21

NEW YORK (CNS) -- An MIT geek turns Las Vegas gambler in "21" (Columbia). Based on a true story, this psychological drama, like the casino capital itself, is flashy but shallow.

Gifted, hard-working senior Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) has one consuming ambition: to attend Harvard Medical School. He has the grades to achieve this goal, but not the money. Nor are his academic achievements enough to win him the full scholarship he covets, since he lacks the unusual life experiences that might make him stand out.

A surprising solution is offered by hard-edged professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey). Impressed by Ben's performance in his class, he invites him to join a clandestine group of math whizzes who travel to Las Vegas each weekend to win high stakes at blackjack by the legal but frowned-upon method of counting cards.

Reluctant at first, Ben eventually gives in when Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), a member of the group and a girl Ben has long wanted to date, visits him at his $8-an-hour clothing store job and renews the invitation. Still, he insists he'll quit as soon as he's amassed the $300,000 that will see him through Harvard.

Inevitably, Ben becomes Micky's star pupil, impassively studying the cards as the chips pile up in front of him. But his success has not gone unnoticed by veteran casino security consultant Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne) whose job includes putting the "beat down" on card counters until he's convinced them to leave town for good.

Director Robert Luketic's film shows the perils of greed and hubris, as dissension grows among the conspirators and Ben becomes dangerously careless. But "21" also celebrates revenge and the value of indiscriminate "life experiences."

The film contains nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity, brief rear nudity, a same-sex kiss, some crude and crass language, and sexual humor. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops