Released in Feb 2006.
Starring Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, & Ben Kingsley
Directed by Paul McGuigan
Written by Jason Smilovic
Currently Streaming on Amazon Prime, or own it on Blu-ray
Review
The Lucky Number Slevin stands out for it’s clever and intricate plot. This film keeps the audience on their toes, right up until the end. Just when you think you have it figured out, it throws a surprising twist that reshapes what you thought that you knew about this movie. Jason Smilovic did a great job of combining crime, drama, and some dark humor and a nice fresh and unique tone.
Synopsis
In a case of mistaken identity, the movie starts with a guy named Slevin (Josh Hartnett) who finds himself in the middle of a war between two rival New York crime lords. We have the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and the Boss (Morgan Freeman). While being watched by Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci) and well-known assassin Goodkat (Bruce Willis), Slevin must quickly devise a plan to save his skin before his luck runs out.
I really love movies that take a few twists and turns as they go on, and then they come full circle all the way at the end. This one is not quite as clever as Pulp Fiction, but they still pull it off. We do have some narrating happening, as well as a few flash backs to tie it all together. Overall, this was well done. One way that I judge a movie, is how well it keeps me entertained, and I this one kept me in it he entire time.
Cast
For starters, you are getting a “slightly past peak”, Bruce Willis. This is right before he made “Live Free or Die Hard”, which was one of my favorites of all his films. Josh Hartnett, while never a major household name, was awesome in this. He was so good that he won a Best Actor award from the Milano International Film Festival (MIFF Awards). Hartnett pulled off the wit and banter that reminded me of Brad Pitt in any of the Oceans’ movies. Just to add in a few more great actors, we also got Morgan Freeman & Sir Ben Kingsley. These two are outstanding as the two rival crime bosses, portraying their characters with authority and menace. Of course, Ben Kingsley will forever be known to me as Trevor Slattery. Lucy Lui and Stanley Tucci round out this wonderful cast.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Lucky Number Slevin” is an underrated gem that deserves more recognition. It offers a compelling story, excellent performances, and a great presentation. If you enjoy crime thrillers with unexpected plot twists, this movie is definitely worth a watch. Just be prepared to immerse yourself in a web of deception and intrigue from start to finish.
Fun Facts
- Rotten Tomatoes score of 87% Audience
- Ebert Score: 2/5 Stars
- Josh Hartnett lived with the screenwriter, Jason Smilovic as he was writing this script.
- Morgan Freeman makes a reference to the “Schmoo”. Which is from Lil’Abner comic strip from the 40’s. On another note, it was the nickname of a guy I went to high school with. For the life me I have no idea how that came about.
- Lucy Lui and Josh Hartnett were open to a sequel
- This was the 118th grossing movie in 2006 – #1 was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
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