William H Macy is one of those assured character actors who always seem destined for supporting roles.

Scene-stealing turns in movies such as Fargo, Pleasantville and Magnolia always raised him to the cusp of celebrity...but never tipped him over.

Here he makes a rare step into the shoes of the leading man as Bernie Lootz, a "cooler" on the Las Vegas casino circuit.

"People get next to me," he sighs, "their luck turns bad." - which makes him just who you want on your side if you're a gambling boss.

Vicious casino kingpin Shelly (Baldwin), who believes in maiming or killing those who cheat him, signs Bernie up to end the winning runs on his tables.

Both men go back a long way - Shelly knee-capped Bernie after covering his debts when his life was at risk from disgruntled casino owners.

However, Bernie wants out when his luck turns after meeting cocktail waitress Natalie (Bello). Of course, it's not that easy.

Macy, who is never less than watchable, appears miscast (he's too old and not sexy enough) as the perpetual loser who finds himself on a winning run.

However, Baldwin is chillingly convincing in a role he claims he was inspired to play after watching Ben Kingsley's psychotic turn in Sexy Beast.

It's a charming, slightly surreal film and boasts a very satisfying ending that ties together all the loose ends.

Tim Evans