The Cooler

Here's a movie I bet most of you have never heard of, let alone seen. I've only seen it because I love the IFC channel. I've watched it a few times, and every time it entertains me. It has a really good seasoned cast featuring William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, and the super lovely Maria Bello. I love the look of the film. It kind of seems like it's old but released in 2003 and set in current day Las Vegas it follows the ultra depressing life and career of Bernie Lootz (Macy). Bernie is an old school Vegas "Cooler". He is the type of person who wouldn't have any luck at all if it weren't for the abundance of bad luck he does have. Basically, casino owners would have these "coolers" who are people with such a negative energy about them, they can single handedly "cool down" a table that is winning, merely by betting a chip he takes out of his unlucky pocket with his unlucky hand, he is able to turn a table that is really hot to Ice cold, just that quickly. If his life doesn't suck enough, he has a deadbeat son, a hard ass for a boss, played by the intimidating Alec Baldwin, and no good luck in sight. Bernie finally meets someone (Bello) and with her at his side, his luck begins to turn, much to the annoyment of his boss. The particular casino he works for is rather old school. Shelly (Baldwin) runs it like the days of old, crackin skulls and breakin legs, if need be. Unfortunately one day before Bernie is going to retire, Shelly catches his piece o sh*t son cheating at the craps table. Bernie has no choice but to pay his sons debt with a numerous amount of his personal time, and his unfortunate skills, before Shelly hobbles his son in the casino basement. Even with the mentality we are born with, sometimes there comes a day when we say, enough is enough. Bernie is tired. Tired of being a loser, and having nothing to look forward to. One day he decides he is finished with this negative karma he has carried for the last 30 years, and he wants to change his path. With his new mentality, he refuses to lose, and he does it right in Shelly's face, betting and winning at the very tables he often cooled. Not by cheating, but by not caring anymore. Bernie is the lovable loser we root for in this great film. Does he come out on top? Watch and see. It is a short indie flick that does not disappoint.

NBM rates The Cooler - Awesome

Buy your Copy Today