‘Aces’ Director Joe Carnahan is lazy…

Posted by Paige MacGregor (paige@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 17, 2007

Director Joe Carnahan’s schizophrenic and over-the-top action comedy Smokin’ Aces earned $14.6 million dollars during its opening weekend, a disappointing figure given the film’s relatively star-studded cast (including Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Ben Affleck, and Jeremy Piven) and $17 million-dollar production budget. This disappointing box office turnout combined with Carnahan’s desire to capitalize on the cult following that has developed around Smokin’ Aces (as is evident from the film’s impressive DVD sales) were most likely the determining factors in the recent announcement that the Smokin’ Aces prequel will skip a large theatrical release, going instead straight to DVD.

In order to spice up the deal, Carnahan has devised a contest that will allow one lucky winner to name his Smokin’ Aces prequel. Although there is no monetary incentive to enter the contest—Carnahan will own all legal rights to the winning title—the director promises to “take care” of the contest’s winner with all sorts of cool prizes and swag, along with the satisfaction of seeing your title on DVDs, posters, and other movie memorabilia.

In order to give participants some idea of what exactly it is that they will be attempting to name, Carnahan recently released a small segment of plot description on his personal blog:

“The briefest bit of story info to help you out: ‘A low level government analyst, with forty plus years working an FBI information post, is slated to be assassinated, for reasons unknown at an exact date and time within the next three days. A federal ‘Grab Team,’ or close protection detail, has been tasked with saving this man’s life…’

…chaos ensues.’

The action takes place in D.C. and in New Orleans. Some familiar faces return. Some very surprising. I won’t say any more.”

I can only guess that Carnahan, desperate to make back some of the money lost on the original film, is using this statement as a teaser to give the impression that characters thought to be deceased at the close of Smokin’ Aces will reappear, miraculously alive once more… but don’t be fooled by the hype… remember, this is a prequel, not a sequel, so it would make sense for all the original characters to be alive and kickin’.

| | Read more articles by Paige MacGregor