The Skyliner

Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Entertainment & Features

Tommy Lee
Staff Writer


21, a heist movie loosely based on a true story, has been No. 1 at the box office since its March 28 opening.

The plot follows the story of six Massachusetts Institute of Technology students who are extremely bright. The students and their teacher follow the count of cards used during blackjack games, and use it to win.

The students travel to Las Vegas each weekend and bleed Sin City dry.

Of course, this is not illegal, but the casino bosses do not approve of the card counting.

Ben Campbell, played by Jim Sturgess (Across The Universe), is a brilliant MIT student looking forward to Harvard Medical School. He is accepted into Harvard, but the tuition is too much for him. Campbell, who is good enough at math to surprise his professor, Micky Rosa, played by Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns), is invited by a group of students into the card-counting, money-making scheme. Ben ends up doing the job so that he can earn his tuition for medical school.

Unfortunately, Campbell goes from being a shy student to an arrogant high roller, who almost blows his team's cover. Campbell, then deserted by his instructor, is left to fend for himself while Cole Williams, played by Laurence Fishburne (Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer), a casino boss, hunts down the card-counters.

Campbell and the rest of the team are broken up after Campbell is caught by Williams, and he returns home to find all of his money gone, and his graduation from MIT suspended. Campbell then reconciles with his teacher and team to take Vegas one more time with a surprise ending.

21 plays out a lot like the Ocean's 11 series in its plot twists and fast-paced heist scenes.

21 is rated PG-13.

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