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somebodyisfromhere.com
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The destination destination.
April.
| Somebodyisfromhere.com sees 21, but is it worthy of Vegas? |
Top Five Gambling Movies:
5. Hard Eight.
Paul Thomas Anderson's story about Vegas. Not quite old school. Not quite
new school. It's the Sin City in between. No real mobsters, but hookers and
violent fellas (Samuel L. Jackson). John C. Reilly before he got funny.
4. Oceans Eleven.
Fun. Ironically, it's this remake of an old Vegas movie that helps symbolize
the new Vegas. Dress nice. Roll high.
3. Swingers.
Only a fraction of the movie took place in Las Vegas, but the movie is still
responsible for best dialogue about the city. "Double down" and "Vegas
Baby" just wouldn't be the same without it.
2. The Cooler.
Helped usher in the more entertaining second career of Alec Baldwin. The
supporting guy (see 30 Rock and The Departed).
1. Croupier.
In accordance with lists of this mold, it's customary to put the movie the
reader has least likely heard of at the head of the class. I abide. It's an
entertaining small little British movie that served as Clive Owen's breakout.
5. Hard Eight.
Paul Thomas Anderson's story about Vegas. Not quite old school. Not quite
new school. It's the Sin City in between. No real mobsters, but hookers and
violent fellas (Samuel L. Jackson). John C. Reilly before he got funny.
4. Oceans Eleven.
Fun. Ironically, it's this remake of an old Vegas movie that helps symbolize
the new Vegas. Dress nice. Roll high.
3. Swingers.
Only a fraction of the movie took place in Las Vegas, but the movie is still
responsible for best dialogue about the city. "Double down" and "Vegas
Baby" just wouldn't be the same without it.
2. The Cooler.
Helped usher in the more entertaining second career of Alec Baldwin. The
supporting guy (see 30 Rock and The Departed).
1. Croupier.
In accordance with lists of this mold, it's customary to put the movie the
reader has least likely heard of at the head of the class. I abide. It's an
entertaining small little British movie that served as Clive Owen's breakout.
Somebodyisfromhere.com read Bringing Down The House, the
book for which 21 was based, only....he doesn't really remember
it. He does, however, remember liking it much much more than the
movie.
Somebodyisfromhere.com is not a book snob. He likes movies...a
lot. See: just about everything on the site. Well, you clearly don't
believe me. Like take Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Great
book. Great movie.
21 is a harmless movie. A cool story with good looking people in a
fun town. It just never feels real. Maybe that's the difference
between the movie and the book.
The movie changes the details. Less Asians. More bad guys. A
love story of sorts.
book for which 21 was based, only....he doesn't really remember
it. He does, however, remember liking it much much more than the
movie.
Somebodyisfromhere.com is not a book snob. He likes movies...a
lot. See: just about everything on the site. Well, you clearly don't
believe me. Like take Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Great
book. Great movie.
21 is a harmless movie. A cool story with good looking people in a
fun town. It just never feels real. Maybe that's the difference
between the movie and the book.
The movie changes the details. Less Asians. More bad guys. A
love story of sorts.
There's other stuff too. Like the lead character is more needy than he was in the book. In the movie he needs extra
money to pay tuition. That's the thing. Too much tweaking. Isn't it actually more interesting that a string of
ridiculously smart kids from a really (I wouldn't be using the word "really" if i went to MIT) smart school took Vegas
simply because they were smart enough to think of it?
It's this reason the movie never clicks. Be sure if a guy with Laurence Fishburn's voice and presence was on my tail,
I'd be one scared website. The same can be said about the other bad guy in Kevin Spacey (oh, you saw the
preview) who played the two best villains in film history in The Usual Suspects and Se7en. Neither is especially
terrifying though in 21, because it always feels like a "hollywoody" affair and we all know how they end.
money to pay tuition. That's the thing. Too much tweaking. Isn't it actually more interesting that a string of
ridiculously smart kids from a really (I wouldn't be using the word "really" if i went to MIT) smart school took Vegas
simply because they were smart enough to think of it?
It's this reason the movie never clicks. Be sure if a guy with Laurence Fishburn's voice and presence was on my tail,
I'd be one scared website. The same can be said about the other bad guy in Kevin Spacey (oh, you saw the
preview) who played the two best villains in film history in The Usual Suspects and Se7en. Neither is especially
terrifying though in 21, because it always feels like a "hollywoody" affair and we all know how they end.
| ***So as far a gambling and/or Vegas is concerned, 21 gets it wrong. What movies get it right?*** |
| What do you think? Hit up my myspace or email: crodgers@somebodyisfromhere.com |