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Smokin' Aces By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- At one point in writer-director Joe Carnahan's violent "Smokin' Aces" (Universal), an assassin, having just mortally stabbed a security guard, soothingly instructs the dying man to close his eyes and think of something wonderful. Viewers would be well advised to do the same. Part action drama and part black comedy, the bloody narrative concerns mob-connected Las Vegas conjuror Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven), who, having cut a deal to turn witness against his underworld associates, holes up in a Lake Tahoe, Nev., casino penthouse while waiting to be taken into protective custody by FBI agents (Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta). Meanwhile, a colorful collection of professional killers arrives at the hotel competing for the million-dollar payday supposedly offered to eliminate Aces before he can testify. The group includes a tag-team of femme fatales (Alicia Keys and Taraji Henson), an international torture expert (Nestor Carbonell), a chameleonlike hit man (Tommy Flanagan), and a trio of neo-Nazis (Kevin Durand, Maury Sterling and Chris Pine). There's also a troika of bounty hunters played by Ben Affleck, Peter Berg and Martin Henderson. With nods to everyone from Sam Peckinpah to Quentin Tarantino and John Woo, the film, though intended as camp, is nevertheless just videogame-style brutality surrounded by a convoluted plot. Even more troubling is the way the murderous, if absurdly over-the-top, mayhem is presented with a hip veneer, a much different tone than the gritty realism of Carnahan's directorial debut, "Narc." In 1969, this office gave a measured review to Peckinpah's sanguinary Western "The Wild Bunch," commending it for not glossing over the killings or being just another "celluloid bloodbath." Here, however, the violence is packaged as popcorn entertainment for the "Grand Theft Auto" generation. The film contains excessive bloody violence, brief images of torture, partial nudity, drug content, objectifying of women, some lesbian innuendo, pervasive rough and sexually crude language, and some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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