Technology & MSG

21, Fun Whether Fact or Fiction

Apr 21st, 2008 by Alex

I saw 21 last week at Tysons Corner AMC. If you’ve never been there, this theater is nuts. If you’ve got vouchers to AMC, save ‘em for here. Student rate for a matinée was $8.50. I think regular adult admission was $12.50. The decor reminds me of a casino; there is oak trim and marble inlay on the floor and their food specials are advertised on no less than 20 large plasma screens.

But enough about the theater…

Jet-setting between Boston and Sin City, Jim Sturgess plays the lead male (or “big man”) in this adventure. Though relatively unknown, he is immediately likable and plays well. He is taught by the ever subtle (though slightly scary) Kevin Spacey, whose classroom monologues are better than the other scenes. Aaron Yoo will be typecast as the crazy and zany Asian dude forever, this movie being no exception. Kate Bosworth is played back for this one, as is Laurence Fishburne. Pity on both counts.

The movie was inspired by five MIT students who took Vegas for a load of cash by counting cards playing blackjack. The movie was supposedly based on the book written by one of the students. So the problem here is figuring out what parts are Hollywood’s elaboration and which are the authors. I’ll probably end up reading the book just to make my own determination, but for now it doesn’t really matter, it’s entertaining to watch.

During the first hour I experienced the the same queasy feeling in my stomach that I get when first stepping up to the craps table, just before I decide to put my money down. I’m not sure how to explain that, but I think everyone has a few shakes when stepping up for the first time in a while.

21 boasts an amazing soundtrack. From the moment the opening credits are rolling we are graced with MGMT’s Time to Pretend. It doesn’t let up, including tracks from Peter Bjorn, Junkie XL, Rihanna, and Broadcast. It’s all hip, funky, and it really drives the movie. My Amazon wish list is short, so the fact that I added it should be worth something.

Aside from my queasy stomach and props for the soundtrack, that’s probably the worst movie review ever.