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-   -   21 (Luketic, 2008) — MIT blackjack team movie starring Spacey and Fishburne (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/520515-21-luketic-2008-%97-mit-blackjack-team-movie-starring-spacey-fishburne.html)

The Bus 12-19-07 11:26 PM

21 (Luketic, 2008) — MIT blackjack team movie starring Spacey and Fishburne
 
http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/.../211_large.jpg
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478087/">IMDB</a> | <a href="http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/process/qtlHD.qtl?node_id=5031849&hdtype=720p&ticket=MTE5ODEyODE2MnwzMDB8ODkzNzE4ODRmMDk2NjZlMDZhNzg2YTdmNWN kNmMxY2U-">HD Trailer</a>

"21" is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.

<hr>

You may have heard of the book, Bringing Down the House.

Looks decent but I think it deviates from the book for a bit. I doubt they will show any of the riverboat casino stuff.

MartinBlank 12-19-07 11:36 PM

Is it really "starring" Spacey and Fishburne? It's got the "with" credits on the poster...the poster in which neither of them show up. I'm just sayin'.

fumanstan 12-19-07 11:45 PM

I saw the trailer for this awhile back. I forgot in front of which movie. I remember Spacey being in the trailer a lot, but don't recall Fishburne's role. It looked pretty neat.

spainlinx0 12-20-07 08:28 AM

I didn't realize MIT students were that attractive.

Original Desmond 12-20-07 08:47 AM

lol id definitely watch this movie, maybe only on dvd, but looks interesting enough and i love blackjack

The Bus 12-20-07 09:02 AM


Originally Posted by MartinBlank
Is it really "starring" Spacey and Fishburne? It's got the "with" credits on the poster...the poster in which neither of them show up. I'm just sayin'.

Spacey plays the person that put the team together. It looks like Fishburne plays a casino owner. (I gathered both of these things from the trailer).

Achtung 12-20-07 05:28 PM

I read the book this a couple of years ago. Overall it was pretty good, although I'm sure there will be some exaggerated bits in the movie.

I agree with the OP that they won't do the non-Vegas stuff, which is IMO when the book really got interesting.

starseed1981 12-21-07 08:48 AM


Originally Posted by spainlinx0
I didn't realize MIT students were that attractive.

As an alumni of MIT let me tell you, the amount of outstanding women (this was back in the 80's mind you) was amazing (especially Chinese nationals). Couple that with the fact that Harvard is up the river (and all the community colleges in the area) and you have hottie central. Even when I goto alumni gatherings my jaw is constantly dropping.

Matthew Ackerly 12-21-07 08:52 AM

Spacey and Fishburne will probably be in it for a total of 10 minutes.

jdpatri 12-21-07 02:09 PM


Originally Posted by starseed1981
As an alumni of MIT let me tell you, the amount of outstanding women (this was back in the 80's mind you) was amazing (especially Chinese nationals). Couple that with the fact that Harvard is up the river (and all the community colleges in the area) and you have hottie central. Even when I goto alumni gatherings my jaw is constantly dropping.

I worked at MIT until last year and I can attest that this is still true. The Kate Bosworths, however, weren't exactly a common sight.

RUSF18 12-21-07 05:57 PM

I believe Fishburne will be playing an investigator that helps out casinos. Spacey has a major part.

I'm a huge fan of the book (not that it's a fantastic piece of literature, it's just fun) and the trailer has really disappointed me. It bothers me that they took a bunch of Asian characters and made them all white, with the exception of the ones who look to be comic relief (and I'm white).

What bothers me most is that the trailer says the main character is doing all this to raise $300K for Med School tuition, when he actually joined the team because (spoiler has nothing to do with any major plot points, it's pointed out early on in the story but I'll hide it anyway)
Spoiler:
he was just looking for something "different" than the life he would typically lead as the stereotypical Asian kid at MIT. He loved that he could work his Wall Street-like life and then head to Vegas on the weekend, just to be right back in his office on Monday. That's where he got his rush.

DeanoBKN 12-22-07 12:03 AM

I read the book, I saw the History Channel documentary, so why not, i'll see the movie too. I'll just go into it expecting some parts to be changed.

atari2600 12-22-07 02:36 AM

i read the book too and ive been looking forward to this for a long time. hopefully its good.

Goat3001 12-23-07 11:44 PM

I liked the book a lot and thought it would make a for a great, intense movie. Hopefully this delivers. I wish they kept the name though.

Wazootyman 12-24-07 02:21 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed Bringing Down, but felt Busting Vegas was better put together. Although with that book I had a definite "been there, done that" vibe from Mezrich, since it essentially told the exact same story as Bringing Down, despite the claims in the opening chapter that this was a completely different story.

What I felt elevated Vegas is it seemed like it built more towards a climax whereas Bringing Down was episodic and didn't link together.

Regardless, the movie has potential. If they capture the fun vibe from the book, it could be great.

jPoD_TGN 12-24-07 06:09 AM


Originally Posted by starseed1981
As an alumni of MIT let me tell you, the amount of outstanding women (this was back in the 80's mind you) was amazing (especially Chinese nationals). Couple that with the fact that Harvard is up the river (and all the community colleges in the area) and you have hottie central. Even when I goto alumni gatherings my jaw is constantly dropping.

Is that some sort of knock on BU, Northeastern, BC, Emerson, etc.?

Sebring98 12-24-07 12:56 PM

I was originally very excited about this movie (loved the book, and blackjack), but the trailer didn't really stand out to me. I'll see the movie anyway. Hopefully it'll be good.

ElementZ 12-26-07 11:32 AM

Sounds like the "last casino"

RUSF18 12-26-07 03:40 PM

That came after Bringing Down The House.

Daytripper 12-26-07 03:55 PM

I thought the trailer looked good. I'll be seeing this.

The Bus 03-10-08 03:21 PM


Originally Posted by Goat3001
I liked the book a lot and thought it would make a for a great, intense movie. Hopefully this delivers. I wish they kept the name though.

Perhaps this will be a closer adaptation than the one with Queen Latifah.

<img src="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/153/501690~Bringing-Down-the-House-Posters.jpg">

Mercury&Solace 03-10-08 08:06 PM

I think this looks good....well at least the trailer looks good, I am not too sure about Kate Bosworth though. Ahhhh hell I am in anyways. Spacey kicks ass.

fernsita 03-19-08 05:37 PM

This saw this new kid, Jim Sturgess in The Other Boleyn Girl (so good, by the way! :)) and he seemed to win me over! I think he is gonna be good at this role and based on the trailer..the entire cast seems convincing.

SoSpacey 03-25-08 08:56 AM

Anyone catch a sneak peak of this yet?

And anyone know why the 2 threads haven't been merged?

Finisher 03-28-08 11:05 PM

Competent movie but I'd seen it all on the History Channel. The highs weren't high enough and the lows weren't low enough. Movie also had the annoying habit of reminding us every five minutes how smart the kid was and that he was just doing this to pay for school.


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