The Cooler

( 3 )

Overview

Writer/director Wayne Kramer offers a glimpse into the aging Las Vegas casino world with the romantic drama The Cooler. Bernie Lootz William H. Macy is extremely unlucky at gambling, and he owes the Shangri-La casino over 100,000 dollars. He is so unlucky that he is hired as a "cooler," someone to gamble next to high rollers and give them some of his bad luck to stop them from winning. This arrangement works out for awhile, until Bernie has almost paid off his debt and meets cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario ...
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Overview

Writer/director Wayne Kramer offers a glimpse into the aging Las Vegas casino world with the romantic drama The Cooler. Bernie Lootz William H. Macy is extremely unlucky at gambling, and he owes the Shangri-La casino over 100,000 dollars. He is so unlucky that he is hired as a "cooler," someone to gamble next to high rollers and give them some of his bad luck to stop them from winning. This arrangement works out for awhile, until Bernie has almost paid off his debt and meets cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario Maria Bello. The two start to fall in love and Bernie's luck begins to change. However, the old-fashioned mob boss Shelly Kaplow Alec Baldwin isn't going to let Bernie go so easily. Meanwhile, Larry Sokolov Ron Livingston arrives on the scene to help update the business management of the old mobster-run casino. Also starring Joey Fatone and Paul Sorvino as lounge singers. The Cooler was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the dramatic competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse
One of last year's most talked-about movies, this modest independent production crams more entertainment value into 100 minutes than most major-studio "blockbusters." The story, which fuses crime drama and black comedy, unfolds against the faux-glam backdrop of contemporary Las Vegas, the erstwhile "Sin City" gradually transformed into a family-friendly tourist spot. Shelly Kaplow Alec Baldwin manages a shabby remnant of the town's Mob-controlled past, the Shangri-La casino, where old-school high rollers feel right at home. Whenever a player starts to get hot, Shelly deploys his secret weapon, a "cooler" named Bernie Lootz William H. Macy. Bernie is a lifelong loser whose bad luck is actually contagious -- a casual brush to the shoulder is usually enough to break a winning streak. But when Bernie inaugurates an improbable affair with sympathetic cocktail waitress Natalie Maria Bello, his own luck begins to turn and his talent for "cooling" diminishes -- which makes Shelly very, very angry. The key to The Cooler's success is casting: Few actors play losers better than Macy. Think Fargo and Boogie Nights. Also, Bello projects a mature worldliness perfect for Natalie, and former leading man Baldwin -- not exactly known for being warm and fuzzy -- perfectly combines the arrogance, cruelty, and misplaced loyalty that makes Shelly such a compelling jerk. The minor roles are filled just as carefully, with Paul Sorvino registering solidly as a washed-up lounge singer and Shawn Hatosy scoring as Bernie's dishonest, disrespectful son. Deconstructing The Cooler scene by scene, character by character, you'd find very little that was new or striking. But from these common building blocks director Wayne Kramer erects a shining edifice that stands head and shoulders above most other big-screen entertainment these days. Like the Shangri-La's staff and clientele, Kramer has disdained the new and glitzy, using traditional storytelling methods to put over a genuinely engaging yarn.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/27/2004
  • UPC: 031398118152
  • Original Release: 2003

    • Rating:

  • Source: LIONS GATE
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
William H. Macy Bernie Lootz
Maria Bello Natalie Belisario
Alec Baldwin Shelly Kaplow
Shawn Hatosy Mikey
Ron Livingston Larry Sokolov
Paul Sorvino Buddy Stafford
Estella Warren Charlene
Arthur Nascarella Nicky "Fingers" Bonnatto
M.C. Gainey Highway Officer
Ellen Greene Doris
Joey Fatone Johnny Capella
Don Scribner Lou
Tony Longo Tony
Richard Israel Marty Goldfarb
Timothy Landfield The Player
T. J. Gioia Bulldog
Jewel Shepard Hooker
Gordon Michaels Mr. Pinkerton
Doc Watson Morrie
Bryon Baker Stickman #6
Monet Beaman Stickman #5
Charlie Carr Boxman
Joe Conti Pit Boss
Larry Elliott Floor Manager
M.C. Fatone Highway Officer
Norbert Ganska Stickman #1
Danny Grossen Stickman #3
Frank Hannah Dealer #2
Cherilyn Hayres Woman
Jeff Hill Stickman #4
Kanie Kastroll Croupier
John T. Kozeluh Man
Dan Lemieux Suburbanite
James McCarthy Televangelist
Heather McHenry Johnny Capella's Girls
Chris Platt Dealer
Mitch Samboceti Player
Andrew Simbeck Stickman #2
Monica White Johnny Capella's Girls
Technical Credits
Wayne Kramer Director, Screenwriter
Anita Brown Costumes/Costume Designer
Robin Bonaccorsi Stunts
Kristin M. Burke Costumes/Costume Designer
Andrew Busey Associate Producer
Alessandro Camon Executive Producer
Arthur Coburn Editor
Toby Corbett Production Designer
Sig De Miguel Casting
Casey Easlick Stunts
Richard L. Fox Asst. Director
Bryan Furst Co-producer
Sean Furst Producer
Cathy Sandrich Gelfond Casting
Billy Gottlieb Musical Direction/Supervision
Robert Gryphon Executive Producer
Stephen Halbert Sound Mixer
Frank Hannah Screenwriter
Colin Hudson Camera Operator
Mark Isham Score Composer
Stephen Krause Sound Mixer
Dan Lemieux Stunts
Amanda Mackey-Johnson Casting
Joe Madden Executive Producer
Michael J. Morreale Executive Producer
Brett Morrison Executive Producer
Udo Pfeiffer Asst. Director
Michael Pierce Producer
Edward R. Pressman Executive Producer
Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt Co-producer
John Schmidt Executive Producer
Wendy Weidman Casting
Jim Whitaker Cinematographer
James Whitaker Cinematographer
Lulu Zezza Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 3 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Best casino type movie in years!

    Alec Baldwin should have gotten his Oscar for this one. William Macy's performance was one his best as well and he should have gained some attention for his dramatic work in this one! I expect to see more of Maria Bello in the future. She was also great. I hope more people see this one. After all of the hype on some other titles, that 'let me down'. I watched this one back to back twice in one day and will recommend it to everyone I know.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 27, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 2, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews