21

21 has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the UK on Netflix. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 5,069 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Jim Sturgess's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, 21 is worth clearing space for. The plotting gives 21 its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. Ben Campbell is a young, highly intelligent student at M.I.T. Who strives to succeed. Wanting a scholarship to transfer to Harvard School of Medicine to become a doctor, Ben learns that he cannot afford the $300,000 tuition as he comes from a poor, working-class background. Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2008. The plot mechanics of 21 never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, 21 delivers. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Jim Sturgess carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.