The Cooler

William H. Macy plays the title character in this one, a sad sack who can magically turn the luck of a gambling table simply by looking at it with a dour expression. Most of the film focuses on him, but you’ll wish his moping character were completely disregarded in favor of Alec Baldwin’s mean-assed old Vegas casino owner, who fights the notion of his casino joining the ranks of the family-friendly attractions popping up on the strip. Maria Bello is fine as Macy’s mysterious love interest, but the film’s crazy, messed-up tone drags down the proceedings. The premise is insane, but director Wayne Kramer plays it like reality. This film aspires to be darker, or more satirical, but instead winds up a routine love story. A completely botched ending, and a bad supporting performance by Shawn Hatosy in a worthless subplot involving Macy’s long lost kid seal the deal. This is an overrated movie.