This fascinating fact-inspired thriller (adapted from Ben Mezrich’s book Bringing Down the House) centres on genius maths student Ben (Jim Sturgess), who is recruited by Kevin Spacey’s devious professor Micky Rosa to join a team of gifted students who use their number skills to win fortunes at Las Vegas casinos.

Kate Bosworth in 21

Until, that is, they run into painful trouble from the truly menacing security chief Williams (Laurence Fishburne).

There are some enjoyable twists, and acute casting of the young gamblers adds to the considerable entertainment value of Robert Luketic’s well paced, suspenseful direction. Best of all, back-on-form Spacey makes a splendidly skewed villain.