The Cooler

2003 Drama

Writer/director Wayne Kramer offers a glimpse into the aging Las Vegas casino world with the romantic drama The Cooler. Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) is extremely unlucky at gambling, and he owes the Shangri-La casino over 100,000 dollars. He is so unlucky that he is hired as a "cooler," someone to gamble next to high rollers and give them some of his bad luck to stop them from winning. This arrangement works out for awhile, until Bernie has almost paid off his debt and meets cocktail waitress Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello). The two start to fall in love and Bernie's luck begins to change. However, the old-fashioned mob boss Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin) isn't going to let Bernie go so easily. Meanwhile, Larry Sokolov (Ron Livingston) arrives on the scene to help update the business management of the old mobster-run casino. Also starring Joey Fatone and Paul Sorvino as lounge singers. The Cooler was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the dramatic competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. more..

Director: Wayne Kramer

Starring: William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello, Ron Livingston,Paul Sorvino

 30 Reviews  22 Awards

Reviews

  • Look for realism, and you'll find The Cooler disappointing. Look for a far-fetched yarn that's as unpredictable as a throw of the dice, though, and you'll find it engaging fun.

    David Sterritt - Christian Science Monitor

    27 April 2013

  • A 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.

    - The Hollywood Reporter

    27 April 2013

  • The acting is on the money, the writing has substance, the direction knows when to evoke film noir and when (in a trick shot involving loaded dice) to get fancy.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • Wayne Kramer, who co-wrote the scrappy script with Frank Hannah, makes a potent directing debut and strikes gold with the cast.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    27 April 2013

  • A lot of fun early in the evening, when the Rat Pack ambiance is novel, but gets bleary by 4 a.m. in the story.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role

    Academy Awards (2004)

     

  • Best Supporting Actor

    Boston Society of Film Critics Awards (2003)

  • Best Supporting Actor

    Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2004)

     

  • Best Casting for Feature Film, Independent

    Casting Society of America (2004)

     

  • Best Supporting Actor

    Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (2004)

     

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