Movie review: "21" could inspire new career

I had no idea the game of blackjack was so easy to master. Apparently, you just need to be smart. Which, I don't mean to brag, but I think I've got that covered.

"21" is about an MIT student named Ben Campbell, who fits the definition of "nerd" perfectly. He is constantly doing homework and working on a science project with his two even nerdier friends. And when he isn't studying, Campbell is working as an assistant manager at a men's clothing store. That is until he is asked to join a team of students to play blackjack in Las Vegas on the weekends. But not only do they play blackjack, they dominate it by using signals and counting cards.

Jim Sturgess, who I must say does a fantastic job, plays Ben. You can really see him transition from a dork at MIT into a wealthy stud in Las Vegas. I suspect you will begin to see much more of him in the near future. I have seen him in two different movies now, "Across the Universe" and "21," and he has been awesome in both of them.

There are some other good actors and actresses in the movie. Kevin Spacey plays the MIT professor who leads the team. Kate Bosworth is the hot girl on the team that Sturgess' character gets to make out with. And Laurence Fishburne is the mean guy that is in charge of catching card counters and beating them profusely.

Which has to make one wonder, can you really get beat up for counting cards? "21" is based on the book "Bringing Down the House" by Ben Mezrich, which is inspired by true events. So I wonder if this really happened to these guys. If so, that sucks.

Besides the fact that you might get beat up for doing it, I think that there are going to be a lot more card counter wannabe's in the casinos now. Even I had to go home and research it after watching the movie. The movie just makes it sound way too easy and profitable. It also helps you score hot chicks like Kate Bosworth.

After doing the research though, I have realized that my first statement is wrong. You don't really have to be smart, you just have to be inconspicuous. Apparently casinos are really good at catching card counters (or maybe that's just what they want you to think). Honestly, I think I will just stick with the roulette table. You don't have to be sober to play that.

By the way, "21" is an entertaining movie. Go watch it.