Directed by:
Wayne KramerCinematography:
James WhitakerComposer:
Mark IshamCast:
William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello, Shawn Hatosy, Ron Livingston, Paul Sorvino, Estella Warren, Arthur J. Nascarella, Joey Fatone, M.C. Gainey (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
William H. Macy adds another quirky, offbeat, and original character to his resume in the form of Bernie Lootz, a sad-sack loser who has the worst luck in town. Unfortunately for him, that town happens to be Las Vegas. He gets hired by his old friend Shelly Kaplowitz (the excellent Alec Baldwin, hitting his stride) to work at the Shangri-La Hotel and Casino, where his bad luck rubs off on the gamblers previously doing well at the tables. But Lootz isn't actually getting paid; he owes money to Shelly, so he is merely working off his debt. Things go haywire when he meets Natalie (Maria Bello) and falls instantly in love--threatening to change his luck. Meanwhile, Shelly is trying to keep the old-school feel of the casino, battling Larry Sokolov (Ron Livingston), who wants to update the place into a glitzy multimedia entertainment center. This struggle of old versus new is also seen in Sokolov's plans to replace aging lounge singer Buddy (Paul Sorvino) with hot newcomer Johnny Capella (Joey Fatone of *NSYNC). THE COOLER, screenwriter Wayne Kramer's directorial debut, is everything an independent film should be: intelligent, entertaining, thought-provoking, and never predictable. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
William H. Macy
USA
Alec Baldwin
USA
Best movies:
The Departed (2006)
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Nuremberg (2000) (TV movie)
Maria Bello
USA
Best movies:
Prisoners (2013)
Payback: Straight Up (2006)
Payback (1999)
Shawn Hatosy
USA
Best movies:
Soldier's Girl (2003) (TV movie)
Niagara, Niagara (1997)
Public Enemies (2009)
Ron Livingston
USA
Best movies:
The Conjuring (2013)
Family Guy Presents: Stewie Griffin - The Untold Story (2005) (video compilation)
Game Change (2012) (TV movie)
Paul Sorvino
USA
Best movies:
Goodfellas (1990)
The Panic in Needle Park (1971)
Kill the Irishman (2011)
Estella Warren
Canada
Best movies:
The Cooler (2003)
Planet of the Apes (2001)
National Lampoon's Pucked (2006)
Arthur J. Nascarella
USA
Best movies:
Enemy of the State (1998)
Happiness (1998)
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
Joey Fatone
USA
Best movies:
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001) (concert)
My Big Fat Greek Summer (2002)
The Cooler (2003)
M.C. Gainey
USA
Best movies:
Django Unchained (2012)
Lost: The Final Journey (2010) (TV movie)
Raiponce (2010)
Ellen Greene
USA
Best movies:
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Pump Up the Volume (1990)
The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)
Tony Longo
USA
Best movies:
The Last Boy Scout (1991)
Mulholland Drive (2001)
Winners Take All (1987)
Timothy Landfield
USA
Best movies:
Cheetah (1989)
The Cooler (2003)
Above Suspicion (1995)
Gordon Michaels
USA
Best movies:
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009) (TV movie)
Outbreak (1995)
Linda McCartney
USA
Best movies:
The Cooler (2003)
Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
Sgt. Pepper (1978)
Don Scribner
Best movies:
Crossing Over (2009)
The Cooler (2003)
Outlaw Force (1988)
Frank Hannah
UK
Best movies:
The Cooler (2003)
Richard Israel
Best movies:
The Cooler (2003)
Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992) (TV movie)
New Year's Evil (1980)