21 (2008 film)

21 (2008 film)
source
Name	21
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Robert Luketic
Producer	Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca
Screenplay	Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb
Based on	Bringing Down the House, Ben Mezrich
Starring	Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Josh Gad
Music	David Sardy
Cinematography	Russell Carpenter
Editing	Elliot Graham
Studio	Relativity Media, Trigger Street Productions
Distributor	Columbia Pictures
Released	2008, 03, 28
Runtime	123 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$35 million
Gross	$157.9 million

21 (2008 film) is an American heist film directed by Robert Luketic and loosely based on the non-fiction book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. The film follows a team of MIT students, trained by a professor, who use card counting techniques to win millions at blackjack in Las Vegas. Featuring an ensemble cast led by Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey, the movie was a commercial success despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

Brilliant but financially struggling MIT student Ben Campbell is recruited by his unorthodox professor, Mickey Rosa, to join a secret team of gifted students. The team, which includes Jill Taylor and Choi, is trained in sophisticated card counting and covert signaling techniques to beat casinos at blackjack. Under Mickey Rosa's guidance, they make frequent trips to Las Vegas, amassing significant winnings while adopting elaborate disguises and false identities to avoid detection. Their system is threatened by the intense pressure, internal rivalries, and the relentless pursuit of a ruthless casino security consultant, Cole Williams, leading to a high-stakes confrontation that tests their loyalties and intellect.

Cast

* Jim Sturgess as Ben Campbell, the gifted MIT student and protagonist. * Kevin Spacey as Mickey Rosa, the manipulative professor who masterminds the team. * Kate Bosworth as Jill Taylor, a team member and Ben's love interest. * Laurence Fishburne as Cole Williams, a menacing casino security enforcer. * Aaron Yoo as Choi, a member of the card counting team. * Liza Lapira as Kianna, another skilled team member. * Jacob Pitts as Fisher, a brash and competitive teammate. * Josh Gad as Miles Connoly, Ben's loyal friend at MIT.

Production

The film is adapted from Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down the House, which chronicles the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team. Columbia Pictures acquired the rights, with Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb writing the screenplay. Robert Luketic was hired to direct, and Kevin Spacey's production company, Trigger Street Productions, co-produced the project alongside Relativity Media. Principal photography took place in Boston and Las Vegas, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus and iconic Las Vegas Strip casinos like the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino serving as key locations. David Sardy composed the film's score.

Historical accuracy

While inspired by real events, the film takes significant dramatic license, compressing timelines, fictionalizing characters, and exaggerating conflicts for cinematic effect. The real MIT Blackjack Team operated over many years with a larger, rotating group of students and graduates, not a single small cell led directly by a professor. The portrayal of card counting techniques is simplified, and the character of the violent security consultant, Cole Williams, is a Hollywood fabrication. Ben Mezrich's source material itself has been criticized for embellishing facts, making 21 a highly fictionalized account of the team's activities in Las Vegas during the 1990s.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its entertaining pace and Las Vegas glamour but criticism for its formulaic plot and underdeveloped characters. It performed strongly at the box office, grossing over $157 million worldwide against a $35 million budget. At the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, the film was nominated for Choice Movie: Drama. The response from former members of the actual MIT Blackjack Team was generally negative, with many stating the film bore little resemblance to their real experiences and the sophisticated, business-like nature of their operations.

Home media

21 was released on DVD and Blu-ray in North America on July 22, 2008, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The home media releases included bonus features such as audio commentary from director Robert Luketic and producer Dana Brunetti, behind-the-scenes featurettes on the making of the film and the real card counting story, and additional scenes. The film later became available on various streaming media platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Category:2008 films Category:American heist films Category:Films directed by Robert Luketic Category:Columbia Pictures films