Smokin Aces

Tags

2000's, Action, Alicia Keys, Andy Garcia, Ben Affleck, Chris Pine, Common, Crime, Jason Bateman, Jeremy Piven, Joe Carnahan, Kevin Durand, Martin Henderson, Maury Sterling, Nestor Carbonell, Peter Berg, Ray Liotta, Ryan Reynolds, Smokin Aces, Taraji P. Henson, Tommy Flanagan

Film Title

Smokin Aces

Director

Joe Carnahan

Starring

• Jeremy Piven as Buddy ‘Aces’ Israel
• Ray Liotta as Carruthers
• Ryan Reynolds as Messner
• Alicia Keys as Georgia Sykes
• Taraji P. Henson as Sharice Watters
• Tommy Flanagan as Lazlo Soot
• Nestor Carbonell as Pasquale Acosta
• Chris Pine as Darwin Tremor
• Kevin Durand as Jeeves Tremor
• Maury Sterling as Lester Tremor
• Andy Garcia as Deputy Director Locke
• Common as Ivy
• Ben Affleck as Jack Dupree
• Martin Henderson as Hollis Elmore
• Peter Berg as Pete Deeks
• Jason Bateman as Rupert Reed

An all out violent spectacle of crime, action and weirdness, Smokin Aces is best enjoyed as a brainless action flick. Though saying this, the film attempts to get more serious which doesn’t exactly sit well with the rest of the piece. Smokin Aces still keeps you entertained throughout with the ensemble cast and shocking events, but it is a bit of a mess.

Las Vegas magician and gangster wannabe Buddy ‘Aces’ Israel is involved with the Mob( who have helped his growing success) as he wants a piece of the action. Like all wannabes, he has messed up a lot and knowing this, he has now become a turncoat. He promises the FBI crucial information on the Mob, in exchange for his safety. Yet the Mob already knows of Buddy’s traitorous behaviour and the head of the crime family places a $1 million bounty on his head. Meanwhile the FBI, under the command of Deputy Director Locke has ordered two of his agents, Carruthers and Messner to go to a hotel in Lake Tahoe where Buddy is holed up in the penthouse suite. They are to make sure nothing happens to him, as his testimony is extremely valuable for the FBI. As the bounty on the weasel that is Buddy is so high, all sorts of criminals and mercenaries come out of the woodwork for a piece of the action. These include sexy contract killers Georgia Sykes and Sharice Watters, torture expert Pasquale Acosta, bail bondsman Jack Dupree and his two fellows friends, a man who specialises in disguise Lazlo Soot and three crazed Neo-Nazi siblings, The Tremor Brothers. Yet events change for the FBI’s plans regarding the washed-up Israel and something sinister is definitely a miss, which puts Carruthers and Messner in very real danger. As the parties of assassins and contract killers reach the hotel, all matter of hell is going to break out. Everyone converges in bloody fashion as they attempt to either kill, capture or save Israel who is a much wanted man, dead or alive.

Joe Carnahan writes and directs Smokin Aces as a shoot em up slice of carnage and chaos. I did think he got for the most post the right vibe for this film, with strange and darkly comedic undertones thrown into the blender. He has a sure hand on the action that implodes from all angles once everyone reaches the hotel and is more than adept with style. His visual eye can best be described as frenetic and adrenaline infused, as he barely pauses for a breath and bombards you with quick flashes galore. It’s all very unusual but fits the absolute crazy tone of the film. It’s when he tries to deepen Smokin Aces that the cracks begin to appear significantly. Granted, some of the depth pays off but it is largely superfluous and grows to be very strung out as the film reaches the climax. If he had just left the film as it was with the outrageous and ridiculous abundance of fighting and bullet play, it might have been a bit more substantial. Instead, Smokin Aces reaches too high and shoots itself in the foot by attempting to be something more than it is. It is a ridiculous and wild film but that is what sells it well during most of it, only to be let down by a plot that gets way to convoluted for its own good. Anyhow, there is still enough bloodshed and flashy style to keep you watching Smokin Aces. A slashing and breakneck soundtrack accompanies the film to a successful degree of pulse-pounding violence and brutality.

With any film that boasts an ensemble cast, you are going to get people who stand out more than others. Smokin Aces is no exception to that rule, with some giving it their all as a rogues gallery and others left with only small and nondescript parts. Jeremy Piven plays the part of Buddy, who the whole plot centres on as he is the one who everyone wants to either kill or harm. Piven sells the part pretty effectively; displaying the drugged-up and altogether pathetic man who wanted to play gangster but whose obnoxious attitude and poor decisions led to him turning snitch. The character isn’t really likable, but Piven gives it his best to invest something into him. Two of the best roles in the film belong to Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds, with Liotta quite good as the seasoned and professional agent. Ryan Reynolds in particular stood out to me as the straight arrow agent learning of betrayal and his performance was pretty spot on in displaying a mature and sombre change in character. Singer Alicia Keys, in her first movie role, sizzles as the sexy part of a two woman squad of deadly contract killers. With her low voice and sultry attitude, Keys displays a lot of potential as an actress here which is refreshing as most singers who attempt acting fail. Backing her up is the feisty personality of Taraji. P Henson as the outspoken but highly skilled shooter. Tommy Flanagan bristles with uneasy menace as a master of disguise, but Nestor Carbonell is sadly underused as the creepy torture guy.

Stealing most of Smokin Aces however is the trio consisting of Chris Pine, Kevin Durand and Maury Sterling portraying the absolutely off-the-wall Tremor Brothers. They liven up the already bouncing movie with crazy antics and nasty glee, chewing their parts to bits as they wipe out hundred with there precious and strange artillery.  Trust me, these guys are just some of the craziest things you will witness in a movie chock full of perversity and what the hell trips. Andy Garcia, who is for me a lot of the time very reliable, is given scant to do which is a definite shame as he could have really been a force of nature.Rapper Common is well employed as Buddy’s bodyguard, who sees that he has been lied to by his employer as part of his pardon agreement. Ben Affleck appears in what amounts to a limited part, but when he is there I liked the cynical attitude of him. The other two men who feature in his part of the story, Peter Berg and Martin Henderson are unfortunately stranded without a lifeline. Far more successful in a small part is Jason Bateman, who in two scenes owns it as the disheveled and uncouth attorney involved in Buddy’s case.

I have been left with somewhat mixed thoughts about Smokin Aces. While I like the outrageous nature and blood-soaked action, I didn’t take too kindly to the fact that it tried to be something more thoughtful. Action movies by definition are ones that you switch the brain off for. Though I did lean more towards the enjoyment factor in this balls out action venture, despite my grievances.

Lost Season 6

Tags

2010's, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Mitchell, Emilie de Ravin, Evangeline Lilly, Henry Ian Cusick, Jeff Fahey, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Ken Leung, Lost, Lost Season 6, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim, Zuleikha Robinson

And here it is, my review of Lost’s final season. I have continued to be enthralled by this enigmatic series from the moment I watched it. Revisiting it has been a great experience, and hopefully this has translated into my reviews of the past seasons. So back to business with this review of the polarizing and highly controversial Season 6. Spoilers will follow in my review.

Last we saw of the characters was Jack(Matthew Fox) attempting to blow the survivors back into the correct time zone by detonating a hydrogen bomb which will place them back on the flight. We now see that they are back on the island once more after Juliet(Elizabeth Mitchell) caused the bomb to explode, preceded by a bright flashing light. Juliet succumbs to death in Sawyer’s(Josh Holloway) arms and Sawyer sinks into depression. Meanwhile, after he got Ben(Michael Emerson) to kill Jacob, the person claiming to be Locke(Terry O’Quinn) revealed himself to be the ‘Man in Black’ or the smoke monster who is now stuck in the guise of the deceased Locke. He takes command over a small group of people in order to gain leadership and revenge. Sun(Yunjin Kim), Ben, Frank(Jeff Fahey) and Ilana(Zuleikha Robinson) try to navigate their way through the jungle to warn the others. With Sayid(Naveen Andrews) injured, Jack,Kate(Evangeline Lilly), Hurley(Jorge Garcia),Miles(Ken Leung) and Jin(Daniel Dae Kim) take him to the Temple, which is populated by a group of ‘The Others’, where he can be supposedly healed. Sayid dies but strangely comes back to life two hours later. But Sayid isn’t how he was originally, and he later switches to the dark side as a result. Kate later goes to find Sawyer with Jin, but the two become separated from each other. Jin soon encounters a familiar face in Claire(Emilie de Ravin) who was last seen wandering into the jungle after seeing a vision of her father in Season 4. Claire has significantly changed from the vulnerable girl we last saw, adopting a harsh personality based on survival and instinct, very much like jungle dweller Rousseau before her. Jack is warned by the leader of the Man in Black’s plans to kill everyone and take over leadership of the island. But with friendships changing and loyalties shifting, can any of these characters survive what is to come? Prepare to be shocked and thrilled as Season 6 unravels with the reasons why the characters are on the island and the history behind it.

The first thing to comment on in this final season is the introduction of the flash sideways. Through this technique, we witness the characters living out what their lives could have been like if they hadn’t crashed on the island. These little snippets of alternate lives prove for interesting viewing to say the least. Many have said that the technique isn’t useful, but I think it does serve as a melancholy reminder of how drastic the survivor’s have changed since their first encounter with the mysterious island. Various scenarios include Locke being reunited with his beloved Helen, Sawyer as a cop and Kate escaping justice and meeting Claire. I admire the heightening of the themes of good and evil, and the cloud of confusion that comes from attempting to fathom who is on the right side. Various characters are afflicted by this, prominently Sawyer and Sayid. Effectively woven into this tapestry are themes of loyalty, friendship and distrust. The season does get quite complicated towards the end, but still elicits a strong emotional response from me. Having watched all of the seasons, there is a deep, emotional tie to these characters in their quest for answers.

The cast as always are impeccable and have become so intertwined with their characters emotions. Matthew Fox is reliable as Jack, whose pitted in this battle of good and evil because of conflicting beliefs and ideals. Terry O’Quinn is menace personified as the Man in Black taking the form of Locke, we watch how he influences the characters in his attempt to escape the island once and for all. Michael Emerson manages to reveal a strangely sensitive and vulnerable side to the normally traitorous Ben, whilst Jorge Garcia imbues Hurley with lovable charm and warm pathos. Josh Holloway is impeccable as Sawyer, whose character has deepened with every season. Naveen Andrews effectively portrays Sayid’s journey to the dark side but also his heroic salvation. Henry Ian Cusick adeptly plays Desmond and his humorous but resourceful demeanor. Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim are impressive as Jin and Sun, who are finally reunited after being apart for so long.Evangeline Lilly brings her familiar mix of strength and vulnerability to the role of Kate. Emilie de Ravin returns as Claire, and cleverly shows her regression to primal instinct and then her accepting humanity again as she remembers what happened before. Elizabeth Mitchell, despite only appearing briefly, adds sadness to Juliet as she courageously tries to save the island but succumbs to death in the arms of her beloved Sawyer. Ken Leung and Nestor Carbonell are used to great effect as the sarcastic Miles and the ageless Richard. Jeff Fahey gets some excellent one liners as pilot Frank. Zuleikha Robinson returns as Ilana, though it’s a shame that her character is killed off so early in the season and not developed well enough.

This season is full of heart wrenching moments from start to finish. The two that most affected me where Sayid’s heroic sacrifice and Sun and Jin’s death by drowning. As they occur within minutes of each, the emotional impact is all the more powerful as we watch the deaths of three popular characters. If you don’t find their deaths emotional, then you have a heart of stone. Sayid’s death is tragic because he finally finds redemption in sacrificing himself, Sun and Jin’s death is sad because of the various obstacles that they have overcome to be where they are now and how they die holding hands, symbolising their undying love for one another. No discussion of this season would be complete without mentioning the controversial ending. In it, we see all of the characters from many of the different seasons reunite in a church as they move onto the afterlife, whilst a highly emotional score plays in the background. I personally found the scene very evocative and heartfelt. I know many will disagree with me, but I still can’t shake the ending. Many people thought that the ending basically implied that the characters were dead all along, but if you listen closely the whole story is explained by Jack’s father.

Emotional and interesting, the last season of Lost is not to be missed. Some may take certain issues with the series, but the characters are so well written that this is more than enough to get you through. I’m sad to finish watching this series, but fear not fellow bloggers as more television reviews will be coming your way very soon.

Lost Season 5

Tags

2000's, Daniel Dae Kim, Elizabeth Mitchell, Evangeline Lilly, Henry Ian Cusick, Jeff Fahey, Jeremy Davies, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Ken Leung, Lost, Lost Season 5, Matthew Fox, Michael Emerson, Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Rebecca Mader, Terry O'Quinn, Yunjin Kim, Zuleikha Robinson

Following on from the unexpected and riveting finale of Season 4, Lost Season 5 continues the groundwork set by it to contribute more shocking twists and turns in this saga. It may become a bit too complicated at times, but it’s just so addictive to watch that this quibble will most likely forgotten as the season progresses. Spoilers will follow in this review.

What we last saw was Ben(Michael Emerson) turning a mysterious wheel which made the island vanish from view, Locke(Terry O’Quinn) had assumed the role of leader to ‘The Others’ and the freighter had blown up, supposedly killing Jin(Daniel Dae Kim). The Oceanic Six were adjusting to their new lives back at home, but were still being plagued by the pull of the island. It appears, according to Ben that the island will never let them go and they are to return as part of destiny. The present of Jack(Matthew Fox), Kate(Evangeline Lilly), Hurley(Jorge Garcia), Sun(Yunjin Kim) and Sayid(Naveen Andrews) is explored as we watch them realise that they must return to the island they fought to get off. Meanwhile on the island  the people still there, Sawyer(Josh Holloway),Juliet(Elizabeth Mitchell) Daniel(Jeremy Davies), Miles(Ken Leung) and Charlotte(Rebecca Mader) realise that what Ben has unleashed is a continuous jump through time. One minute they are in the present, the next minute they are experiencing the history of the mysterious island. The jumping through time soon seems to herald the arrival of dire consequences as uncertainty rises. As the Oceanic Six return to the island, it appears it is going to be awkward and enigmatic all over again as they have to face their alleged destiny.

The first thing to note about Season 5 is the heavy usage of time travel. In some aspects, it increases the impact of the story to the audience but it can also get more than a little confusing to keep up with. I can understand why certain fans of the show become a bit disillusioned with this season because of the confusion of certain aspects. I agree to some extent about the confusion, at certain points I was really unsure about what the hell was happening, but the character development and mystery kept me interested in this eventful season. Our characters are drawn back together and watching them you see that you’ve come to relate to them and care about what becomes of them. The script cleverly plays with the reasons why the island needs them back and teases the answers out slowly but surely with mysterious effects. I liked how the history of the DHARMA Initiative is intertwined with our characters, and how after time travel, Sawyer and some of the others integrate themselves into the community. The various characters who appear later on such as Eloise and a young Widmore add to the mix of enigma and strangeness. Music is again another highlight of the show as it drives the narrative forward with urgency.The jumpy editing was beneficial to the constant shifts in time and neatly links in the theme of changing destiny. I must mention that Lost Season 5 is filled with emotional moments that will really be devastating to watch. One of these is the death of Charlotte, because of the various shifts in time beginning to aggravate her mind. Daniel watches as the woman he cares for slips away in his arms and we see his guilt at knowing that something like this would happen. The other is Daniel’s death at the hands of his own mother Eloise in the past timeline. His unexpected and heartfelt end also functions as a way of tying up some of the unanswered questions of the season. Both the work of Rebecca Mader and Jeremy Davies ensures that although their characters were only in the show for a short time, they will most certainly be remembered.

Our ensemble cast really steps up here to deliver exceptional performances. Terry O’Quinn really does some amazing work as Locke, who is killed by Ben early in the season but strangely enough seems to have come back to life again. He must now embrace his destiny and protect the island, but what is the mystery surrounding this alleged figure of John Locke? Michael Emerson adds more layers to Ben, showing he is still a manipulative liar but also a very strong ally with important information that could save everyone.Matthew Fox is great as Jack, whose leadership begins to slip when he is transported back into the 70’s. Josh Holloway really fleshes out the character of Sawyer and shows us the inner turmoil and eventual happiness he finds with Juliet as they pursue a relationship. Elizabeth Mitchell continues to impress as the resourceful Juliet, now in a relationship with Sawyer in one of the many timelines. She shows us how Juliet has finally found happiness but is dragged back into the various troubles of the island because of the survivor’s return.Evangeline Lilly portrays Kate as a complex woman, torn between her love for Jack and the mystery of the island. We get to glimpse the maternal bond she has developed with baby Aaron and how no matter what happens, she is always on the run from something in her life. Jorge Garcia and Naveen Andrews continue to deliver fine work as Hurley and Sayid. Yunjin embodies the undying love for her husband and her refusal to believe he is dead. As it transpires, Jin is in fact alive and in the 70’s timeline. Speaking with a better command of English and tougher than ever, Daniel Dae Kim manages to make Jin one of the best characters on the show. Ken Leung impresses again as the sarcastic medium Miles, who has unfinished business with someone in the past on the island. One point that I will make is that I wish that Henry Ian Cusick had more prominence to the story with his character of Desmond. Don’t get me wrong, whenever Desmond appears it is always riveting, but Season 5 unfortunately doesn’t use him efficiently enough. Jeff Fahey adds dashes of humour as the returning pilot Frank.The supporting character of Richard, a high member of ‘The Others’ is given more prominence in this season after a number of guest appearances in the past seasons. The seemingly ageless Richard is portrayed with spooky resonance by Nestor Carbonell, who gets some wonderful scenes with Locke and Ben as they deliberate the fate of the island. The new character of Ilana, an alleged bounty hunter is introduced in this season and she is shaping up to be an enigmatic puzzle of a character. Portrayed with sexy, self-assurance and fierce determination by Zuleikha Robinson, it will be interesting to see what more her character can contribute to this mind-bending show.

Season 5 may get off to a confusing start but stay with it as the various threads weave together to make for intense, emotional and mind-blowing television.