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Looking like just any other sad sack hoping
to make a fortune with the turn of a card or the roll of the dice,
Bernie Lootz wanders the floor at the Shangri-La Casino. He pulls the
handle of a slot machine. He loses. He bets lucky 7 in roulette. He
loses. He walks by a big winner hitting blackjack after blackjack with
$500 bets, and the big winner turns into the big loser. He brushes the
back of a gentleman cleaning up at the craps table. Next roll, the man
busts. Taking it all in stride and with a good-natured, matter-of-fact
attitude, Bernie knows what he is and who he is - a loser. But not just
any loser, Bernie is a loser who can turn the luck of any winner into
that as bad as his own, a blessing in disguise to a casino.
Bernie is employed by the Shangri-La to
bring winning steaks to an end. As his boss Shelly would say, he's a
"cooler." The Shangri-La is a dying breed. One of the last of
the old time casinos; some say even reminiscent of the days of Bugsy
Siegel. Every dollar saved by the house means another day the Shangri-La
stays in business which makes Bernie a valuable commodity to someone
like Shelly and a place like the Shangri-La. Sadly, a group of new
investors want to "update" the Shangri-La and bring it in the
glitzy 21st Century Vegas concept and eliminate the old style
"coolers" - an idea that Shelly is too taken with. And even
worse, Bernie's lucky loser touch is waning, his life is taking an
upward turn and he wants out of the Shangri-La.
"The Cooler" tells the tale of
Bernie's life of bad luck, the interesting twists and turns it takes
along the way and how Bernie's life impacts and intermingles with those
he meets along the way. Take Shelly for instance. Years ago Shelly had
Bernie knee-capped because of outstanding debt, only to turn around and
pay the medical bills and then hire Bernie as his "cooler."
And what about Natalie - a casino waitress he helps who repays him with
the best sex of his life. (Now that's what I call gratitude!)
Written by first-time director Wayne
Kramer together with Frank Hannah, "The Cooler" is a crisp,
clean, no gimmick film that comes up a winner based on the strength of
the characters, the main story and its underlying intriguing sub-plots,
and heartfelt, life-infused performances by Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria
Bello.
In what is one of the best performances
of his career, Alec Baldwin gives casino manager Shelly Kaplow a
multi-dimensional edge. While retaining the mob boss like image of
yesteryear, Baldwin gives Shelly an underlying kindness that bubbles
just below the surface, gruffly emerging when his "family" or
his "home" are in trouble.
Never ceasing to amaze me, William H.
Macy turns in another memorable performance as lifetime loser Bernie.
With a nonchalant good-naturedness, Macy skips the pity factor, making
Bernie likeable, loveable and memorable; someone who accepts the hand
he's dealt with a gracious shrug of his shoulder. Fueled by the
intensely "normal" performances and chemistry between Macy and
Maria Bello, the relationship between Bernie and Natalie develops in a
lifelike fashion before our eyes. Two people drawn together by the life
long school of hard knocks, there is no "love at first sight."
Their relationship is grounded with a reality that interplays with
everything and everyone around them. Bill Macy recently joked that he
has worked out for the past 30 years hoping for the chance to play one
good love scene. He gets his chance here with Bello with what some
directors may have sent into borderline R-X rating material but in the
hands of Macy and Bello, the physical relationship comes across as
merely an extension of life - raw, intense and messy, yet tender and
heartfelt.
Supporting cast members Paul Sorvino and
Joey Fatone complete the already winning hand of characters.
Although overall a crisply written,
compellingly strong script, Kramer and Hannah fall prey to
over-development with the insertion of some peripheral characters and
sub-plots involving Bernie's long lost son and his trailer trash
girlfriend, both of which are unnecessary, unwanted and only detract
from the otherwise exemplary work.
Furthering the ambience of the film is
the five star work by production designer Toby Corbett whose attention
to detail reminds us all what made Vegas, Vegas back in its hey day when
gambling was gambling and adults went there to get away from the kids.
Cinematographer James Whitaker then takes everything one step further
with some fast-paced, high-rolling casino work that creates a visual
excitement all its own.
Emotionally charged, finely developed
characters, interesting and intriguing storyline. No gimmicks. No tricks
up the sleeve of director Kramer. Just good old-fashioned filmmaking. No
"cooler" brushed up against "The Cooler." A winning
hand all around. Deal me in.
Bernie Lootz: William H. Macy Shelly
Kaplow: Alec Baldwin Natalie Belisario: Maria Bello Buddy Stafford: Paul
Sorvino Johnny Capella: Joey Fatone
Directed by Wayne Kramer. Written by
Frank Hannah and Wayne Kramer. A Lions Gate release. Rated R. (101 min.)
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