Cooler

Pros: Macy, Baldwin, Livingston, story

Cons: Stereotypical Las Vegas characters

The Bottom Line: Bernie Lootz wants to leave Las Vegas on his own terms.

Review: Bernie Lootz has made a living changing the good luck of any gambler who comes to the Las Vegas casino where he works. Bernie (William H. Macy) is the cooler at the Shangri-La hotel casino. When hotel manager Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin) calls on Bernie, ...

Pros: Dark, funny, great show by Macy, Bello & Baldwin, casinos rule

Cons: Unoriginal, par script, yikes on the nekkidness!

The Bottom Line: The Cooler is a dark, slow-moving film with some truly weird scenes, but a strange magic brews underneath it all.

Review: Ever get that feeling like you bring bad luck to all the people around you? Has it ever gotten so extreme that you actually believe if you weren't there, this stuff wouldn't be happening to them? I know that's so irrational of a thing to think, but ...

Pros: Kramer's Direction, Script, Cinematography, Score, Look, & Cast including Macy, Bello, & Baldwin.

Cons: A Bit Predictable at Times.

The Bottom Line: "The Cooler" is a Lush, Evocative Film from Wayne Kramer with Winning Performances from Macy, Bello, & Baldwin. (4.5 out of 5)

Review: One of the most respected and beloved actors in the industry, William H. Macy is a beloved character actor who always plays the loveable loser. Whether it was appearing in supporting roles for the Coen Brothers’ “Fargo” and Gary Ross’ “Seabiscuit” to ...

Pros: Macy's, Baldwin's and Bello's performances

Cons: Somewhat predictable, but so what.

The Bottom Line: A bravura performance from Macy, and a genuine delight.

Review: It isn't often that a single actor can carry an entire film, especially when much of the material is somewhat sordid in nature. Though Nicholas Cage received an Oscar for his excellent performance in "Leaving Las Vegas," the film was so unrelentingly ...

Pros: Performances with an emphasis on Baldwin, atmosphere, story structure

Cons: Semi-cheesy ending

The Bottom Line: The Cooler is a good drama that will sustain your interest by a good ensemble putting good work into a dark story.

Review: There's a scene in the third act of The Cooler, where Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), the brutal boss of an old school casino, has pinned down the arm of a corporate adversary to the point of breaking. It's the expression of calm intensity on the actor's ...

Pros: Great acting, Baldwin should be nominated for an Academy Award

Cons: Too dark, could have been more uplifting

The Bottom Line: While it could have been better, The Cooler is a cut above most other movies that Hollywood churns out. Great performances from Bello, Baldwin and Macy.

Review: The Cooler is a fascinating movie about Las Vegas that's really more about life and having a positive mental attitude than anything else. Unfortunately, it hits home with that message way too hard in a story that's a lot darker than it appears from the ...

Pros: Nice theme, Alec Baldwin is a convincing Casino owner

Cons: Unrealistic story and unexplained relationships

The Bottom Line: If you need your stories believable, this one won't work. Otherwise, it is a nice "nice guy gets the good woman" movie.

Review: I enjoyed this film, although I found the premise rather unbelievable. If you need believability in your movies, you won't like this one at all. On the other hand, if you enjoy the two themes "what goes around comes around," and "every loser has a ...

Pros: Acting, original plot

Cons: A few sub plots that never gained steam

The Bottom Line: Are you feeling lucky?

Review: A movie about a looser, a real big looser. How big of a looser? Big enough that a once rivaled casino now heading for the economic toilet has hired him to spread his bad luck thought-out the casino, to kill the hot streak of high rollers. Alec ...

Pros: Acting, Mood (if you can handle a depressing tone)

Cons: Horrible Characters, Predictable Plot and Twists, and Dismal Pacing

The Bottom Line: When a casino bad luck charm falls in love, he puts himself in jeopardy with the evil casino owner.

Review: I didn't read much about "The Cooler" before I got it out. The truth is, it had William H. Macy and he has a pretty good track record with me as far as satisfying me with his performances in movies. Thus, I got out "The Cooler" and prepared myself to ...

Pros: Macy's transformation is a joyous sight, competent and confident acting and directing decisions...

Cons: except minor ones where noted

The Bottom Line: Recommended for the solid and occasionally surprising work of all involved. It rarely slips, but it really doesn't dare much either.

Review: Cast overview, first billed only: William H. Macy .... Bernie Lootz Alec Baldwin .... Shelly Kaplow Maria Bello .... Natalie Belisario Shawn Hatosy .... Mikey Ron Livingston .... Larry Sokolov Paul Sorvino .... Buddy Stafford Estella Warren ...