24 out of 28 people found the following review helpful:
Mindless fun!
Meako from ,
7th February, 2007
Jeremy Piven is a card-trickster in Vegas who played at being a mobster. However things have gone a bit hairy for him, and he is considering turning on those he has mingled with and giving evidence to the FBI. Thus a contract is put on his head, with a big enough sum to attract the most dangerous of mercenaries and hitmen. Enter Ryan Reynolds as a FBI agent who is sent by his boss, Andy Garcia, to keep him alive. Whilst at the same time a bondsman, played by Ben Affleck (with a dubious moustache), is after him for a small reward on a minor offense – totally unaware of event about to transpire. With the squads of hitmen including the neo-nazi trio, a mysterious master of disguise, and a pair of attitude fuelled women (with a seriously powerful sniper rifle), things are about to get dangerous! Smokin’ Aces is directed with the fluidity and style of Snatch blended with the intensity of True Romance. The overall result will not be to everyone’s taste, but who cares. Switch off the brain, try not to focus too much on the story, and just enjoy the ride, because this is a film that will not repeat itself if you get confused. It will simply continue on, until the brutal end. The action is tightly paced, and also scattered with some great black humour. One early exit from the film comes as a shock, surprise, and then leads to hilarity in the moments just after (albeit hilarity with a sad bit of melancholy giving a bit of depth to another character at the same time). Reynolds, as ever, is fantastic throughout, but is shadowed by Piven who goes from cocky and bossy, to total wreck over the course of the film. His constant fumbling of cards seems awkward at moments, but the ‘reveal’ shows that it is intentional. His character is a man who, even in his weaker moments, still looks for applause. Now that he isn’t getting it, he desperately tries harder and harder to impress. This is purely a fun film, although (as you should have noticed) there are potential for layers within. A rumoured extended cut may reveal some more depth, but to be honest, I care not for that as even without the depth, this is a great example of an action film that doesn’t try to be kiddy friendly.
Read all highest rated reviews
