Dazzle?

Rating: 7/10 (13 April 2008)

In "21" M.I.T. mathematics Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) and boy genius Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) discuss an intriguing mathematical paradox surrounding the game show "Let's Make A Deal". In the "Let's Make A Deal" scenario, the contestant is offered one of three doors. Behind one of the three doors is a trip to Hawaii. Behind the other two doors are two goats. After making a door selection, one of the two unselected doors is open to reveal a goat. Now the contestant is offered a chance to change his original selection. Ben says that it is incumbent to now select the other door. The point being, that when he originally made the choice, the probability of picking correctly was one third. Given this new information, the probability changed from one third to now a half. Still not intuitive to me, this is amazingly intriguing. The rest of Director Robert Luketic's "21" is not entirely intriguing, although it is entertaining for what it is. Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb's screenplay based on the book by Ben Mezrich, is a kinetic and over-the-top rites of passage tale involving our hero Ben, well played by Jim Sturgess. The over the top elements are chewed on by the performances of Kevin Spacey as Micky and Laurence Fishburne as old school casino surveillance expert Cole Williams.
My bud John had read the book "Bringing Down the House", but told me that there was no Professor Ringleader character. So that is an interesting narrative choice by Steinfeld and Loeb. For the most part it works, as Spacey does his charismatic best, providing a visceral protagonist for Ben as he reclaims his soul. Ben (Sturgess) is a brilliant M.I.T. student, even for an M.I.T. student. Ben's future at Harvard Medical School relies upon him winning a prestigious scholarship of which he is one of 41 applicants. The dean challenges Ben, "Dazzle me" Micky (Spacey) acknowledging Ben's brilliance attempts to enroll Ben in his assembled team to win big at Blackjack in Las Vegas. Here Luketic bends over backwards to clarify that this innovative strategy is not "card counting". Oh, well. Circumstances mount, and Ben agrees to join the team which includes the beautiful and fetching Jill (smart and tough Kate Bosworth). Ben becomes a star, and predictably alienates his geek buddies Miles and Cam (believable Josh Gad and Sam Golzari), who were depending on his partnership for critical science competition. Ben is seduced by the dark side: money, sex, and power. He also falls for Jill. But the ride can't last foreverat least not in these kinds of stories. Betrayal and retribution eventually reign supreme. However, Jim Sturgess as Ben keeps "21" engaging. He's got a natural, smart, and edgy charisma which weathers most the narrative flat spots and formula.
"21" also has sense of corny justice and karma. In the end, Ben in his low key and confident way gets to ask, "Did I dazzle you?" "21" is not great cinema. But for what it isit is a smart and entertaining time at the movies.