The Cooler Review
by Mark R. Leeper (markrleeper AT yahoo DOT com)December 22nd, 2003
THE COOLER
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Bernie Lootz is a loser living in Las Vegas making a living with his contagious bad luck. A
casino uses him to spread his luck to winning high- rollers. But then he meets an attractive cocktail
waitress who likes him and his luck starts to change, causing problems for the casino. William H. Macy and Alec Baldwin star in a story that mixes comedy, drama, and a touch of fantasy. Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
Casino movies are almost as popular as restaurant movies. People like to see what goes on behind the scenes. Whether the viewer is attracted to gaming or not, just watching gamblers is absorbing. Probably all films are about the human drama of taking risks. In most films someone loses. But films about gambling make that sort of risk-taking very concrete and in casinos usually the results of the gamble take just seconds to determine. Maybe that is the reason, maybe not, but films like CASINO and HARD EIGHT are fascinating to most viewers. Las Vegas is particularly interesting because of the bright colors and lights. People are interested in systems gamblers use. People are interested in the superstitions of gambling. THE COOLER is about Las Vegas and about luck. The main character is one Bernie Lootz (played by William H. Macy). Bernie doesn't gamble with his own money. He did at one time and he lost in a big way when he could not cover his bets. Bernie should have known because Bernie always loses. His luck in life as well as on the gaming table as in the bedroom is uniformly terrible.
Bernie's life is totally cocked up because of his bad luck. His wife left him. His son, whom he rarely sees, hates him. But his luck is so bad that it's good enough to make him a living as a "cooler." He only has to stand next to a gambler, perhaps touch his hand, and the gambler loses. That sounds like really bad luck, but it is music to a casino-owner's ears. Turning gamblers' winning streaks into losing streaks is a talent that a casino owner can exploit. Bernie is employed by the Shangri-La, an old- style casino from the days that the mob ran Vegas. He is the best luck cooler in the business. That seems to reward him just enough to live in a sleazy motel and survive.
Bernie's friend and the manager of the casino is Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin). Shelly is an enigma. He loves his friends and can be utterly charming. Cross him and he can loose the brutality of a tiger. Shelly has to deal with the casino owners who want to modernize the look, feel, and operation of the Shangri-La and for once Shelly is on the defensive. He also has to deal with Bernie's announcement that he is leaving the Shangri-La at the end of the week. But Bernie is having second thoughts about leaving now that an attractive cocktail Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello) waitress is showing some romantic interest in Bernie.
THE COOLER is directed by Wayne Kramer, who co-wrote the film with Frank Hannah. Like Bernie, the script is likable but not really much of a winner. Plot twists intended to surprise the audience are predictable. As with a Capra film, we have a pretty good idea where the film is going, but it still may be enjoyable to see it get there. Alec Baldwin turns in a dynamic performance with a combination of sentiment and viciousness. Perhaps Macy's performance is as good, but if so it is subtler. He starts the film exuding a sort of limp apathy to his job and slowly injects energy into this role. Maria Bello somehow reminds one of a shelf-worn Sharon Stone. Her sex scenes with the clumsy Macy have a charm all their own. Paul Sorvino is along as a once-popular lounge singer who is past his prime.
This is an engaging enough story and it has a really magnetic performance from Alec Baldwin. It won't win any Oscars, but it delivers its lightweight story with aplomb. I rate it a high +1 on the -4 to +4 scale or 6/10.
[Note: This would make an interesting double feature with Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's film INTACTO.]
Mark R. Leeper
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Copyright 2003 Mark R. Leeper
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
