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Imagine your luck was so bad people counted on it. Imagine you were such a loser that your very presence could cause a Vegas table to stop paying out. Pretend, for just a moment, that you are so used to things not going your way, the only thing that gets you through life is knowing that by no longer taking risks you're better than you could be, but that your lifestyle is far from desirable. Sounds like Jan de Bont, right? Well in THE COOLER, at least William H. Macy's character never made SPEED 2.

Macy plays Bernie, a guy who has made a career by wandering his "friend" Shelly's casino, being called to tables with players on a hot streak. Their luck immediately goes south, and he gives that "Aw, shucks" Bill Macy expression as the poor sap walks away penniless. He's not fond of his place in life but he's paying off staggering gambling debts to Shelly. While there's a bar at the casino, there just aren't enough dishes for him to wash to make good. I'm not the kind to stiff somebody on a check, but I have to admit, I've never seen a restaurant actually make somebody wash dishes to pay off a tab. I think it's another lie told to us by the movies.

Anyway, Bernie meets a girl, they start to fall for each other, and suddenly his luck begins to change. Great, right? Nope. He still has a debt to pay, and his rotten luck was the only thing of value to Shelly. Of all the rotten luck. Things go from good to bad and back again in such a heartbreaking way that you feel for the guy. This isn't hurt by the fact that Macy is just one of the most likeable guys out there. I think I'd probably have trouble swearing in front of him. I should try that someday.

The movies strongest elements are the performances and atmosphere. I doubt I have to convince further about Macy, so on to the rest. Baldwin gives one of those performances that makes me say "Told you so" about his abilities as an actor. He doesn't always choose wisely, but when he's in something like this he's unstoppable. The script has hints of Mamet, and Baldwin is one of those guys who was born to play Mamet. Maria Bello is like a Tea Leone that can emote, or a Sharon Stone in those spots in her career that almost justified how famous she got. The three bounce off each other with a chemistry that is simply kinetic. Okay, I've been rereading some of my high school science books, and totally lifted that description, but I think it fit.

The atmosphere is, as mentioned, also really strong. You really get the feeling of what it's like to be at one of the older, less family-friendly casinos in Sin City. There's a depressing tone and dark presence that probably only could've been completed by pumping cigar smoke into the theater, which is prohibited by most states. All of this makes for a fairly engaging film experience. The script takes the occasional predictable or lucky turns, especially at the end, but it's a story about playing the odds, so it can be forgiven as possibly intentional. For the most part, writer/director Wayne Kramer rarely tipped his hand.