.
21 does not pretend to be a pure non-fiction documentary. Mizrich's book took some liberties with the truth — changing names and dates and other details — and the movie strays even farther than the book. But accepting that, 21 is a fine movie that gives a good insight into the world of high-stakes casino blackjack card counting.
The Depiction of Blackjack Card Counting
21's depiction of blackjack card counting is amazingly accurate. It depicts the mathematical abilities and super-human concentration that are required to be a successful card counter, as well as the equally important talents that are needed to keep the card counting hidden from casino management. To be able to convey complicated blackjack strategies during the course of a Hollywood entertainment movie, without being pedantic or tedious, is quite an accomplishment.
A Human Portrait of the MIT Blackjack Team
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Of course, 21 is not intended to be an educational manual on how to win at blackjack. Rather, it is a very human story about a group of very bright young people on an incredible adventure. The movie presents a well-rounded portrait of the team members, showing us their dreams and their fears, their friendships and rivalries and romances, and their suspenseful match of wits against casino security personnel and their ultimate downfall. These are some of the elements that make 21 such a memorable movie.
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21 is also memorable for some great acting. Just as teamwork was the key to the MIT Blackjack Team's success in the blackjack casinos, teamwork among the actors is the key to making 21 a successful movie. In fact, the whole team — Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Josh Gad — was awarded a special award for best ensemble acting.
In sum, 21 is an exciting and enjoyable movie for blackjack players and non-blackjack players alike. It is highly recommended.
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