KEVIN SPACEY’S $35,000 BLACKJACK WIN & STAR-STUDDED FINAL NIGHT FOR MOVIE CONVENTION
It’s the final day of ShoWest and I will emcee the theater owners awards luncheon—and I’m pleased to note that our local hero, Johnny Brenden from George Maloof’s Palms resort casino, will be among those we honor for film marketing campaigns. Then tonight the Bourne Ultimatum spy thriller that starred Matt Damon will win “Coca-Cola’s Consumer Choice Award” as the Favorite Movie of 2007 as voted on by the readers of USA Today.
Access Hollywood hosts Nancy O’Dell and Billy Bush will emcee the glittering final night of the ShoWest movie exhibitor’s convention at the Ballys/Paris resort hotel casinos. The other awards are for Comedy Star of the Year—Seth Rogen, Male Star of Tomorrow—Emile Hirsch, Female Star of Tomorrow—Abigail Breslin, Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film—Brendan Fraser, ShoWest Vanguard Award—Sarah Jessica Parker, Male Star of the Year—Robert Downey Jr., Female Star of the Year—Anne Hathaway and the ShoWest Ensemble Award to the cast of Kevin Spacey’s new 21 movie with gorgeous Kate Bosworth, veteran Laurence Fishburne & handsome newcomer, Jim Sturgess, who steals the film.
The world-premiere of Kevin’s 21 was held last night at the Planet Hollywood resort casino, and Luxe Life was on the red carpet for our photo-coverage.
There were as many TV crews and photographers as for a Hollywood opening! Before the movie unspoiled, Kevin, with his cast and director on stage, told the audience that he’d originally acquired the movie rights to the MIT students “Breaking the Bank” book back in 2002 and it took five long years of love and labor to finally bring it to the screen. He thanked Planet Hollywood and its chairman, Robert Earl for helping make the Vegas filming possible. And indeed, the resort-casino is featured prominently in the flick, along with other Vegas locations all over our Valley. Cheekiest moment of the night was when the film’s director, Robert Luketic tried to peek up Kate’s ultra-short silver sparkling dress on stage in full view of the audience! Later the stars showed at the biggest party Vegas has ever seen in a new “Club 2” built for one night only in the ballrooms of the hotel.
Over a mock blackjack table there, Kevin told me, “None of us had time to play blackjack while we were filming, but we might make up for it later on this trip. I failed basic math, so I could never count cards like these guys featured in the film. But I will tell you I once, and once only, turned $500 into a $35,000 win! Blackjack is my game!”
I asked him why he was so passionate about the film.
“It’s a mind movie, no shoot-outs, no really bad language, no car chases. It’s all up here in the brain and it’s the workings of the mind tied to gambling and believing you can break the bank in Vegas that got me to the point where I just had to make it.”
The film won rave applause and predictions of blockbuster box-office business when it opens at the end of the month in theaters across the country.