If you haven’t already, go see The Cooler, a unique film starring William H. Macy as Bernie Lootz, a guy who is so unlucky it’s catching. In fact, his luck is so reliably lousy and contagious that he works for Mafia boss Shelly Caplow (Alec Baldwin) as a “cooler,” someone who cools off customers on winning streaks at an aging Vegas casino. All he has to do is stand next to a winning player to sour his chances.
But Bernie starts spending time with Natalie (Maria Bello), a tough but pretty waitress who seems mysteriously attracted to him. His life improves, and his cooling abilities falter. The day after Natalie declares her love, Bernie walks into the casino a changed man wielding ambient luck so strong the casino loses a million dollars to overjoyed patrons within hours. Naturally, this turn of events does not please the Mafia, and painful tests of love and courage follow.
The movie defies stereotype. It’s not an ersatz foreign film, although it does (contrary to American major release etiquette) feature non-athletes in the buff. Nor is it a fantasy despite strong surrealistic elements. It’s not a gangster movie, a romantic comedy or a drama.
But it is a love story. The Coolerâs most striking theme is that love is not reserved for the world’s beautiful, brilliant or successful people. Itâs not exclusive. Meeting a match doesn’t necessarily require being extraordinary in any way. But love is for the lucky. I guess that’s the point.
Posted by Marie Gryphon on January 12, 2004