On C List of Movie Reviews

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The Cooler (2003)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 7/04, 9/26

9/26: I wondered if such people existed.

After much research, it turns out they don't. At any rate, William H. Macy is totally perfect for The Cooler. It's one of two performances, the other being Boogie Nights, that I like out of him because he tends to be blah in the same way over and over.

Now, Alec Baldwin...what an all-time outstanding performance. An immensely underrated actor, he should've gotten an Oscar nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross but is finally recognized here for the first and only time of his career. The way Alec Baldwin delivers every line is perfect. It's like watching the characters of his in Miami Blues, Malice, and The Juror come alive.

The weakest link is Maria Bello. For the longest time, I had zero conviction somebody as pretty as she would hook up with William H. Macy compared to Elisabeth Shue and Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas. However, the twist is eventually revealed that she was being paid to do it. Either way, Maria Bello's acting isn't that great. Regardless, the story is gripping enough for me to overlook it.

All in all, William H. Macy is so much the titular role of The Cooler, but it's Alec Baldwin who makes this one a must-see.

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