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“If an attempt is made on his life, it’ll only be made by those of the strictest professional calibre” Gather round children, I want to tell you about a new less-than-friendly trailblazer moving into the neighbourhood. And this is no joke, making no apologies director Joe Carnahan’s new hard hitting thriller really does pack its punches. Just as well, as the scarf wearing film goers of the modern day need bit of a wake up call. The quiet is over you goody-goodies, make way for the storm. First things first, don’t feel guilty about the gratifying feeling that will take over you when you see some of the uncompromising gun play in this film; you’re ALLOWED to feel that way. Your conscience may try to convince you that the ensuing smoke from the hot mussel of a 357 magnum is not to be enjoyed but it is, and this is the film that caters to those needs. Following a multi-layered story we are taken into the lives of police, mafia bosses, assassins and henchmen, then we’re shown what happens when they all disagree. Buddy "Aces" Israel ( Jeremy Piven) is a Las Vegas performer turned mafia apprentice who decides to turn in evidence and give over information about his criminal colleagues in open court for the FBI. Unfortunately for Israel, Primo Sparazza, the head of the mafia has found out what he is planning and has put out a $1,000,000 bounty on Israel’s life, drawing every professional pistol holding street killer in Nevada out to kill him. There are so many interested parties that this soon turns into a race; everyone wants this guy dead, it’s just a question of who’s bullets are going to reach him first. Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta play FBI Agents responsible for bringing Buddy into protective custody and are the ones who may be able to save him from assassination. They find that this is no easy feat though as half of the contract killing world are closing in around him. Georgia Sykes ( Alicia Keys) joins the fray as one such killer. Hungry for the cash and ready to bring her own ammunition to the table she proves herself a force to be reckoned with, quite an achievement as this is Alicia’s first real acting role. Needless to say all of this leads up to an intense (and gratifyingly loud) climatic collision, with Buddy "Aces" Israel on one side and an army of enthusiastic stainless steel carriers on the other. We find out very quickly what people are willing to do for a final paycheck, and one million in cash can be a heck of an incentive. This movie will no doubt cause conflict, but only between you and your Nan. This is a hard-nosed non-domesticated bully of a film and no apologies will be made for its big muscles. The tone is rough and polished like a well-planned car crash. Tarantino fans will adore it as the dialogue and the super cool characters are what keeps things interesting. It’s the first real must see for 2007 and I cannot recommend it highly enough.Read full review
WHOW what a film -- As it says on the cover A slick barrage of blood, bullets and brain-wrenching plot twists. Most of the plot twists you do not fully apriciate until the end of the film when it all makes sense. Perhaps it is a film to watch twice. A great action thriller
See more reviews like this : http://majormattsblog.blogspot.com/ Film : Smokin Aces Format: DVD Run time (approx): 109 mins My Rating (out of 10): 7.5 Film Highlight: 50.cal sniper blowing FBI agents 10ft across the hotel. As we all probably know and agree, Smokin Aces was a brutal, action packed film with some sort of twisted story behind it and a reasonably good cast (Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Ben Affleck E.t.c.).For those of you who don't know what the film is about let me explain it to you. A mob boss has taken out a rather large contract on a 'cool dude' named Buddy (Aces), A drugged up magician who will provide evidence against the mob. FBI see it as an opportunity to bring down this mob boss and place 'Aces' under protection in the best looking casino/hotel EVER! Word gets around to all the cons,ex-cons,assassins,mercenaries and the general crazy in need of money. The hunt for aces head begins. I loved the Casino and penthouse location of the film, it provided the assassins/mercenaries with a tuff challenge of reaching Aces and a variety of different methods were used to infiltrate higher levels and eventually reach him. There were a mixed bunch of assassins including lesbians with huge sniper rifles (who said this wasn't a lads film?), a group of loud bad-ass chainsaw and machete wielding brothers who are hellbent on causing destruction , a hipster bounty hunter, an incognito who gets weapon ideas from 'Assassins creed' e.t.c. Each of the assassins can be identified roughly 1 second after you see them on screen (really... its true).Although these mercenaries are all very stereotypical and predictable you grow to them (especially the Tremor brothers) and find yourself cheering a particular group on. After watching the first hour or so of the film you may be confused of all of the twists and separate stories (the karate kid scene is comedy) however its SO worth it for the finally at the end (last 30 mins). I just wish i had experienced it in Blu Ray. At the end of the day... A lads film with enough blood ,weapons ,action and comedy to satisfy most peoples needs.Read full review
When Las Vegas magician Buddy 'Aces' Israel agrees to testify against his mob boss pal, a bounty of $1,000,000 is placed upon his head, attracting every hitman (and woman) in the free world. Word soon gets out that Israel is holed up in the penthouse suite of a Lake Tahoe hotel and FBI agents Reynolds and Liotta frantically try to get to him before wave upon wave of bail bondsmen, bounty hunters and assassins get there first. Smokin' Aces seems to get generally poor reviews which suprises me because it is actually a very entertaining film. I think people are getting tired of the Taratino-esque crime caper but this film has an original edge to it that makes it worth watching. The characters are great and grotesque at the same time, from Alicia Keys' solid performance as a stone cold assassin, to Reynolds and Liottas feds, to the Tremor brothers and other assorted murderers. The screenplay is pretty cool too ("Don't let my face be the last thing you see. Heaven may hold it aginst you"). The film is very frantic from beginning to end and incredibly violent. The major let down is the convoluted ending that tries to add a twist to proceedings that really wasn't necessary.Read full review
Joe Carnahan’s frenetic shoot-’em-up sees the would-be M:I:3 helmer step away from the psychological nuances of his gritty noir Narc and default back to the OTT mayhem of flashy 1998 debut Blood, Guts, Bullets And Octane. The result is a lurid QT clone filled to the brim with headcases, shell casings and bloated bullet ballets. Like an indulgent Cannonball Run for professional assassins, the needlessly-complex plot sees a rogue’s gallery of ne’er-do-wells – among them hit-woman Alicia Keys and bail bondsman Ben Affleck – converge on Lake Tahoe to collect the $1m bounty the mob has put on the head of stage magician Buddy ‘Aces’ Israel(Jeremy Piven). Inevitably, the hotel ends up being turned into bloody carnage, though not before reams of expletive-strewn dialogue, macho swagger and sundry scenes of brutality and torture have bored the viewer senseless. In one of three featurettes thrown in alongside Carnahan’s bullish commentary and an alternate ending, Andy Garcia describes the film as “an exploration of the dynamics of good and evil. ”Ryan Reynolds’ word “clusterfuck” fits better.Read full review
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