Drama,Romance
United States of America
Bernie Lootz, played by William H. Macy, has had a streak of bad luck his entire life and has now found himself working as a "cooler" in a casino owned by Shelly Kaplow, played by Alec Baldwin. Bernie's job is to sit at the tables and, through his bad luck, bring about losing streaks in the players around him.
Despite the unethical nature of his job, Bernie takes pride in being good at it and having a steady income. However, things begin to change when he meets Natalie Belisario, played by Maria Bello, a young waitress working in the casino. The two start dating and Bernie's luck begins to turn around, causing him to lose his "cooling" abilities.
Meanwhile, Kaplow's casino is facing financial troubles and he is under pressure to modernize his business and increase profits. When Bernie's streak of bad luck begins to affect the casino's bottom line, Kaplow becomes increasingly angry and starts to plot against him.
The Cooler is a romantic drama with a twist, exploring the concepts of luck, love, and the lengths people will go to for financial gain. The film was directed by Wayne Kramer and was released in 2003. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Alec Baldwin's performance.
