“25th Hour” (Touchstone Pictures)
Spike Lee should sue somebody. Somehow in all the Academy Award qualification rush at the end of the year his new film, “25th Hour,” got lost. Now it is sneaking into theaters with little fanfare or excitement. Because of this it probably will never find the audience it should have had. Based on Edward Norton’s performance alone, the movie should be seen.
Norton plays Monty Grogan, a drug dealer who has been arrested and tried and is now facing a seven year stay in prison. On the day before he has to report to begin the sentence he meets with his best friends, his girlfriend and his father to say good-bye.
One of his best friends is Jacob Elinsky (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), a teacher at the high school he and Monty attended. Jacob is fixated on one of his students, Mary D’Annunzio (Anna Paquin), but has not acted on his feelings. He does confide his feelings to Monty and their other good friend, Francis Slaughtery (Barry Pepper).
Francis is a stock trader and makes his way in life through wheeling and dealing. He is good friends with Monty but secretly feels Monty got what he deserved. Francis also suspects Monty’s girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson) of being the one who set Monty up with the police.
The film examines these relationships, as well as Monty’s with his father (Brian Cox), in great detail. Through them we gain an understanding of who and what Monty is. It is a complex portrait and an entertaining one.
The acting in this movie is excellent down the line. Norton is strong yet weak as Monty. Hoffman is bumbling and sad as Jacob. Pepper is hotheaded but compassionate as Francis. Dawson is sensual and supportive as Naturelle. Cox serves as the “Greek chorus” to the events as James Brogan.
The film is rated R for profanity and violence.
With so many movies being rushed out at the end of the year some were bound to get overlooked. This is one of them that did. But make sure you take the opportunity to see it. It is much better than most of the lightweight comedies and dramas that have been released in the new year.
Spike Lee has a style about his movies, a style which says it is out of the ordinary. That holds true here. This is a very watchable film.
I scored “25th Hour” a tolling 6 out of 10.
©2003 Jackie K. Cooper
