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Synopsis:
THE COOLER stars William H. Macy in perhaps his finest "lovable loser" role, Maria Bello (AUTO FOCUS) in a breakout performance as a struggling cocktail waitress and Alec Baldwin, who hasn't been this vicious (or quotable) since he played Blake in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS. The Cooler is Bernie Lootz, and THE COOLER is a love story about the changing fortunes of this real loser who has made a career out of his contagious bad luck. The Cooler plies his trade on the floor of Las Vegas' aging Shangri-La casino, an old-school "gambler's casino," a dinosaur in the shadow of the new Strip and its theme-park attractions. In this purgatory of bright lights and chirping slots, The Cooler drifts from table to table, his bad karma cooling one gambler's lucky streak after another. Like an inmate serving time, The Cooler's been here for years, paying off a nasty gambling debt he owes to the Shangri-La's slippery Director of Operations, Shelly Kaplow (Baldwin). Bernie is just days away from fulfilling his debt when he meets Natalie (Bello), a new cocktail waitress at the Shangri-La. Natalie sweeps Bernie off his feet, and after a night of much-needed raucous sex Bernie is in love. When Natalie starts to love him back, Bernie's luck starts to change. Feeling good for the first time in years, Bernie can't wait to leave Las Vegas and move on with his life with the woman of his dreams. But will Shelly let his most valued asset leave so easily?
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Screen Format: Color
CRITIC REVIEWS
Lew Irwin
For weeks, film writers have been predicting that The Cooler, starring William H. Macy, Maria Bello and Alec Baldwin, is likely to become the sleeper hit of 2003. (They've made that prediction about other films this year, but none of them has panned out.) With its limited opening over the Thanksgiving holiday, the film is receiving a veritable jackpot in shining reviews, with Macy in particular being singled out for turning in a winning performance as a loser, called in to cool down the table at a Las Vegas casino whenever a customer develops a hot streak. Macy, says Lou Lumenick in the New York Post, has his best part since Fargo. A.O. Scott in the New York Times says that Macy makes his character both sympathetic and believable. Similarly, Gene Seymour comments in Newsday: It's a pleasure to watch Macy, with customary craft and intelligence, create from the ground up an unlikely, yet plausible romantic lead. Baldwin, too, is landing some terrific notices. Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times says that with this film, former leading man Baldwin continues to affirm that he is now one of the most versatile character actors on the screen. Bello garners much applause, as well. Writes Jack Mathews in the New York Daily News: It's Bello whom audiences will remember. ... She shows plenty of star charisma here, making [her character] funny, sexy and entirely sympathetic.
Lew Irwin
For weeks, film writers have been predicting that The Cooler, starring William H. Macy, Maria Bello and Alec Baldwin, is likely to become the sleeper hit of 2003. (They've made that prediction about other films this year, but none of them has panned out.) With its limited opening over the Thanksgiving holiday, the film is receiving a veritable jackpot in shining reviews, with Macy in particular being singled out for turning in a winning performance as a loser, called in to cool down the table at a Las Vegas casino whenever a customer develops a hot streak. Macy, says Lou Lumenick in the New York Post, has his best part since Fargo. A.O. Scott in the New York Times says that Macy makes his character both sympathetic and believable. Similarly, Gene Seymour comments in Newsday: It's a pleasure to watch Macy, with customary craft and intelligence, create from the ground up an unlikely, yet plausible romantic lead. Baldwin, too, is landing some terrific notices. Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times says that with this film, former leading man Baldwin continues to affirm that he is now one of the most versatile character actors on the screen. Bello garners much applause, as well. Writes Jack Mathews in the New York Daily News: It's Bello whom audiences will remember. ... She shows plenty of star charisma here, making [her character] funny, sexy and entirely sympathetic.
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