One of the new movies this week is "21", about math geeks turned card counters, starring Kevin Spacey.  After that, we have “Stop-Loss,” a film that hopes to finally get audiences to accept the Iraq war as Hollywood entertainment.

   “21” is about Ben Campbell, an MIT student who finds himself in a money crunch.  Instead of taking out a student loan, he joins a group, led by professor Kevin Spacey, that travels to Vegas casinos to use card counting in order to make loads of moolah.

   Ben, as played by British actor Jim Sturgess, wears cool clothes and even gets a love interest in the form of Kate Bosworth.  Everyone is excited about this but the casinos, and they intend to make this scheme as difficult as possible.

  “21” is based on the book "Bringing Down the House", which is a tremendously engrossing and entertaining real-life tale.  With the director of “Legally Blonde” at the helm, there is possibility that this could get mangled badly.

  The film is rated PG-13 for some violence, and sexual content including partial nudity.
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   “Stop-Loss” focuses on decorated Iraqi war veteran Brandon King, as played by Ryan Phillipee.  After returning to Texas and trying to start his life, the military informs him that he is going to have to go back despite his contract ending.  

  That practice is called Stop-Loss and leads Brandon on a journey that has him questioning his relationship to his family, his friends, and fellow veterans, and to the government itself.

  What makes this film different than the other current event films out right now is director Kimberly Peirce. She hasn't made a film in nine years but her last film, “Boys Don't Cry,” defined her as a true voice on modern moviemaking.

  “Stop-Loss” is rated R for graphic violence and pervasive language.