Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

SMOKIN' ACES (R)

MOVIE BIASES: It's got a lil somethin'-somethin' for everyone.

MAJOR PLAYERS: Andy Garcia (The Lost City), Ryan Reynolds (Van
Wilder), Jeremy Piven (TV's "Entourage"), Alicia Keys (singer), Common
(rapper), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), Taraji P. Henson (Baby Boy), and
writer/director Joe Carnahan (Narc)

Ever since its bloody, foot massaging inception, "Pulp Fiction" has
been one of the most poorly and stylistically imitated movies in
modern memory. Finally here's a film that captures most of its same
over-the-top, pulpy soul – "Smokin' Aces."

As mobbed up, five-time Vegas Showman of the Year illusionist/wannabe
gangster, Buddy "Aces" Israel (Piven) – "a total cliché" and "seven
layer loser" strung out on blow, booze, and broads – hides out in a
Lake Tahoe hotel penthouse suite while awaiting trial to rat out on
the remains of the infamous La Cosa Nostra crime family. Once the FBI
gets wind of a million dollar bounty put out on Israel's head, they
scramble to get a deal in place that Israel will accept to truly tell
all before one of several teams of hitmen – including sistagurl duo
Georgia & Sharice (Keys & Henson), a family of roughhousing rednecks,
and a mellifluously named master of disguise named Lazlo Soot (Tommy
Flanagan) – win the assassin free-for-all.

Visually audacious and jauntily written, "Smokin'" lives up to its
name. Carnahan, who once flirted with directing "Mission Impossible
III," sticks to his noirish, twisty roots by serving up a frothy,
confectionary, cameo carnival of action comedy. Please believe there's
a plot to be had in this comically violent movie which, like its star
Piven, has style to spare. In fact, Carnahan appropriately keeps the
plot moving so you can ignore just how ludicrous the film is, taking
some very sharp, if incredulous, turns. And that's meant as a
compliment for a thoroughly enjoyable, faux-indie flick where a lot of
things go boom (and, natch, make me happy).

Piven, at his greasy, smarmy best, leads a terrific, if overcast cast
(but with better material, quite unlike, oh, say, SAG & Golden Globe
NOMINATED (?!?!) "Bobby") as coked out poonhound magician Israel. Want
a profane, feminist philosophizing, bi-curious hitwoman? Taraji P.
Henson channels the ghost of Queen Latifah in "Set It Off" for ya. How
'bout a comic actor playing serious or a serious actor playing comic?
Ryan Reynolds and Matthew Fox, respectively, at your service.
Musicians as actors? Why, "Smokin'" even has a stalwart, menacing
Common and a low-key sexy Alicia Keys making strong acting debuts with
charisma and confidence. And in a movie full of scene-stealers, Jason
Bateman's grotesque, self-loathing lawyer Rip Reed will have you
checking your valuables to see if he's stolen them, too, he's just
that good (in less than ten minutes total screen time, I might add).

Unfortunately, "Aces'" best quality is also its worst: it's just a
little…"too." Too much blood, too much violence, too much nudity (not
really)…just "too." While none of this really fazes me, at times, it's
just so "too" that it vaults into self-parody. Call me a nitpicker who
can't suspend his disbelief but when the longest elevator ride in
cinematic history is your central third act plot point…Well, then your
movie is just a little "too" short of perfection.

I'm sure Quentin Tarantino will go out and see this slickly produced
actioner with the masses this weekend. But I'm sure he will be
grinning wider than most: Not from this movie's total commitment to
entertainment, but from recognition at yet another failed attempt to
supplant the comic splatter genre classic he created. This movie's
"Smokin'" but QT still holds all the "Aces."

@@@ REELS
(THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot – go give it a shot.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: Early 30s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare SMOKIN' ACES (R) MOVIE BIASES: It's got a lil somethin'-somethin' for everyone. MAJOR PLAYERS: Andy Garcia (The Lost City), Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder), Jeremy Piven (TV's "Entourage"), Alicia Keys (singer), Common (rapper), Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), Taraji P. Henson (Baby Boy), and writer/director Joe Carnahan (Narc) Ever since its bloody, foot massaging inception, "Pulp Fiction" has been one of the most poorly and stylistically imitated movies in modern memory. Finally here's a film that captures most of its same over-the-top, pulpy soul – "Smokin' Aces." As mobbed up, five-time Vegas Showman of the Year illusionist/wannabe gangster, Buddy "Aces" Israel (Piven) – "a total cliché" and "seven layer loser" strung out on blow, booze, and broads – hides out in a Lake Tahoe hotel penthouse suite while awaiting trial to rat out on the remains of the infamous La Cosa Nostra crime family. Once the FBI gets wind of a million dollar bounty put out on Israel's head, they scramble to get a deal in place that Israel will accept to truly tell all before one of several teams of hitmen – including sistagurl duo Georgia & Sharice (Keys & Henson), a family of roughhousing rednecks, and a mellifluously named master of disguise named Lazlo Soot (Tommy Flanagan) – win the assassin free-for-all. Visually audacious and jauntily written, "Smokin'" lives up to its name. Carnahan, who once flirted with directing "Mission Impossible III," sticks to his noirish, twisty roots by serving up a frothy, confectionary, cameo carnival of action comedy. Please believe there's a plot to be had in this comically violent movie which, like its star Piven, has style to spare. In fact, Carnahan appropriately keeps the plot moving so you can ignore just how ludicrous the film is, taking some very sharp, if incredulous, turns. And that's meant as a compliment for a thoroughly enjoyable, faux-indie flick where a lot of things go boom (and, natch, make me happy). Piven, at his greasy, smarmy best, leads a terrific, if overcast cast (but with better material, quite unlike, oh, say, SAG & Golden Globe NOMINATED (?!?!) "Bobby") as coked out poonhound magician Israel. Want a profane, feminist philosophizing, bi-curious hitwoman? Taraji P. Henson channels the ghost of Queen Latifah in "Set It Off" for ya. How 'bout a comic actor playing serious or a serious actor playing comic? Ryan Reynolds and Matthew Fox, respectively, at your service. Musicians as actors? Why, "Smokin'" even has a stalwart, menacing Common and a low-key sexy Alicia Keys making strong acting debuts with charisma and confidence. And in a movie full of scene-stealers, Jason Bateman's grotesque, self-loathing lawyer Rip Reed will have you checking your valuables to see if he's stolen them, too, he's just that good (in less than ten minutes total screen time, I might add). Unfortunately, "Aces'" best quality is also its worst: it's just a little…"too." Too much blood, too much violence, too much nudity (not really)…just "too." While none of this really fazes me, at times, it's just so "too" that it vaults into self-parody. Call me a nitpicker who can't suspend his disbelief but when the longest elevator ride in cinematic history is your central third act plot point…Well, then your movie is just a little "too" short of perfection. I'm sure Quentin Tarantino will go out and see this slickly produced actioner with the masses this weekend. But I'm sure he will be grinning wider than most: Not from this movie's total commitment to entertainment, but from recognition at yet another failed attempt to supplant the comic splatter genre classic he created. This movie's "Smokin'" but QT still holds all the "Aces." @@@ REELS (THREE REELS) It's pretty hot – go give it a shot. Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com © 2004, Edwardo Jackson