by junkie christ » Sat Sep 23, 2006 1:47 pm
Ok anyone who thought this movie was crap either a) is mentally retarded or B) has no taste in movies. WOW. I was really blown away by the amount of fun I had watching this flick tacked onto the fact it was outstandingly acted, flimed, and wrote.
I think this is more than a film noir though. This is a standalone movie. I mean its not perfect by any strech of the word, but its kinda outside the genre Noir. Noir by default.
The hard part is talking about this movie and not giving anything away but ill try.
The script is expertly wrote in some ways, but i can see where people would scream plot hole. Theres not really any to speak of, i rewatched some of the scenes and looked. The reason people would scream this is the story is weaved together alot better than your average popcorn flick. But the dialogue is so Kevin Smith meets QT that you get that popcorn flick feel. I like this paradox and i think it really drives the movie. You always know there is something much bigger going on but you don't really get to see it until its ready to be seen. Fear not, the tension is barely noticed in a negative way because the film is highly entertaining across the board.
Here is the problem though: the (real) story is in the details to an insane degree. It does make up for it by showing you flashes of the reference points (and its one of the films strongest points in my opinion) but if you arent into really detailed movies, you will HATE that and be one of the people who says plot hole and screams.
The action is great, the writing is high class, but some casual movie goers or just total morons will hate this. Movie fans (esp mob fans or QT fans) will eat this shit up though. Just know there is a denomiator of people that will scoff.
This movie makes me actually really like Josh Hartnett. I've always thought of him as take or leave, but he really creates an interesting character. The odd thing is some of the writing for Slevin. There are times you wonder why he goes along with things. I mean it gets explained in a few different ways, but by the end of the movie its a totally forgiven flaw. Its not even a flaw. That "could be a flaw but its actually got a point" mechanism the movie employs appears here again and i don't quite think there is a word for it. This is the element of the movie that pushes it past Noir to me, mainly totally over Slevin, but ironicly enough is the reason the movie becomes Noir. Sound confusing? Watch the movie and you'll see what i mean. Hartnett takes a character that needed to be an oddball for this movie to work and really made one.
Bruce Willis plays the same aging roughass he always plays, and he always delivers. Morgan Freeman as a mob boss is a match made in heaven.
Normally I do not like Ben Kingsley in method acting, but he makes such an awesome Rabbi/crimeboss for his over compensating it fits the Noir genre out to a perfect fit. Lucy Liu does her job as a "could be sexual" girl next door but has the appeal where even you want to take her to dinner. That impressed me, normally i hate her too (aside from Kill Bill. she rocked in that).
Final verdict? Honestly this is one of my favorite movies of the year, and this has been a good year (unlike last year, which was A GREAT year). Its a smart and funny flick with just enough action to keep it from going overboard. Its deep roots in a mob infested film noir are a welcome return away from teeny movies with walmart gangstas. And the writing... did i mention how much of a fan of the writing i am? Because i am.
Its not without its flaws, but i think if your into this kinda thing the "flaws" are what makes the movie so damn good. They are only gonna be viewed as flaws to people who arent into this kinda thing. So its not for everybody. But its got something for damn near everyone.
Its no kiss kiss bang bang, but it makes a hell of a movie to watch the day after you watch kiss kiss bang bang.
Fans of the usual suspects and pulp fiction will love this one.
i give it 4 outta 5.