69
Metascore
36 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90VarietyTodd McCarthyVarietyTodd McCarthyWayne Kramer's sexy and often humorous feature directorial debut surrounds its sweet center with the energy, flash and risk of the gambling capital. Sterling performances by William H. Macy and Maria Bello as the long-shot lovers and Alec Baldwin as a temperamental casino operator.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood ReporterA refreshing throwback to another era of moviemaking: This movie was poured from the bottle, not one of those bar regulator machines. It's got the kick, style and flavor of a straight-up story, before movies were watered down with the opinions of marketers, lawyers and committee heads.
- 88Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversWayne Kramer, who co-wrote the scrappy script with Frank Hannah, makes a potent directing debut and strikes gold with the cast.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasDirector Wayne Kramer and co-writer Frank Hannah pull off a sleight-of-hand trick here, playing a gritty surface reality against dark Vegas mythology and getting away with it through a combination of shrewd, witty characterization and sure-footed storytelling skills.
- 75PremierePremiereDriving the plot, Baldwin gives an inexorable, career-marking performance.
- 75ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliThe best part of the film, unsurprisingly, is William H. Macy's low-key portrayal of Bernie.
- 75Entertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumEntertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumA lot of fun early in the evening, when the Rat Pack ambiance is novel, but gets bleary by 4 a.m. in the story.
- 70Film ThreatMerle BertrandFilm ThreatMerle BertrandHas the intangible and distinctive feel of a movie from a different era. Which just adds to this fine film's mystique, providing yet another reason why The Cooler hits the jackpot.
- 70The New York TimesDana StevensThe New York TimesDana StevensLuckily this picture is rescued from cliché by the quality of the acting, and Mr. Kramer wisely gives the actors room to work.
- 40Village VoiceMark HolcombVillage VoiceMark HolcombFirst-timer Wayne Kramer brings pathos to Bernie and Shelly's fraught relationship, but his film never amounts to more than a cute idea stretched to poker-chip thinness.