Smokin’ Aces

January 26, 2007

Rated: R Runtime: 108 min Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The story for this one surrounds a snitch named Buddy ‘Aces’ Israel (Piven) and the band of shooters sent to catch, kill or protect him. Israel was a big time Vegas performer that becomes an even bigger time mobster… that is until he gets caught and flips over to the Feds to save his neck. This decision draws the attention of reputed mob boss Primo Sparazza - as he is the mobster Israel is flipping on - and he puts a $1,000,000 contract out on Aces.

Smokin' Aces The FBI overhears the call demanding Aces death and the delivery of Israel’s heart once the job is done. The FBI, Bounty Hunters, and ‘Every’ contract killer in the world head to Lake Tahoe to collect the cash or the man himself and all hell breaks loose.

On one side you have the Feds played by Agents Messner (Reynolds) and Carruthers (Liotta) led by deputy director (Garcia), that are supposed to travel to Lake Tahoe to escort Israel to LA to testify against Sparazza. In the middle you have Israel, his bodyguards, Ho’s, and Hotel security along with Bounty Hunters (Ben Affleck, Peter Berg, Martin Henderson) hired by attorney Rip Reed (Jason Bateman). And finally on the outside the hitmen - An international hitman that chewed his own fingers off to avoid finger-printing, 2 hot sista’s (Keys, Taraji Henson), a chameleon that can be anyone and disappear into thin air (Tommy Flanagan), and last but not least The Tremor brothers, 3 white supremacists that will kill anyone to get their quarry.

A film with a cast this strong has no choice but to be good and thanks to cool direction/cinematography and a cool story with a nice twist, it delivers everything an action movie needs. Humor, violence, carnage and a chainsaw up the butt - If any of that sounds cool to you this is the movie for you.

Posted by J.C. Edwards | Filed Under 4 Stars, Action, Alicia Keys, Andy Garcia, Comedy, Drama, Jeremy Piven, R, Ray Liotta, Ryan Reynolds, Theatrical