Review: The Cooler

Rated R | 101 mins

With one touch of the table, an unflinching presence, and a fearful gaze, the luck is gone, the winning streak down the toilet. The cooler strikes again. He has a suave and fateful grin almost; so serious, it’s outrageously comedic and sort of sorrowing, as well. This movie is profoundly hysterical and deeply moving in such an odd way, I couldn’t help but look at the screen in a manner I never had before. I was nervous and disturbed by the contents of the film, but still had a smirk on my face, despite that. The Cooler is uncomfortably hilarious, the kind of thing that you know how to react to, but don’t want to believe that you do. It’s a tremendous work and a not-so-tremendous work. It’s something that you only like because of the shock factor; a movie so snaky and wicked should be much appreciated any time it plays on a multiplex’s screen.

Director Wayne Kramer takes us into the world of Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy), a cooler at an old-school style casino. It’s a “study” of how his wonderful ability to lose affects his personal life (or visa-versa). The story is simply meant to be experienced; I can’t even put my finger on why the whole thing comes across as so visceral, albeit utterly engaging.

Part of it has got to be the supporting performances by Alec Baldwin, who plays Bernie’s boss, and Maria Bello, his newfound romance. The two’s work is so insanely contradictory, the fact that they’re in the same flick is almost wacky. Baldwin plays a man who’s violent and stern, the kind of guy you’d never want to find yourself associating with. Bello is more sentimental and helplessly independent in her role, thriving upon an undistinguished vulnerability. She’s my favorite in the film, capturing real feelings, within the contrived plot. Her work, ironically, blends into the picture well, though, making for much of its success. It’s inspiring to see her do something so indifferent in such a daring movie, bringing a beautiful sense of humanity to the material.

If it’s unique ingeniousness you want, I can’t think of a better flick to attend. The creativity of The Cooler is what makes it the ideal picture that it is. The film is slowly expanding, and is now in most major markets; hopefully it will receive the warped success that it deserves.