21
Audian Theater, Pullman WA
Admission $1
6:20pm 9:00pm

This story of MIT card counters is gambler/David up against casino/Goliath. Much of the film plays like a 2 hour ad for Las Vegas, so with 32% positive reviews you should approach this movie with the same uneasy optimism of a free all-you-can-eat buffet. Let’s start practical. If you’ve ever played blackjack, you know it’s easy to lose; does this film show us how to use addition and subtraction to milk cash from casino teats?

“Manages to make the act of counting cards seem as exciting as this past winter’s Super Bowl — and as perilous as climbing Mount Everest with both eyes closed.” Matt Brunson Creative Loafing

The connection between the Super Bowl and Mount Everest highlights your creative loafing quite well. I’m sure you, like me, will only experience either because we have TV’s. Although I’d rather see this year’s Super Bowl played with everyone’s eyes closed (I think the patriots could have pulled that one out). Back to the movie.

Everybody wins!

“A pulse-poundingly high-spirited and extremely well-directed drama. If 21 is only one thing, it’s intoxicating.” Dustin Putman TheMovieBoy.com

You heard it here first. This film will get you drunk. So far it all sounds like good news, where’s the voice of the angry 68%?

“I probably should have given it a lower grade, but I really, really like watching Laurence Fishburne hurt people.” Rob Vaux Flipside Movie Emporium

Okay, they’re sadists. But most of us enjoyed seeing Morpheus kick ass, where’s the bad news?

Everybody loses!

“By the time the end credits roll around, you realize nothing’s actually been risked. It’s the gambling equivalent of Go Fish.” Ty Burr Boston Globe

So, it’s a low-risk gambling story with the possible side effect of getting you drunk for a dollar. I’m almost sold. I need one more reason to venture out to the Audian tonight (Friday 9pm) for some cheap entertainment.

“The students are so blandly written this never builds any suspense, though it probably has some value as an empowerment fantasy for debt-ridden collegians.” J. R. Jones Chicago Reader

Horary!

Please Deal Jacks

Here’s the book.

And this horrible memory came up in my search.