The Cooler is a gem of an independent film that was made all the more interesting because of the circumstances in which I saw it. It was a press screening with only around seven people in the audience, and one of those attendees happened to be Peter Travers of Rolling Stone magazine. This is completely irrelevant of course, but it was cool nonetheless.

The Cooler features the outstanding William H. Macy as Bernie Lootz, perhaps the most unlucky man in Las Vegas. So unlucky in fact, he's employed by a major casino for his cooling gifts. Whenever a gambler is on a winning streak, Lootz is sent in to spread his bad fortune to that particular patron, and without fail, the winning stops. However, Lootz's life changes
dramatically when he falls for casino cocktail waitress Natalie. As a result of their union, his luck changes and this doesn't go over well with the casino owner (an electric Alec Baldwin).

No one plays the lovable loser quite as effectively as William H. Macy (Fargo). He excels at this sort of part. He's absolutely terrific in this film and can now add romantic lead to his resume. I've been a fan of Maria Bello since her days on E.R. She's a perfect match for Macy in this picture, and while you probably wouldn't think it, these two do provide plenty of sparks in some surprisingly racy sex scenes. Of course the big talk surrounding The Cooler revolves around Alec Baldwin who delivers a high energy performance on par with his masterful supporting work in David Mamet's brilliant Glengarry Glen Ross. While this is one evil character, you
will find him hard to resist, and it should also be noted that he provides the audience with the biggest shock in the movie. It involves a pregnant woman, and I have to admit, when the scene in question occurred, I jolted in my seat.

I really loved this flick. The performances in this thing are just outstanding and I really liked that I had no idea where the movie was headed, particularly the abrupt but hilarious ending. The Cooler is violent at times, but it's also very funny and quite sweet. Given that it probably won't get a huge release, seek it out. It's more than worth it.