Character Relationship Map: 21

Characters

• Ben Campbell (played by Jim Sturgess) — protagonist

  Ben is an MIT mathematics major accepted by Harvard Medical School but unable to afford its tuition. After joining Micky's blackjack team, he becomes a skilled card counter and enjoys sudden wealth, b...

• Micky Rosa (played by Kevin Spacey) — protagonist

  Micky is an MIT professor who recruits Ben after testing him with the Monty Hall problem and recognizing his mathematical ability. He leads the blackjack team through card counting and covert signals,...

• Choi (played by Aaron Yoo) — supporting

  Choi is one of the MIT students recruited by Micky for the blackjack team. He uses the team's card-counting system and covert signals during casino trips, then continues playing with Ben and Kianna af...

• Kianna (played by Liza Lapira) — supporting

  Kianna is an MIT student on Micky's blackjack team with Ben, Choi, Jill, and Fisher. She participates in the profitable casino trips and remains involved after the team breaks away from Micky. During...

• Cole Williams (played by Laurence Fishburne) — supporting

  Cole is the head of security at Planet Hollywood and monitors Micky's blackjack operation, eventually focusing on Ben. He attacks Ben after catching the students gambling and explains his past conflic...

• Fisher (played by Jacob Pitts) — supporting

  Fisher is a member of Micky's MIT blackjack team whose jealousy of Ben grows as Ben proves highly successful. While drunk, he fights Ben, causing Micky to expel him from the team. His behavior illustr...

• Cam (played by Sam Golzari) — supporting

  Cam is one of Ben's longtime friends and is initially affected by Ben's withdrawal into blackjack and casino life. After reconciling with Ben, Cam demonstrates that he can count cards effectively. He...

• Miles (played by Josh Gad) — supporting

  Miles is one of Ben's longtime friends, with whom Ben becomes estranged after neglecting his engineering competition and personal relationships. After they reconcile, Miles reveals strong card-countin...

• Professor (played by Supriya Chakrabarti) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Ben Campbell → Professor (Professional Student) — The professor's course directly affects Ben's academic status.

  Ben's course taught by the professor is first marked as complete and later marked incomplete, making Ben ineligible for graduation.

• Micky Rosa → Professor (Power Influencer) — Micky uses his connection to affect the professor's treatment of Ben.

  The plot states that the professor is an associate of Micky and initially gives Ben a passing grade without requiring attendance or work because of Mi...

• Micky Rosa → Kianna (Power Team Leader) — Micky directs Kianna as part of the team operation.

  Micky forms the MIT Blackjack Team and Kianna is listed as one of its student members.

• Micky Rosa → Choi (Power Team Leader) — Micky leads Choi within the organized blackjack team.

  Micky forms the MIT Blackjack Team and Choi is listed as one of its student members.

• Micky Rosa → Fisher (Power Expeller) — Micky exercises authority by removing Fisher from the operation.

  After Fisher fights Ben while drunk, Micky expels Fisher from the team.

• Ben Campbell → Micky Rosa (Professional Student And Mentor) — Micky recruits and trains Ben as a card-counting student.

  Micky challenges Ben with the Monty Hall problem, evaluates his mathematical ability, and invites him to join the MIT Blackjack Team.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Miles → Kianna (Alliance Teammate) — Miles and Kianna cooperate in the final operation.

  Miles works with Kianna during Micky's capture as part of the six-person card-counting team.

• Miles → Choi (Alliance Teammate) — Miles joins Choi in the final expanded team.

  Miles works with Choi during Micky's capture, and the six-person team earns money through card counting.

• Miles → Cam (Social Friends) — They form part of Ben's original friendship circle.

  Miles and Cam are described as Ben's long-time friends and participate together in the later card-counting work.

• Ben Campbell → Cam (Social Long-Term Friend) — Cam is one of Ben's restored friendships.

  Ben becomes estranged from his friends and later reconciles with Cam before Cam helps with the final card-counting operation.

• Ben Campbell → Miles (Social Long-Term Friend) — Their friendship survives Ben's period of gambling-related isolation.

  Ben becomes estranged from his friends because he neglects the engineering competition, then reconciles with Miles before the final card-counting oper...

• Cole Williams → Micky Rosa (Conflict Former Rival) — Their old casino conflict motivates Cole's pursuit of Micky.

  Cole reveals that Micky was once a successful card counter who got Cole fired after winning more than a million dollars at Cole's casino while Cole at...

• Cole Williams → Ben Campbell (Conflict Security Adversary) — Cole repeatedly threatens Ben's safety and winnings.

  Cole monitors the team, focuses on Ben, beats him after catching the independent team in Las Vegas, and later takes Ben's chips at gunpoint.

• Choi → Kianna (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate as members of the continuing card-counting group.

  Choi and Kianna are members of the MIT Blackjack Team and later work together during Micky's capture.

• Ben Campbell → Fisher (Alliance Fellow Teammate) — They begin as teammates within the casino operation.

  Fisher is one of the students on Micky's MIT Blackjack Team with Ben.

Story Analysis

A gifted mathematics student risks his education and relationships while pursuing scholarship money through an increasingly dangerous blackjack operation.

Plot Progression

1. A Scholarship Worth Winning — Ben receives admission to Harvard Medical School but cannot pay the tuition. He pursues a scholarship and attracts Micky's attention by solving a mathematical challenge.
2. Counting Toward Fortune — Micky recruits Ben into the MIT Blackjack Team, where the students use card counting and covert signals. Their casino profits give Ben an intoxicating high-roller lifestyle.
3. The Cost of Losing Control — Ben's gambling distracts him from the engineering competition and alienates his friends. After he loses $200,000, Micky leaves the team and Ben's independent attempt ends in violence.
4. Debts and Double Crosses — Ben faces academic disqualification and discovers that his winnings are gone. He reconciles with his teammates and plans a final disguised operation before biometric casino software is installed.
5. The Final Count — Ben's team wins $640,000 and uses chocolate coins to trick Micky. Williams captures Micky but later steals Ben's chips, while Ben and his restored friends continue counting and Ben presents the story...