TC Candler's Review B+

Get that guy away from me...

William H. Macy is his typical brilliant self as the title character in Wayne Kramer's debut feature film 'The Cooler'. The title refers to one who is hired by a casino, because of his astonishing bad luck, to impose that hideous curse on hot gamblers whose winning streaks are costing the casino large sums of money. The 'Cooler' does this by simply being near the target whose run of good fortune is instantly reversed. It sounds absolutely ludicrous, but trust me when I say that many casinos have tried such things in order to increase their profits. Las Vegas is the capital city of superstition, subliminal messages and imagery, absurd paranoia, and mystical forces that affect the gaming floors. If you have ever had the pleasure or displeasure of visiting that desert oasis, then you will either be aware of, or fall under the spell of, those silly quirks of human nature.

This film is one part Scorsese's 'Casino' and one part Figgis' 'Leaving Las Vegas'. Sprinkle a dash of 'Lost in Translation' and you have a quirky romance set amidst the unseemly world of old-school Vegas.

Maria Bello plays the love interest and soon becomes "Lady Luck". She turns around the Cooler's luck and makes him utterly useless to the casino boss (Baldwin) who has hired him. Now he brings even more luck to the casino patrons and soon he is costing the casino millions of dollars. The boss won't allow this and will do his best to come between the two of them.

Macy and Bello are an odd couple... but we root for them. This is an often bizarre relationship with complications I will not reveal. The film is masterful in the way it shows their most intimate moments. There are some touchingly realistic love scenes that avoid all the clichés of "move-sex". I really like this couple, and as a result, I really like this movie. The novice director has a deft touch but shows his relative inexperience by repeating a few scenes and montages, but it is forgivable for the most part. 'The Cooler' is as cool as its title and will be one of those films that will linger in your mind longer than the average Cineplex fare.

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - B+ Richard Propes - B Jacob Hall -

Richard Propes' Comment

Despite an ending that simply didn't resonate with me, I have to recommend this film largely based on the performances of its leads. Oscar-nominated Alec Baldwin shines here as Shelly, a casino boss struggling to maintain his casino the way he believes it should be...Baldwin has always had the ability to play the intense, driven characters...but he balances that portrayal with a subtle sensitivity that adds a lot of intrigue to his character. It's a powerful acting job, and complemented well by Golden Globe Nominee Maria Bello, as Natalie, and William H. Macy, as Bernie, "The Cooler."

First-time director Wayne Kramer generally does a nice job of catching the flavor of the Las Vegas casino scene, however, the script is filled with cliches and almost corny lines at times. The cinematography also had several shots where I looked at the screen and thought to myself "how bizarre." These shots took me out of the moment and away from the action...never a good thing during a film. Ron Livingston, who I loved so much in "Office Space" does a serious turn here and does it quite nicely.

Overall, a solid soundtrack, great leading performances and a nice atmosphere help to create a very watchable film with a very run-of-the-mill script. It's worth watching.

Jacob Hall's Comment

N/A