The Cooler Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A professional loser finds love and accidentally becomes a lucky charm, angering his mob boss who really needs him to keep everyone else losing.

🍿 The Cooler: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Bernie Lootz

Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) is a down-on-his-luck man working as a “cooler” at the Shangri-La casino in Las Vegas. His job is to spread bad luck to gamblers on hot streaks, turning their winnings into losses for the house. He’s essentially a walking jinx, employed by the casino to kill the good fortune of others.

Shelly Kaplow’s Old School Vegas

The Shangri-La is managed by Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), a ruthless man clinging to the old ways of Vegas. He despises the modern, family-friendly casinos and runs his establishment with an iron fist and old-school mob tactics. Shelly uses violence and intimidation to maintain order and ensure the casino’s profitability. He sees Bernie as a valuable asset, a necessary evil in his fight to preserve the old Vegas.

Love Changes Everything

Bernie’s life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello), a cocktail waitress at the casino. They begin a relationship, and for the first time in his life, Bernie experiences genuine happiness. This newfound love inexplicably reverses his bad luck, turning him into a source of good fortune for gamblers, which disrupts the casino’s operations and puts him in conflict with Shelly.

Conflict and Betrayal

As Bernie’s luck changes, Shelly becomes increasingly desperate to regain control. He manipulates Natalie, revealing that he initially hired her to keep Bernie in Vegas. Natalie, however, has genuinely fallen in love with Bernie. Their relationship is tested as Shelly resorts to increasingly violent and desperate measures to break them apart and restore Bernie’s bad luck.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy): A down-on-his-luck ‘cooler’ whose bad luck reverses when he falls in love, jeopardizing his job and his life.
• Natalie Belisario (Maria Bello): A cocktail waitress who falls in love with Bernie, inadvertently turning his bad luck into good fortune.
• Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin): The ruthless, old-school casino manager who relies on Bernie’s bad luck to keep the house winning and struggles to adapt to a changing Las Vegas.
• Mikey (Shawn Hatosy): Bernie’s estranged, unreliable son who returns seeking money, leading to trouble with Shelly.
• Larry Sokolov (Ron Livingston): A Harvard-educated VP brought in to modernize the Shangri-La casino, creating conflict with Shelly’s old-school methods.
• Nicky Bonnatto (Arthur J. Nascarella): One of the mob investors who is pushing for modernization and ultimately eliminates Shelly to protect their investment.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Shelly Kaplow: “What? You mean that Disneyland mookfest out there? Huh? Come on, you know what that is? Huh? That’s a fucking violation is what that is.” – Shelly expresses his disgust with the modern, family-friendly Las Vegas, lamenting the loss of its old-school charm.
• Shelly Kaplow: “Something that used to be beautiful, used to have class, like a gorgeous high-priced hooker with an exclusive clientele. Then along comes that Steve Wynn cocksucker and knocks her up and puts her in a fucking family way. Now she’s nothing but a cheap, fat whore hiding behind too much fucking make-up.” – Shelly further describes his distaste for the new Las Vegas with a colorful analogy.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3.2M
• Domestic Gross: $8.29M
• Worldwide Gross: $10.46M

💥 The Cooler Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved ‘The Cooler’! I was drawn into the gritty, old-school Vegas setting and felt completely invested in Bernie and Natalie’s unlikely romance. The scene where Bernie finally stands up to Shelly on the rooftop was so powerful. It was just a reminder that even when things look bad, hope and love can still turn things around. It is a movie that will leave you thinking about luck, love, and loyalty long after the credits roll.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of neo-noir films”
  • “Viewers who appreciate character-driven stories”
  • “People interested in Las Vegas lore and history”
  • “Those who enjoy dramas with a touch of romance and crime”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Explicit sexual content”
  • “Drug use”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “Alec Baldwin delivers a career-defining performance as a menacing but sympathetic casino boss, while William H. Macy embodies the tragic charm of a down-on-his-luck everyman. The film’s exploration of old Vegas versus new adds depth to a compelling love story.
• Rolling Stone: “‘The Cooler’ is a surprising gem, elevated by its stellar cast. Macy is perfectly cast as the hapless Bernie, and Bello brings both vulnerability and strength to her role. It’s a dark, funny, and ultimately moving look at love and luck.
• Entertainment Weekly: “Wayne Kramer’s ‘The Cooler’ benefits from a strong script, but it’s the performances that truly shine. Baldwin’s portrayal of Shelly is nothing short of brilliant, capturing the desperation of a man fighting to preserve a dying way of life.

Audience Reactions

William H. Macy’s performance as a down-on-his-luck ‘cooler’ was both heartbreaking and hilarious.: The film is praised for its authentic depiction of old-school Las Vegas and its compelling characters.

Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of the volatile casino boss Shelly Kaplow was the most impressive performance in the movie.: Viewers found the film’s mix of romance, crime, and dark humor to be unique and engaging.

Overall Consensus: A well-acted and compelling drama with a unique premise that explores themes of luck, love, and loyalty in the gritty world of old-school Las Vegas.

Awards

1. National Board of Review (Best Supporting Actor)- 2003

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “William H. Macy was given three suits to wear during the film. During scenes where his character Bernie was hapless and unlucky, he wore a suit that was two sizes too big for him. During scenes where his luck was starting to turn around, he wore a suit that was one size too big for him. After he falls in love and is extremely lucky, he wears a perfectly tailored suit.”
• “The Landmark Hotel, seen in the movie, was imploded during the closing credits, symbolizing the end of an era for Las Vegas casinos.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Cooler?

The Cooler is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. As of [Date], it is not currently streaming on subscription services like Netflix or Hulu.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Cooler, you might like these similar films:

• Casino (1995): A deep dive into the operations of a Las Vegas casino, capturing the intensity and violence of the mob’s involvement.
• Leaving Las Vegas (1995): Features a dark, character-driven story set against the backdrop of Las Vegas, focusing on themes of despair and redemption.
• Rounders (1998): Explore the lives of gamblers and the high-stakes world of card playing, focusing on the characters’ struggles with addiction and morality.

🛒 The Cooler Related Products

• The Cooler [Blu-ray]: Experience the neo-noir masterpiece in stunning high definition. This Blu-ray edition brings the gritty visuals and compelling performances to life, perfect for collectors and fans of the film.
• Las Vegas: An Unconventional History: Dive into the real stories behind Las Vegas’s rise, fall, and reinvention. Understand the context of the world depicted in ‘The Cooler’ with tales of mobsters, dreamers, and visionaries.
• Poker Face Funny Gambler T-Shirt: Wear your love for ‘The Cooler’ and the world of gambling with this stylish and comfortable T-shirt. Made from high-quality material, it’s perfect for casual wear and showing off your unique taste.
• Casino Dice Set – Authentic Casino Grade: Bring the excitement of the craps table home with this set of casino-grade dice. Perfect for practicing your rolls and reliving your favorite scenes from ‘The Cooler’.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Cooler features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Candy” – performed by Rebecca Kyler Downs
• “Luck Be a Lady” – performed by Frank Sinatra

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The History of Cooler Explained

Ever wondered who Cooler really is and why he’s such a formidable foe? This video dives deep into his origins, and trust me, it makes his actions in the movie way more impactful!

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Curious how ‘Return of Cooler’ stacks up against other DBZ movies? This video gives a fun, honest review of all the films, and it’s interesting to see where this one lands in the grand scheme of things!

Final Form Cooler is the PRINCE of VIOLATIONS

Want to understand just how powerful Final Form Cooler really is? This video breaks down his abilities and why he’s considered such a menace. It’s a great deep-dive that really puts his strength into perspective!

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