tlavideo.com

Review

  Philadelphia Film Festival blurb: With its star-laden cast and elaborately constructed plot full of clever twists and turns, Lucky Number Slevin is a thrilling genre-bender that dazzles with its unpredictable and complex storylines. Hapless Slevin (Josh Hartnett) arrives at his friend Nick’s apartment, where he is to be staying temporarily, only to find that Nick has mysteriously disappeared. When a pair of thugs soon arrives to seize Nick for a hefty outstanding debt, they nab Slevin instead, and he is soon forced to worm his way out of the middle of a violent battle between crime figures “The Boss” (Morgan Freeman) and “The Rabbi” (Sir Ben Kingsley). With the help of indefatigable neighbor Lindsey (Lucy Liu, who happens to be the city coroner), Slevin must adroitly avoid being a casualty of this clash between rival crime lords, while also steering clear of notorious assassin Mr. Goodkat (Bruce Willis) and the tenacious Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci). Director Paul McGuigan brings to life Jason Smilovic’s intricate screenplay with energetic verve and flamboyant visual flourishes. In the tradition of intelligent, adventurous thrillers like Memento and The Usual Suspects, Lucky Number Slevin is a film that audiences will be eager to see again, even if just to appreciate the deft way in which the film untangles its intricate knot of deception.

 -- Noelle Reilly

Staff Review: Director McGuigan improves on his last collaboration with Hartnett -- the mismarketed, underwhelming Wicker Park — but fails to pack the same punch as his Gangster No. 1. Still, as snarky crime thrillers go, Slevin is a cut above. Josh plays a guy who's had a day that would give Stripes' John Winger pause: he's lost his girlfriend, his job and his apartment. And his luck continues when his friend Nick offers to let him stay in his empty apartment for awhile -- he's mugged when he arrives, then is mistaken for Nick by two thugs who insist he come with them to meet The Boss (Freeman). This meeting lands Slevin smack in the middle of a years-long feud between The Boss and arch-rival The Rabbi (Kingsley); all the while, Slevin remains oddly calm, and even finds the time to romance cute neighbor Liu. Convoluted, full of colorful characters (haven't even mentioned Mr. Goodkat, a hitman played by Willis), and quite stylish, Slevin is also too clever by half, utterly empty, and bears a twist ending that is, alas, rather predictable. These detriments don't take away much from the enjoyment of this film, as the terrific cast makes up for a lot. Hartnett and Liu actually make a likable, cute couple — a bit too cute, which, in true post-modern, Tarantinoesque fashion, is actually remarked upon by Liu. Willis is fine, there are nice turns by Stanley Tucci and Robert Forster, and there's a delicious scene with Freeman (playing a nasty villain for the first time in years) and Kingsley — the two crimelords' first meeting in ages. Nothing to chew on here, but Slevin is fast-paced, violent fun for those so inclined.

 -- Dean C. Galanis