Lucky # Slevin

[DotTheEyes]

...is on DVD today.

An old-fashioned wrong-man thriller draped in new-age edginess (including the fitting, if off-the-wall title), Lucky # Slevin stars Josh Hartnett as an everyday schlub who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and caught in the middle of a war being waged by two of NYC's most feared mobsters (Morgan Freeman and Sir Ben Kingsley). Now, he must outwit the crime kingpins while avoiding a mysterious world-class assassin (Bruce Willis) and protecting his energetic new girlfriend (Lucy Liu).

Recalling such success stories as Pulp Fiction and The Usual Suspects, this film is high-octane mix of crime thrills, gory action, and tart comedy. The blend can be disorienting, but, overall, it's appealing and well-done. The best element is the performances. Josh Hartnett is in almost every scene and acquits himself extremely well, especially when it comes to delivering the snappy one-liners. Quirky Sir Ben Kingsley, spirited Lucy Liu, and intense, terse Bruce Willis are also standouts. Worth mentioning also is director Paul McGuigan's colorful, stylish direction and screenwriter Jason Smilovic's bizarre, yet intriguing screenplay.

There are occasional flaws, such as moments where the whole film comes close to lapsing into self-satisfaction or self-parody, but the considerable energy generated by the good acting, directing, and writing more than compensates. Overall, this is a fine Saturday night rental and one which will have you laughing (and sweating) throughout. Recommended!

 

[virgovictoria]

Loved it!

 

[vraiblonde]

This is one of those movies that you have to watch twice to piece together the plot. A lot of these actors don't do "quirky" well (like Morgan Freeman) so it took me a bit to realize this was somewhat of a comedy, especially after the opening scene where the Dad gets killed. In Pulp Fiction, all the killings have a humorous edge to them, in a sick sort of way. But there was nothing even remotely amusing about Max's death.

I still can't figure out why Slevin got mugged and the mistaken identity was clumsy. But it was a good movie and worth seeing.

 

[Larry Gude]

He didn't...

This is one of those movies that you have to watch twice to piece together the plot. A lot of these actors don't do "quirky" well (like Morgan Freeman) so it took me a bit to realize this was somewhat of a comedy, especially after the opening scene where the Dad gets killed. In Pulp Fiction, all the killings have a humorous edge to them, in a sick sort of way. But there was nothing even remotely amusing about Max's death.

I still can't figure out why Slevin got mugged and the mistaken identity was clumsy. But it was a good movie and worth seeing.

...get mugged. He only told Lisa he did as part of his cover story as he didn't know who she was at that point.

What I don't get is why did Willis spare the boy? Just for the fun of running the KC shuffle of all time?

 

[vraiblonde]

...get mugged. He only told Lisa he did as part of his cover story as he didn't know who she was at that point.

Then how did he get the busted nose? He already had it when the thugs grabbed him.

 

[Larry Gude]

Well...

Then how did he get the busted nose? He already had it when the thugs grabbed him.

...Bruce Willis, in the memory scene, busted him one. He said "Alomsot forgot, POW' and then off to their caper. Right?

 

[Kyle]

... a few minor inconsistancies, but I liked the movie.