... THE COOLER was one pleasant surprise, a script that cleverly juxtaposes the grim, harsh, gritty reality of the fading gambling glory days of darker Las Vegas with the whimsical 'what if' element of a character (Bernie Lutz, played winningly by William H. Macy) hired by the slimy casino manager (Alec Baldwin, playing Alec Baldwin) to pass along his seemingly endless streak of bad luck to hot table players. Throw in the only stereotypical element of the script -- a down-on-her-luck cocktail waitress who originally came to Vegas to make it big as a showgirl now trying to go legit b/c she may've found her one shot @ true love -- and you've got a capitivating character study that's as much about the people who inhabit these roles as it is the times they live in. Wonderful performances, outstanding camera work, and a complementing music score make THE COOLER one hot flick.