Inadequate, Lame Vages Romp.

Rating: 2/10 (22 May 2008)

Card counting has always intrigued me, and the notion of beating the casino is surely one that appeals to a lot of people, so I was expecting to be entertained by this film. I was wrong, and I suspect a lot of people will be likewise disappointed. I could criticise the one-dimensional characters, the irritating soundtrack, or a Kevin Spacey who came across as an actor who was busy saying his lines, while concentrating on something else entirely, but there's something even more seriously wrong with this film, and it's this: The whole foundation for the movie is blackjack card-counting, yet isn't it astonishing that the fundamental theory for this is never explained. I wasn't expecting an in-depth yawning analysis, but c'mon guys, the explanation is limited to a couple of sentences of blackjack rules, and that's it! Now, having studied card counting, I know what the theory is, and I found the movie dull and boring, so how will anyone who has no knowledge of the technique fare? A waste of time.