Recently released, 21 is a movie about beating the game of blackjack. A group of young students guided by their math teacher, learn the ways to beat the game of blackjack by means of card counting. This movie is made in the eyes of the youngest student, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess). He is originally a nieve student looking to get into Harvard Med. Being interviewed by the dean giving the scholarship to the school he realizes that his life has been plagued with monotony and he needs some excitement to stir it up. Soon after he is given the opportunity by his mathematics teacher when he is introduced to this secretive club which prospers from card counting. At first he is turned off by this idea and he is a very clean cut kid and does not want to get involved in these kinds of affairs. After realizing that this is his only way to afford Harvard if he does not get the scholarship, he decides to accept the invitation. This invitation leads him to the casino every weekend and he is winning a major amount. He is making friends with the team members and even finding love with one of them. But as sure as his success came it left. He got to arrogant and decided that he did not need his teacher/coach, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), which led to his downfall. In betraying his teacher he got all of his money stolen and all of his hard work through college wasted in finding a notice on his door saying that he had an incomplete class (mathematics) and he would not be graduating. At this point it seems all hope is gone. With his smarts he manages to out think his professor and get back all of his money and dignity with a little help from security at the casino.
This is a fantastic movie with fantastic concepts and plot. The acting was brilliant and convincing and made for a all around great movie. I would highly recommend this movie for it is a great one. Enjoy.
Extra Credit Post #2 – Word count 348
