21

[Brian in Mesa]

Movie based on the book mentioned here: http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21354

Heroes' Masi Oka Bets on Thriller 21
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
January 2, 2007

"Heroes" star and special effects artist-turned-actor Masi Oka is in talks to play a supporting role in Columbia Pictures' casino-set thriller 21, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film is inspired by the true story of a group of men who learned the art of card counting and won millions of dollars gambling. The film is based on Ben Mezrich's best-seller "Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions."

Jim Sturgess will star in the long-gestating project, which picked up steam last year when director Robert Luketic dropped out of a big-screen adaptation of Dallas to helm 21. The blackjack tale is scheduled to begin shooting in February in Boston and Las Vegas.

Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca are producing.

Oka is nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as Hiro Nakamura on "Heroes."

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I've seen documentaries, news stories, and interviews with the students and what they were able to do. I'll definitely read the book and see the movie.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Awesome...I read the book and it was facinating...this should be good.

 

[abomb]

Awesome...I read the book and it was facinating...this should be good.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Laurence Fishburne Joining 21
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
January 19, 2007

Laurence Fishburne is in final talks to board Columbia Pictures' Vegas-set thriller 21, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Liza Lapira and Josh Gad also have joined the cast of the blackjack tale.

The film is based on Ben Mezrich's best-seller, "Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions." Fishburne will play a Vegas security chief who hunts down the group.

Jim Sturgess and Masi Oka already have boarded 21, which will be directed by Robert Luketic. Shooting is set to begin next month in Boston and Las Vegas.

Kevin Spacey, who also will appear in the film, is producing alongside Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

21

Release Date: March 28, 2008
Studio: Columbia Pictures (Sony)
Director: Robert Luketic
Screenwriter: Peter Steinfeld, Allan Loeb
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity)
Website: 21

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey, Liza Lapira, Josh Gad, Aaron Yoo, Sam Golzari

Plot Summary: Columbia Pictures' high stakes action adventure "21" is inspired by the true story of the very brightest young minds in the country – and how they took Vegas for millions.

Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a shy, brilliant M.I.T. student who – needing to pay school tuition – finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the school's most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor and stats genius Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) leading the way, they've cracked the code. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signals, the team can beat the casinos big time. Seduced by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and by his smart and sexy teammate, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isn't illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casinos' menacing enforcer: Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne).

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[hawaiiansun]

I bought the book because it looked good, haha. Reading it now its pretty great so far, cant wait for the movie.

 

[Pariah]

Book was great. I wonder why they changed the title, though. I thought "Bringing Down the House" was better than "21."

 

[Gaddabout]

Book was great. I wonder why they changed the title, though. I thought "Bringing Down the House" was better than "21."

Cardinal rule of marketing: Same message + fewer words = better.

 

[Pariah]

Cardinal rule of marketing: Same message + fewer words = better.

Okay. Let's test that equation here.

Does "21" have the same message as "Bringing Down the House?" No.

BDTH implies a they're beating the casinos. 21 implies they're playing blackjack.

BDTH also has the double meaning in that they're having a damned good time doing it. 21 implies...what, they're of legal age to drink a beer while playing blackjack?

I'll stick to my original assertion (that I made from my office in a marketing agency) that "Bringing Down the House" is a better title.

 

[Mulli]

No matter what it is called, I have no interest.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Okay. Let's test that equation here.

Does "21" have the same message as "Bringing Down the House?" No.

BDTH implies a they're beating the casinos. 21 implies they're playing blackjack.

BDTH also has the double meaning in that they're having a damned good time doing it. 21 implies...what, they're of legal age to drink a beer while playing blackjack?

I'll stick to my original assertion (that I made from my office in a marketing agency) that "Bringing Down the House" is a better title.

The newly released (Now A Major Motion Picture version) books are titled "21: Bringing Down the House" - just saw it at the store the other day.

 

[Mulli]

I thought only people in Iowa or kids under age 8 called blackjack 21.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I thought only people in Iowa or kids under age 8 called blackjack 21.

 

[Louis]

Not to be confused with...

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[Pariah]

Now THAT'S a good reason to change the name!

 

[FArting]

Saw this last night good movie

 

[thirty-two]

Ooooh I just got this in the mail from netflix. I am excited to watch it.

 

[thirty-two]

Yeah I wasn't totally expecting some of the things that happened in this movie. And not for the better, either.

It was okay - I liked the lead guy. I really can't stand Kate Bosworth though. I liked her in that surfing movie, but then she lost all that weight and now when I see her, all I see are her rib bones sticking out and I want to throw hamburgers at her.

I love Kevin Spacey.

 

[da_suns_fan]

"Winner, winner, chicken dinner".

I liked Jim Sturges, the lead guy too (especially in "Across the Universe"), but he's one of the few Brits who just can't pull off the American Accent (Jude Law is another).

 

[Bada0Bing]

Recently watched it.

I thought it started out strong, but lost steam in the second half. The practicing and playing scenes were interesting, but the rest of the story was sort of blah.