Writer-director Wayne Kramer and co-writer Frank Hannah keep the tension taut, even while working in subplots about the demise of a junkie lounge singer (Paul Sorvino), the sudden appearance of Bernie's estranged son (Shawn Hatosy) with a pregnant girl-friend (Estella Warren), and plans for modernizing the Shangri-La with a timely subtext on the future of the bright lights of the Vegas Strip. But, above all, this is a brilliant tour-de-force for the perennially underestimated character actor William H. Macy, whose hang-dog look and sad-sack physicality personify his low-life character. Maria Bello is convincing and Alec Baldwin is in top form as the nasty, menacing operations director, evoking memories of his turn in "Glengarry Glen Ross." On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "The Cooler" is an intriguing, suspenseful 7. If strong performances intrigue you, gamble on this one.