Just as you feel yourself getting a good grasp on the multiple
intertwining narratives that drive the film, he asks us to be accepting
when we realise they never really mattered in the first place.
Buddy
‘Aces’ Israel is a Las Vegas magician who meddles his way into the
underworld, accumulating wads of cash and stash as he goes. After
finding himself getting greedier than his gangster experience should
have permitted, and after playing the mob game by his own naive and
inexperienced rules, he sinks deeper and deeper into trouble, before
finding himself giving evidence to the FBI. A resulting one million
dollar bounty is placed on his head, with the request that his heart
also be delivered.
With some of the countries most notable
hit-men and women after him (notable not always by their skill level)
he flees to Lake Tahoe, secretly occupying the entire level of a
highrise hotel building, kept secure by hotel security staff.
Word
of his whereabouts spreads fast and the killers close in on their
target, each with a unique style of attack, some more plausible than
others. Detectives Cruthers (Ray Liotta) and Messner (Ryan Reynolds)
are on the case, doing all that they can to protect a man literally
waiting for death.
After involving us in a mesh of plots and
characters, in the end, rather than gaining clarity and closure, we’re
given cloudiness and confusion.
One can’t help but feel cheated
as the film twists uncomfortably through a series of camp,
undisciplined sequences that seem to lack a maturity and control seen
in some of the other films Smokin’ Aces
seeks to emulate. It’s almost as if Carnahan has employed some of the
winning tactics and sequences that contributed to the success of these
classic ‘pulp’ films, and then filled in the gaps – proof of just how
important those gaps can be. And, in the end, his attempt to 'wow' ends
with his audience instead asking 'why?'.
The majority of the
characters lacked realism, due perhaps to insufficient exposure, or
maybe a lack of a vehicle to take us into the depths of their own dark
worlds. We see little of the obstacles facing them, and therefore cared
little for their journeys.
On a considerably low budget, the
film’s rich — but hackneyed — 70's feel was an achievement. The sets
were well thought out and shots intrinsically executed, a credit to the
art direction. It’s a shame that some time wasn’t spent on perfecting
the story and screenplay.
For a film that follows multiple
characters and story lines, not a lot really happens in the end (well,
not a lot that matters anyway). But having said that, there is still
enough going on to keep you waiting for what could have been a more
memorable finale, and a chance for ‘Aces’ to really stand up as a
character. Instead, the film explodes into an elaborate,
contrived and disappointing sequence of ghastly, fabricated events
(look out for the chainsaw wielding hitmen).
Reynolds holds his
own in a more dramatic role than he’s used to, and Hollywood stalwalt
Ray Liotta also gives a solid performance, but it's Jeremy Piven’s star
that shines brightest in an impressive performance. The cameo
appearance of Jason Bateman was also a treat, and the other big names
are also sure to lure audiences. But, as far as characters go,
the film appeared to be about all of them and none of them at the same
time, with the real point of the movie only becoming clear at the end
in the cheapest way possible.
By all accounts, Smokin’ Aces isn’t the disaster movie I have perhaps made it out to be. But you walk away feeling that way, because of what it could have been.
EXTRASAn excellent DVD package all-round, the Smokin’ Aces disc includes
dual commentaries (one with Joe Carnahan and his editor; the other with
Carnahan and some supporting players – none of whose names you’ll
probably recognize), which are quite amusing and insightful; a bunch of
deleted scenes and an alternate ending; a thingie on the different
characters – including interviews with the players; some hilarious
outtakes (Affleck not being able to play pool is quite amusing) and a
couple of other things. Conclusion:
Movie 60% Extras: 55% 
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