Comments on: I Could Have Been A Card Counter http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Miami Lawyer http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-35405 Miami Lawyer Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:34:38 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-35405 For one, they only played at two different casinos in the movie, and if they were worried about being discovered I think they would have played all over, like in the book. For one, they only played at two different casinos in the movie, and if they were worried about being discovered I think they would have played all over, like in the book.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7884 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7884 Jeff – I remember! Thanks for the comments and the update on 2.007. Someone else asked me about that and I clearly hadn’t been paying attention to that particular change over the years. I think there could have been a really funny 5.0 scene (e.g. “You got a 5.0 – you must be even smarter than someone who gets straight A’s”; “Actually a 5.0 is straight A’s at MIT” kind of thing but with much better dialog.<br /> <br /> Jeff – I remember! Thanks for the comments and the update on 2.007. Someone else asked me about that and I clearly hadn’t been paying attention to that particular change over the years. I think there could have been a really funny 5.0 scene (e.g. “You got a 5.0 – you must be even smarter than someone who gets straight A’s”; “Actually a 5.0 is straight A’s at MIT” kind of thing but with much better dialog.

]]> By: Jeff Ma http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7887 Jeff Ma Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7887 Hey Brad, <br /> <br /> I'm not sure if you remember me but I'm friends with Eric Silverman/Niel Robertson and met you about 10 years ago. I was also the "inspiration" for Ben Campbell. <br /> <br /> Couple notes... <br /> <br /> 2.70 is actually called 2.007 now... <br /> <br /> When the script was written I commented on the 5.0 versus 4.0 thing but after watching it I think that it probably makes sense for the filmmakers to have kept it as 4.0 even if it is incorrect. Much less confusing for the masses who would have no idea that MIT is out of a 5.0 scale. <br /> <br /> All the "MIT" interior scenes were shot at BU, MIT would not let them film on campus. It was a real shame as I even had Bob Metcalfe write a letter to the President on our behalf. <br /> <br /> Jeff Ma Hey Brad,

I'm not sure if you remember me but I'm friends with Eric Silverman/Niel Robertson and met you about 10 years ago. I was also the "inspiration" for Ben Campbell.

Couple notes…

2.70 is actually called 2.007 now…

When the script was written I commented on the 5.0 versus 4.0 thing but after watching it I think that it probably makes sense for the filmmakers to have kept it as 4.0 even if it is incorrect. Much less confusing for the masses who would have no idea that MIT is out of a 5.0 scale.

All the "MIT" interior scenes were shot at BU, MIT would not let them film on campus. It was a real shame as I even had Bob Metcalfe write a letter to the President on our behalf.

Jeff Ma

]]> By: Karyn German http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7888 Karyn German Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:52 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7888 I enjoyed the movie as well, but I was annoying the crap out of my best friend with my constant whispering about the outlandishness of the movie. My observations (and I certainly didn't go to MIT): <br /> <br /> I got the impression that biometric technology was supposedly in its infancy during the current setting of the movie. I believe most casinos have implemented it in some form or another for over 10 years. <br /> The thug routine - in our litigious society, there is no way the casino could get away with this. But, Fishburne was awesome at it! <br /> It took a while to bring down the guy with the gun at the table. Security would have been on him so fast, he wouldn't have gotten the gun out of his pocket. <br /> There is a seen in the begginning where the professor asks the class about picking three doors - and then would you change your answer if you knew what was behind one of the them. Brilliant kid explains why and that seems to be what inspires the professor that he is a genius. Huh? That's all it takes at MIT? I don't think so. <br /> <br /> Again, it was a very fun romp, though! Can't wait to go to Vegas in a few weeks. I enjoyed the movie as well, but I was annoying the crap out of my best friend with my constant whispering about the outlandishness of the movie. My observations (and I certainly didn't go to MIT):

I got the impression that biometric technology was supposedly in its infancy during the current setting of the movie. I believe most casinos have implemented it in some form or another for over 10 years.
The thug routine – in our litigious society, there is no way the casino could get away with this. But, Fishburne was awesome at it!
It took a while to bring down the guy with the gun at the table. Security would have been on him so fast, he wouldn't have gotten the gun out of his pocket.
There is a seen in the begginning where the professor asks the class about picking three doors – and then would you change your answer if you knew what was behind one of the them. Brilliant kid explains why and that seems to be what inspires the professor that he is a genius. Huh? That's all it takes at MIT? I don't think so.

Again, it was a very fun romp, though! Can't wait to go to Vegas in a few weeks.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7803 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7803 Yeah - I'm with you on that one. UROPs pay better and are more fun. Yeah – I'm with you on that one. UROPs pay better and are more fun.

]]> By: jim122 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7804 jim122 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7804 I dont know about MIT inaccuracies but there were many Casino moments that were Hollywood-ized. For one, they only played at two different casinos in the movie, and if they were worried about being discovered I think they would have played all over, like in the book. <br /> <br /> Also, they seemed to mostly be playing in the regular BJ pits where the limits are always low. To sit down and play $10-$100k you would usually need to go to a high limit sections where there is much less flow and more scrutiny. <br /> <br /> I think the most interesting book was the one where they used a different system where they would spot and track the spit card and didn't rely on counting. I dont know about MIT inaccuracies but there were many Casino moments that were Hollywood-ized. For one, they only played at two different casinos in the movie, and if they were worried about being discovered I think they would have played all over, like in the book.

Also, they seemed to mostly be playing in the regular BJ pits where the limits are always low. To sit down and play $10-$100k you would usually need to go to a high limit sections where there is much less flow and more scrutiny.

I think the most interesting book was the one where they used a different system where they would spot and track the spit card and didn't rely on counting.

]]> By: george_hart7927 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7807 george_hart7927 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7807 Hey Brad, <br /> I read about you in Entrepreneur magazine and found your blog today: I was very happy to see you were so interested in "21" too. I read the book and felt the movie didn't do it justice, but I did get dirty looks from my wife when we got home and I busted out the deck and started brushing up on my counting. :) <br /> <br /> The book: A+ <br /> The movie: 4.0 <br /> <br /> -George <br /> virtuoo.com Hey Brad,
I read about you in Entrepreneur magazine and found your blog today: I was very happy to see you were so interested in "21" too. I read the book and felt the movie didn't do it justice, but I did get dirty looks from my wife when we got home and I busted out the deck and started brushing up on my counting. :)

The book: A+
The movie: 4.0

-George
virtuoo.com

]]> By: curmudgeonly troll http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7808 curmudgeonly troll Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7808 LOL the Coop probably paid better/more fun. LOL the Coop probably paid better/more fun.

]]> By: johnb http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7814 johnb Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7814 You are correct, it was filmed at B.U. You are correct, it was filmed at B.U.

]]> By: bfeld http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html/comment-page-1#comment-7817 bfeld Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/i-could-have-been-a-card-counter.html#comment-7817 The Movie: "4.0". That made me laugh out loud. George - you nailed it. The Movie: "4.0". That made me laugh out loud. George – you nailed it.

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