“Smokin’ Aces” (Universal Pictures)
But Not Quite On Fire
Director Joe Carnahan’s latest cinematic effort is titled “Smokin’ Aces.” It is film that has everything included in the mayhem except the kitchen sink – and maybe I just missed the sink. It also has a huge cast of some of the best character actors in Hollywood today. Throw this all together into a vat of violence and you get a movie that is smokin’ but not quite on fire.
The movie concerns an attempt to take out Buddy “Aces” Israel (Jeremy Piven), an illusionist who is in tight with the Las Vegas Mob. Buddy is in FBI custody as he is going to inform on his crime associates. Two FBI guys, Carruthers and Messner (Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds) learn there is a million dollar bounty on Buddy’s head and know there will be an effort to get to him at the hotel in Tahoe where he is being kept.
Buddy is in the penthouse suite and surrounded by guards. He doesn’t have a care in the world and passes his time with prostitutes and drugs. Down below there are different assassins formulating their strategy. Once they decide to make their move on Buddy the screen erupts with violence.
Ben Affleck, Peter Berg, Alicia Keys, Taraji P Henson, Jason Bateman and Matthew Fox are just some of the actors who appear in this film. Some have truly supporting roles while others just have cameos. All add to the flavor of the movie.
Piven is basically the star of the movie and his character is the one around whom all the action centers. Buddy is the master illusionist but the theme of the movie is that most things are not as they appear on the surface. People are not who they are supposed to be and events are based on reasons which are basically unknown. In this movie there are illusions on top of illusions.
Jeremy Piven throws himself into his role. He is able to do the card tricks as well as make himself believable as a drugged out freak. His believability gives the rest of the movie credibility. The cameos are what help keep the film interesting especially when they involve talented actors like Ben Affleck and Matthew Fox.
It should also be noted that Ryan Reynolds is very credible in his role as an FBI agent. Reynolds has built his career in roles as someone who is funny, sarcastic and sneaky. In this movie he is basically a by the book officer of the law and he plays it that way. You get a view of the violence through his eyes and his awakening to all the illusions helps the audience understand the plot.
The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and nudity.
“Smokin’ Aces” is not a great movie in any sense of the word. Still it does have a raw power that is interesting. The film starts off a little slowly laying the groundwork of the plot, but once the attacks start the movie comes to life.
I scored “Smokin’ Aces” a flammable 6 out of 10.
