21

Name: 21
Genre: Drama
Released: March 28, 2008
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey

2008

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 217 Ratings

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 217 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 28, 2008 | PG-13

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey

Summary: Ben Campbell is a shy, brilliant MIT student who, needing to pay school tuition, finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor andBen Campbell is a shy, brilliant MIT student who, needing to pay school tuition, finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor and stats genius Micky Rosa leading the way, they crack the code. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signals, the team can beat the casinos big-time. Seduced by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and his smart and sexy teammate, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isn't illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casinos' menacing enforcer, Cole Williams. (Columbia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Robert Luketic

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 123 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Peter Travers

21 drags itself to a climax that puts credulity in splints. So what? In a multiplex of dumb-luck hits, it's a kick to watch Spacey and a gifted young cast use smarts to deal audiences a winning hand. Read full review

John DeFore

Escapist moviegoers happy to live out a flashy fantasy get a brief comeuppance and still walk away from the table with a little something in their pockets. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Spacey's engaging for a while in one of his patented double-edged, sharky roles. Read full review

Connie Ogle

Except for Spacey's talent, elements don't add up. Read full review

Joanne Kaufman

Very little adds up in 21. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

A movie with an irresistible premise that ultimately collapses around the whole issue of motivation. Until it does, this is a thoroughly entertaining picture. Read full review

Robert Wilonsky

A movie that wastes a lot of time and money and really, REALLY shoulda stayed in Vegas. Read full review

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User Reviews

jelenabiebs31

Jan 11, 2016

Excellent movie! Kept my attention for sure! Kevin Spacey at his usual evil best! Going in my favs.

Watch it online for free: https://www.primewire.ag/watch-42-21-online-free

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

HenryR.

Jul 25, 2008

A very special story combined with great actors make this title a blockbuster nobody did talk about. Absolute secret recommendation!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

danielprinn

Feb 9, 2012

21: Jim Sturgess stars in a stacked tight cast in this delightful, thoroughly entertaining, mysterious dramatic film experience alongside Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey and Aaron Yoo. A math professor, Mickey Rosa, takes 5 M.I.T students under his wing to count cards to21: Jim Sturgess stars in a stacked tight cast in this delightful, thoroughly entertaining, mysterious dramatic film experience alongside Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey and Aaron Yoo. A math professor, Mickey Rosa, takes 5 M.I.T students under his wing to count cards to make some money in Las Vegas. Remember, it is not illegal, it is only frowned upon. When a brilliant student has to earn cash to find his way to Harvard Med, he takes a chance on the elite mathematician team. Lucky enough for him, a spot has just opened up. With ruthless casino bosses, ignorant teammates and romantic flares, all make for a great story of luck, romance, betrayal, impulse and of course genius capabilities. What would you do to get into Harvard Medical School?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Chenzdaddy

Oct 28, 2015

The emergence of Spacey and Fishburne's rivalry adds a different dimension to the film. Without the historical feud we're left with characters of no substance.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DMLYxCritic

Jan 14, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 21 is a dull and boring mess, and that is to think that Kevin Spacey and Lawrence Fishburne stars in this film, which is baffling for me, because these two actors are put into two-dimensional characters, and didn't really do their acting chops justice. The whole acting thing was a bore. Jim Sturgess (and his monotone narration) is as dull as a coffee table from Ikea. The cinematography was also weird, and tried to be indie at times, yet fails to even grab the attention of the viewer. The editing was also problematic, and the movie does not know where to focus: in the lives of the blackjack players, or the act of playing blackjack itself. The only good thing I noticed in this film is the musical score. It definitely set the mood for a movie that is so lost in its own making.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ChadShiira

Mar 29, 2008

If Cole Williams(Lawrence Fishburne) is so smart, why doesn't he notice that it's the same petite, Asian woman sitting next to Ben(Jim Sturgess) at the blackjack table? Kianna(Liza Lapira) flags down Ben with a signal conspicuous enough to catch the attention of a commercial If Cole Williams(Lawrence Fishburne) is so smart, why doesn't he notice that it's the same petite, Asian woman sitting next to Ben(Jim Sturgess) at the blackjack table? Kianna(Liza Lapira) flags down Ben with a signal conspicuous enough to catch the attention of a commercial airlines pilot. Micky(Kevin Spacey) instructs his charges to never be seen together(especially with him, you would think), but there they are, time and time again, congregated in the same hotel room. The manner in which "21" translates the particulars of this card-counting operation, from Ben Mezrich's best-selling book "Bringing Down the House", makes you wonder why these M.I.T. students weren't caught sooner. Worst of all, "21" seems to forget that these kids are the best and the brightest. They don't sound like M.I.T. students. They don't sound smart. Since the film insists on return trips to Boston, how about establishing the rigors of academia to better illustrate their double lives as card sharks?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JJD.

Mar 31, 2008

21 is not exactly racist. The re-working of the details to appeal to a broader audience was NOT racist. These were simlpy business decisios. All else being equal, 21 is probably a decent movie. However, the presuppositions upon which the casting decisions were made were indeed RACIST: These 21 is not exactly racist. The re-working of the details to appeal to a broader audience was NOT racist. These were simlpy business decisios. All else being equal, 21 is probably a decent movie. However, the presuppositions upon which the casting decisions were made were indeed RACIST: These business decisions were based upon the presupposition that box-office success of a film is achieved when you have white leads with Asian supporting characters, rather than Asian leads with white supporting characters. Have you thought for a minute about why that is, and what that means in a broader, social sense? Have you thought about what that could mean for your children? Is that something you're willing to accept? Pause here, and think about that for a minute...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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69	#69 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
10	#10 Most Shared Movie of 2008