Smokin' Aces, 2006

this is one of the best non-guy Richie movies that I have ever seen.

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It?s movies like these that make me really upset. Why? Because, I was really cheering for this movie, and wanting it to be good. It had a good cast ranging from Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, and Andy Garcia. So how did the movie go wrong? Well each one of those people is in the movie for about five minutes a piece. The rest of the movie tried to focus on several groups of hired killers. These assassins are suppose to be strange interesting individuals, but they end up being flat and dull, except for one, and they don?t get much screen time either. So where did 40 minutes, a third of the movie go. Well there are 20 minutes of explanation at the beginning, by Mr. Affleck, and 20 minutes of explanation at the end, by Mr. Garcia. Each twenty minutes full of flash back sequences that did not appear in the rest of the movie at all and no way could the audience draw the implausible conclusion at the end. But the reason I?m really upset is that there was great potential here. A few things from the script could have made a good movie. There is one scene with Piven in the bathroom talking about card tricks and manipulating the truth. This is a very good heart felt scene that I wish there was more of. There is also one of the hit men that was very polite about killing people. He talks to one of the innocent people that he kills and makes him become at peace with his death. He also gets caught up in an elevator with Liotta and this scene could have drawn such anticipation, which it does kind of, but it could have been a lot better if it?s dialogue could have been extended, but it does lead up to a great shoot out. But the director wanted this to be over the top action comedy fun movie going spectacle, when it could have been much more and much better. Since this movie pissed me off so much I can only give it a... 2 out of 10

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Essentially void of any true meaning, 'Smokin Aces' is a divine excercise in form over function. Not only does the film look and sound completely original (artfully frenetic, with a side of violence) but it builds to one after another after another wholly satisfying crescendoes of intense action and violence. To this end, the plot serves it well: the viewer is repeatedly astounded by the ways the 'plot thickens' and the potential for a monumental bloodbath pile up like the bread of a club sandwich. The most impressive aspect is that after such a painstaking and satisfying build-up, the finale does not disappoint. To be sure, this film is not for everyone. But if you liked 'Die Hard' as well as 'Boondock Saints' then give this a try. You won't regret it.

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