'The cooler' is a tale of a Las Vegas looser whose luck begins to turn after he started a love affair. Bernie Lootz ( William H. Macy ) is a man with terrible bad luck and he spreads it to people around him. His ability to give bad luck to others and himself, lands him a job at a casino in Las Vegas, where he spoils the winning streaks of gamblers. He is forced to stick on to the job as he's indebted to the casino owner.

Alec Baldwin plays the casino owner Shelly, who runs his place the old fashioned way, employing Bernie as table cooler, a guy who brings bad luck to hot tables.. i.e Until Bernie meets Natalie (Marie Bello ), the casino waitress. A romance blossoms and he falls in love with her. Natalie beds him with a great vigor and vitality. Love turns Bernie's luck around and all the hell breaks loose and makes him a 'useless cooler'.

Did Natalie change Bernie's luck for better or worse? Will Baldwin fire Bernie after his luck changed? You have to see the movie to answer these questions.

Wayne Kramer's 'the cooler' has a very cool concept with great performances. It is not a comedy but it has it's moments, rather it is a love story between two star crossed lovers. The movie is well carried by Macy and Baldwin and both should be nominated for OSCAR for their roles in the film. Alec Baldwin portrays his role as Shelly, the casino owner who tries hard to maintain his casino as a hard core gambling place rather than turn it to a fantasy land, with relish. It has a good story with a hilarious ending. 

We rate this movie Good.