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The Cooler
(Reviewed December 6, 2003)
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You could do worse on a "lying around the house channel-surfing through the cable listings" evening. William H. Macy is the title character, a generally sad-sack loser employed by a casino to bring bad
luck to winning gamblers. Buying that premise requires quite a leap, not so much because of doubts that such a profession ever existed (crazier things have happened), but because Macy is so consistently
reliable at it that he seems to have magical powers. When he's down, people lose. When he's up, people win. If the rest of the movie had the same "magic realism" tone, maybe it would have held together
better. It doesn't -- and Macy's part of the movie ends up being the least interesting because it seems the most "gimmicky." Also, his character is way too naive for somebody with his background. Would
this guy really give his life's savings to a transparently no-account son who suddenly reappears in his life? I don't think so.
The best thing about "The Cooler" is supporting player Alec Baldwin's performance as the bitter, nasty, violent owner of the casino. I wish the movie had been more about this "old Vegas"
dinosaur who hates what the city has become: a "family friendly" tourist destination. He practically seethes with disgust.
I can relate.
Back Row Grade: C-
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